This guide explains the structure of the Indian Super League season, so a table or a fixture list makes immediate sense.
The league phase
Clubs play each other home and away through the league phase. Every match produces the same three outcomes you know from any league: three points for a win, one for a draw, none for a defeat. The table sorts clubs by points, then by the goal difference or head-to-head rules the league sets out for that season.
| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| P | Matches played |
| W | Won |
| D | Drawn |
| L | Lost |
| GF / GA | Goals for and against |
| Pts | Points |
The playoff finish
The top clubs from the league phase move into a knockout format. Knockout football is a different sport from league football: one bad half can end a season that took months to build, and the best team over 20 matches is not always the team that lifts the trophy.
How to read our tables
Our standings pages carry the season they refer to. Before a campaign starts, the table shows the teams entered and zeroes across the columns, because that is the honest state of the competition. Points appear as matches are played.
Frequent questions
Does the league phase winner win the title? No. The league phase decides the playoff places, and the knockout rounds decide the champion.
Why is the table all zeroes before the season? Because no matches have been played. We do not fill tables with estimates.
Once the season is under way, the standings page and the fixtures page are the two pages to keep open.