Wed, May 06, 2026
Mohali (IANS) – Punjab FC has been granted the prestigious ‘Premier 1’ Club License by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for the 2025–26 season, making it the only club in the country to receive the license without any sanctions.
The AIFF’s Club Licensing Committee announced the decision following a comprehensive evaluation of documentation submitted by 15 clubs. Punjab FC stood out as the only club to meet all the licensing criteria without any deficiencies, earning an unconditional license for the upcoming season.
Other prominent Indian Super League (ISL) clubs, including reigning ISL champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC, FC Goa, Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, Jamshedpur FC, and Mumbai City FC, were issued licenses with sanctions due to minor shortcomings in fulfilling Category B criteria.
"This is a proud moment for everyone at Punjab FC," said Technical Director Nikolaos Topoliatis. "The recognition reflects our commitment to operational excellence, transparency, and maintaining the highest standards in club management. From our youth development programs to our first-team operations, we have always aimed to set benchmarks in professionalism and integrity. This achievement validates our efforts and inspires us to continue elevating Punjab FC and Indian football as a whole."
Punjab FC finished 10th in the 2024–25 Indian Super League with 28 points and reached the quarterfinals of the Kalinga Super Cup. The club’s youth teams also delivered outstanding performances this season, winning the AIFF U-17 Elite Youth League by defeating Jamshedpur FC and successfully defending their Dream Sports Championship title with a win over Mohun Bagan Super Giant. Meanwhile, the U-15 (Sub-Junior) team currently tops their group in the final round of the AIFF Sub-Junior League.
In contrast, several clubs failed to meet the licensing requirements. I-League champions Churchill Brothers FC Goa—recently promoted to the ISL—along with Hyderabad FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Odisha FC, NorthEast United FC, Mohammedan Sporting Club, and Inter Kashi, were denied the Premier 1 license.
The AIFF clarified that clubs whose applications were rejected have the right to appeal or request an exemption to participate in national club competitions, in accordance with licensing regulations.
The Indian Club Licensing system is an essential annual process aimed at maintaining the quality, professionalism, and infrastructure of football clubs across the country. Licenses are categorized into ‘Premier 1’ for ISL clubs and ‘Premier 2’ for I-League clubs.
AIFF Premier 1 Licensing Results for 2025–26:
| 14-09-2018 | ||||||
| Sl No. | Parameters | Actual Data(µg/m3) | Standard Limit(µg/m3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PM 10 | 64 | 100 |
| 2 | PM 2.5 | 33 | 60 |
| 3 | SO2 | 55.3 | 80 |
| 4 | NO2 | 58.2 | 80 |
| 14-09-2018 | ||||||
| Station | Temperature(degree centigrade) | Rainfall(mm) | Relative humidity(%) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max | Min | Past 24 hrs. | Since 1st March, 2018 | Max | Min | |
| Ranchi | 31.0 | 22.5 | 000.0 | 1010.1 | 95 | 66 |
| Jamshedpur | 34.1 | 26.2 | 000.0 | 1252.8 | 87 | 58 |
| Bokaro | 33.5 | 24.6 | 015.2 | 824.0 | 92 | 79 |
| Daltonganj | 32.6 | 24.9 | 004.2 | 960.9 | 95 | 67 |
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