ISL partners with YouTube, Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV for 2026‑27 season

What the partnership includes

The Indian Super League confirmed that YouTube will be the league’s digital streaming partner for the 2026‑27 season. Every match – all 163 fixtures – will be streamed live and free on the platform, removing any subscription barrier for fans watching on phones, tablets or connected TVs.

Sony Sports Network secured the television rights in India, while Sony LIV will provide a subscription‑based digital feed covering the same 163 games. The three‑platform mix is designed to reach viewers wherever they prefer to watch – on a TV screen, a streaming app, or directly on YouTube.

How fans can watch

• YouTube – live, free, and available globally. The partnership also promises a suite of ancillary content – highlights, Shorts, interviews and behind‑the‑scenes pieces – to keep fans engaged beyond match‑day.
• Sony Sports Network – traditional TV coverage, with over 80 matches scheduled for broadcast across its channels.
• Sony LIV – the full 163‑match schedule for subscribers, mirroring the YouTube feed but behind a paywall.

Karan Yadav, CEO of the ISL, said, “We want the ISL to be the most accessible league in the country, and that means being present across the platforms where fans are choosing to watch and follow football.”

Gunjan Soni, Managing Director – India, YouTube, added, “YouTube is where millions of Indians come every day to discover, follow and engage with the content they love. We are delighted to partner with the Indian Super League and make every match of the 2026‑27 season available live and free on YouTube.”

Why the ISL chose a multi‑platform model

The league entered its first season under a club‑led commercial structure, giving clubs a larger stake in rights negotiations. By spreading the product across free digital, subscription streaming and linear TV, the ISL hopes to maximise reach while still generating revenue.

The ISL cited a 23 % year‑on‑year rise in India’s connected‑TV audience, now at 166 million monthly viewers, and a 77 % increase in YouTube CTV device‑hours over the past two years. Those figures, supplied by league officials, underscore the logic of leaning heavily on YouTube’s growing household penetration.

Sony Pictures Networks India’s chief revenue officer, Rajesh Kaul, noted, “Indian football has passionate supporters, deep local loyalties and rivalries that deserve a national stage. With all 163 matches on Sony LIV and over 80 on our television channels, fans can follow their clubs throughout the season.”

Season schedule and new fixtures

The 2026‑27 season kicks off on 10 October 2026 with Bengaluru FC hosting newly promoted Sporting Club Delhi. A second opening match sees FC Goa take on Chennaiyin FC later that day.

Phase 1 comprises 78 matches running through 17 January 2027, with 53 games slated for weekends (Friday‑Sunday). Highlights include the inaugural ISL Goa Derby between Churchill Brothers and FC Goa, and a landmark fixture at Imphal’s Khuman Lampak Stadium where NorthEast United FC will face Sporting Club Delhi on 24 November.

The multi‑platform rollout aims to give fans the choice to watch live for free on YouTube, catch marquee games on TV, or subscribe to Sony LIV for a complete, ad‑free experience. As the league settles into its new commercial model, the broadened distribution is being billed as the biggest step yet toward making Indian football a truly national sport.