The league phase
Every club in the Indian Super League plays the others across the regular season, earning three points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. The table is ranked purely on points first, with goal difference and goals scored used as tie-breakers when clubs finish level. This part of the season decides who advances, but unlike most European leagues, it does not decide the champion on its own.
Why the table topper does not always win the title
The ISL uses a playoff system on top of the league table, borrowed from the structure used in the old I-League and common across newer football markets. A set number of top-placed clubs from the league phase, rather than just the top club, qualify for a knockout stage played after the regular season ends. This means a club can finish first in the table across the whole season and still lose the actual championship in the playoffs to a team that finished lower.
How the playoffs work
Clubs that qualify are seeded by their final league position. Higher-seeded teams generally get a scheduling advantage, such as hosting a match or needing fewer wins to advance, but every playoff tie is still decided on the pitch. The playoffs are knockout football — lose the deciding match and the season ends, regardless of how strong the club's league form was.
The Shield versus the Cup
Because of this two-stage format, the ISL effectively hands out two different honours in most seasons: one for finishing top of the league table during the regular season, and a separate one for winning the playoff knockout stage. Both matter to a club's season, but only the playoff winner is usually referred to as the season's champion.
Why the format exists
League-plus-playoff structures are designed to keep more clubs and their fanbases interested for longer. In a straight league format, a club out of title contention by mid-season has little left to play for. With a playoff spot open to several clubs rather than just one, more teams stay in genuine contention deep into the season, which is exactly what a growing football league needs from a fan-interest standpoint.
Understanding the table is only half the picture — knowing how offside actually works helps explain plenty of the moments that decide who finishes where. More coverage like this is in our Sports section.
