The 2025-26 ISL season is being played in a truncated season because of its delayed start and it has produced probably the most exciting battle for the ISL Shield the league has ever witnessed. Due to a dramatic decrease in the number of games this term, each team playing 13 games in total, with sides playing each other only once with different ties home and away, it has produced intense football and unpredictability of who would come out top. As many as six teams including the two times defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant are in the battle for the top spot this season with Bengaluru FC and East Bengal the only side to have not lifted the honor before. With four game weeks left to play in the season, we look at the team's schedule and see the probability of each one's chance of lifting the Shield this season and create history.
Jamshedpur FC (Pos: 6, Pld: 9, Pts: 15)
Owen Coyle's reappointment at Jamshedpur FC seemed to be working wonders for the team as they led an early charge for the Shield, having won the silverware under him in the 2021-22 season. The Men of Steel started decisively, winning their first four games and also taking the top spot on the table at one point. However, they then suffered a 2-1 defeat to Northeast United, which started a barren run of five games without a victory. Still, the side conjured some important results in that period, coming from behind to share points with other title challengers, Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City, at home in back-to-back games with late dramatic goals.
Their luck ran out, though, as they suffered a shock 2-0 loss to 11th-placed Kerala Blasters in Kochi, the first time they had failed to score this season, slipping down to sixth in the table. Although Jamshedpur FC remain in the title hunt, they are five points adrift of the top spot at present and don’t have destiny in their own hands. They need all the sides above them to slip off and register nothing but a victory in all of their remaining four games, including against fellow pursuers FC Goa and Bengaluru FC in back-to-back games, to have any chance of clinching the title. It is a daunting task, but Coyle’s side has the advantage of playing the rest of the season at home, where they are unbeaten, which could benefit them.
Remaining Fixtures
25 April 2026
Chennaiyin FC (H)
1 May 2026
FC Goa (H)
9 May 2026
Bengaluru FC (H)
23 May 2026
Odisha FC (H)
Bengaluru FC (Pos: 5, Pld: 9, Pts: 15)
Bengaluru FC also registered their name in the title hunt when they picked up important results on the way, including ending the winning streak of the then high-flying Mohun Bagan. The Blues achieved all those under Renedy Singh, who took charge for the season after the departure of Gerard Zaragoza, overseeing three victories and two draws in his six games. However, the club then decided to hire a foreign coach, Pep Munoz, to the role. While the start of his tenure was impressive, as the side collected a 2-0 win against FC Goa in their trip to Fatorda, the first defeat to Kerala Blasters at home in their ISL history and losing their lead three times to ultimately draw 3-3 away against 10-man down East Bengal left a huge question mark on his appointment.
That series of results leaves the last season’s ISL Cup finalist in fifth place on the table, having the same points as Jamshedpur FC and East Bengal, squeezed between them. Their scenario is like most of the teams in the pack battling for the ISL Shield this season, which is to hope that other results fall in their way while they win their remaining games. Their remaining schedule for the season includes a face-off against two title contenders, starting with second-placed Mumbai City FC at home. The Blues then make consecutive trips to Odisha FC and the important one to Jamshedpur FC before wrapping at home to Chennaiyin FC. Their target will be to reach their maximum tally of 27 points and hope nobody eclipses that by the end of it.
Remaining Fixtures
25 April 2026
Mumbai City (H)
4 May 2026
Odisha FC (A)
9 May 2026
Jamshedpur FC (A)
23 May 2026
Chennaiyin FC (H)
East Bengal FC (Pos: 4, Pld: 8, Pts: 15)
East Bengal also carry the same points as the two teams placed just below them, but with a game in hand and they hope to use it as an edge over others in the title race. The Red and Gold became a real challenger for the Shield under Oscar Bruzon for the first time since their integration into ISL in 2020 and at one point this season, went ahead of their arch-rivals Mohun Bagan, who had a far more successful time in the league, in the standings. Yet, the Kolkata giants have been unable to recover from inconsistency, which has been a stumbling block again. The side started the season with back-to-back victories for the first time in the competition, but the positive feeling quickly faded after a series of poor results.
