AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: The Club Licensing Committee of the All India Football Federation met on Thursday, May 15, 2025, and concluded the evaluation process for the Premier 1 License for the 2025–26 season.

Applications were received from 15 clubs for the license. The committee reviewed comprehensive reports and documentation before finalising the decisions.

The following are the results:

License Granted without sanctions: Punjab FC

License Granted with sanctions: Mumbai City FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Bengaluru FC, Jamshedpur FC, FC Goa, Chennaiyin FC, and East Bengal FC.

These clubs have been granted the license with sanctions due to minor non-fulfilment of B criteria.

License rejected: Hyderabad FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Odisha FC, NorthEast United FC, Mohammedan Sporting Club, Churchill Brothers FC Goa and Inter Kashi.

These clubs have not been granted the license due to multiple failures across A and B criteria.

The clubs whose applications have been rejected have the right to either appeal the decision, or request an exemption to participate in the National Club Competitions, as per applicable licensing regulations.

The Indian Club Licensing system is pivotal in maintaining the quality, professionalism, and infrastructure of football clubs in India. It is an annual process wherein clubs acquire the necessary license to partake in AFC and National club competitions for each season. These licenses are categorised into ‘Premier 1’ for Indian Super League clubs and ‘Premier 2’ for I-League clubs.