“This season of ISL is another important step towards our football dream”: Nita Ambani
MUMBAI, The Hero Indian Super League (ISL) in the year 2022-23 will begin on 7th October 2022 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi with a match against East Bengal FC hosted by last season’s runners-up Kerala Blasters. The 2022-23 season will be special as fans will be welcomed to the stadium after a gap of two seasons. The teams will again have the support of their ’12th player’ i.e. the spectators after two years.
Mrs. Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson of Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) said that the upcoming season of Hero Indian Super League will be an important milestone for the league and Indian football.
“India’s football journey is a testament to the spirit of the beautiful game! With fans back in the stadiums and a much longer football calendar, there is huge excitement and anticipation for the upcoming ISL season. The fans are the heart and soul of football and we are delighted to see them cheering their team on again in the stands!
Despite the challenges of the pandemic over the past few years, ISL has provided a solid platform to young talent and a digital connection to fans. I am sure this year will see the emergence of many more domestic players and high-quality football!”, added Mrs. Ambani.
This season Hero ISL will also provide fans with easy access to live matches as the tournament will be weekend focused from the third match week onwards. A new playoff format has been introduced this season, which will feature the top six teams.
Featuring 117 matches of high-octane football action, Hero ISL returns to entertain its fans at ten venues across the country. For the first time the ISL league stage will last for about five months, excluding playoffs, semi-finals and finals. Each club will play 20 league matches, 10 at home and the rest at other venues, from autumn to next spring, with the league stage ending on 26th February.
2022-23 Hero ISL Season Key Dates at a Glance:
Opening Match: 7th October 2022, Last League Stage Matchweek: February 23-26th, 2023
Playoffs, Semifinals and Final: March 2023