East Bengal lost to Jamshedpur FC, followed by a goalless draw against FC Goa and even gave the first point of the season to lowly Kerala Blasters, with all of these results coming at home to make matters worse. They seemed to turn things around after the international break, when they registered big wins against Mohammedan SC and Chennaiyin FC, yet could not carry forward the momentum as they required a late winner to save a point in the 3-3 thriller against Bengaluru FC, although they were down to 10 for a controversial red card shown to Miguel Ferreira. Hence, Oscar Bruzon’s men had to look at results elsewhere too and hope they don’t derail from their track at the same time. They are yet to face the top two sides on the ISL table, with a trip to Mumbai and the Kolkata derby looming, which is bound to be their season decider
Remaining Fixtures
28 April 2026
Odisha FC (H)
8 May 2026
Mumbai City (A)
11 May 2026
Punjab FC (H)
17 May 2026
Mohun Bagan (N)
23 May 2026
Inter Kashi (A)
FC Goa (Pos: 3, Pld: 9, Pts: 16)
Back-to-back Super Cup winners FC Goa got themselves in the race for the ISL Shield after a productive season so far, with four wins and four draws and just suffering one loss in nine games so far. One of the biggest results they picked up was a 2-0 victory over fellow challengers Mumbai City, which helped them climb third on the table and put them just four points away from the top spot. The inaugural winners of the ISL Shield now have the chance to excel further in the title race if they repeat the same against other contenders they are about to face in the remaining schedule. However, they will have to play most of the remainder of the season away froṁ home, which might be an issue.
The Gaur’s best time in the season came at the Fatorda, where, except for a loss against Bengaluru FC, the side picked up three wins, including that massive victory against the Islanders. In contrast, Manolo Marquez’s side picked up just one win on the trip, which also came against Mohammedan SC, although they did not suffer any defeat. Three of their remaining four games of the season will come away from home, including a trip to Furnace to face Jamshedpur FC at the start of May. Their sole home game is also far from easy as they take on table toppers Mohun Bagan before wrapping the season against Kerala Blasters in Kochi in a far more difficult schedule than the rest of the pack.
Remaining Fixtures
24 April 2026
Northeast United (A)
1 May 2026
Jamshedpur FC (A)
9 May 2026
Mohun Bagan (H)
23 May 2026
Kerala Blasters (A)
Mumbai City (Pos: 2, Pld: 9, Pts: 18)
Staying unbeaten for two months since the start of the ISL season, Mumbai City suffered their first defeat against FC Goa, which is a blow to their charge for the ISL Shield after also losing two points against another challenger, Jamshedpur FC, in the 1-1 draw a game ago in the stoppage time. That let them lose their hold on the top spot, which they snatched from Mohun Bagan after beating them at Salt Lake, having strung together an eight-game unbeaten run. Instead, the Mariners have climbed back on top of the pile, carrying a two-point advantage over the Islanders, meaning it is likely the pair will be locked in a two-horse race for the silverware again.
The two-time Shield winners had proven to be a strong unit this season despite losing their revolutionary City Football Group ownership during the period of uncertainty on the league’s future. So, they will be desperate to return to the summit to prove that they are a force to reckon with, regardless. Mumbai City are set to face two title challenges back-to-back, with a trip to face Bengaluru FC before welcoming East Bengal at home. These two fixtures are set to be season-defining ones, as Mohammedan SC and Punjab FC are winnable games on paper. Petr Kratky’s side hopes to take the title home at the end of it, but for that, they will also require the current league leaders to drop at least two points.
Remaining Fixtures
25 April 2026
Bengaluru FC (A)
8 May 2026
East Bengal (H)
15 May 2026
Mohammedan SC (A)
23 May 2026
Punjab FC (H)
Mohun Bagan Super Giant (Pos: 1, Pld: 9, Pts: 20)
Sergio Lobera led Mohun Bagan Super Giant was touted to be favourites to make it a third year in a row that they have lifted the ISL Shield. The team started in that fashion showing that they have only gone strength to strength with one of the best managers in the league in their dugout this time. However, after five straight victories with an enormous attacking display, the Mariners stumbled in their first away game with a goalless draw to Bengaluru FC before the disappointing defeat to Mumbai City FC in front of their own fans. Frustration continued when they were denied victory at the very end against Jamshedpur FC in the 1-1 draw at Furnace.
But the team managed to bailed themselves out when the positivity of a hopeful start was gone. Clinching a 3-2 victory over Punjab FC and then a 1-0 win against Northeast United in a rain drenched game at Guwahati helped them regained their spot at the top. Now, Mohun Bagan has control of their own destiny, with their fate not depending on other results provided they don't slip off again. Winning the remaining games of the season will give them a record three Shield honors but it is easier said than done though as they will take on FC Goa away next and also have the much anticipated Kolkata derby. However, their schedule is far easier than the rest. Playing the final three games at home might also help their cause.
Remaining Fixtures
9 May 2026
FC Goa (A)
12 May 2026
Inter Kashi (H)
17 May 2026
East Bengal (N)
23 May 2026
Sporting Delhi (H)
