Indian Football Transformation Could Make Football the New Cricket

Indian football transformation could be entering a new phase, according to Bollywood actor and Northeast United FC owner John Abraham, who believes football has the potential to become the “new cricket” in India from this year.

Speaking at Northeast United FC's new jersey unveiling event in Mumbai on September 5, John Abraham expressed optimism about the future of Indian football. He said the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season could prove to be a major turning point for the sport, particularly with club owners expected to play a more active role in shaping the league.

The actor and football club owner also expressed confidence that ISL owners share a common objective — to make football bigger, stronger and more popular across the country.

John Abraham Backs Major Change in Indian Football

John Abraham has been closely associated with Indian football through his ownership of Northeast United FC. His latest comments underline his belief that the sport is approaching an important stage of development.

According to Abraham, the upcoming ISL season could be significant for the Indian football transformation, with club owners becoming more involved in efforts to strengthen the league and grow the sport's reach.

He believes the collective approach of ISL club owners could help create a stronger football ecosystem in India.

Football Could Become the “New Cricket”

One of the biggest takeaways from John Abraham's comments was his prediction that football could become the “new cricket” in India.

Cricket has traditionally dominated India's sporting landscape, attracting enormous public attention and commercial interest. Abraham's prediction reflects his belief that football is capable of achieving a much larger following as the domestic football structure continues to evolve.

The Indian football transformation could therefore represent a shift in the country's sporting culture, with football potentially reaching new audiences and gaining greater visibility.

ISL 2026-27 Season Set for October 10 Start

The 2026-27 Indian Super League season is scheduled to begin on October 10.

The upcoming campaign will return to the traditional home-and-away format, giving clubs the opportunity to play matches in front of their home supporters as well as travel for away fixtures.

The season is scheduled to feature a 163-match league campaign spread across approximately eight months, with matches continuing through May 2027.

The return of the home-and-away format is expected to add another dimension to the competition and provide supporters across different cities and regions with greater opportunities to watch their clubs in action.

Traditional Home-and-Away Format Returns

The return to the traditional format is an important development ahead of the new ISL campaign.

Home matches can play a major role in building a club's connection with its local supporters. For clubs such as Northeast United FC, playing in front of their home fans can also help strengthen regional engagement and build a stronger football culture.

As part of the wider Indian football transformation, stronger connections between clubs and their supporters could be important in increasing the popularity of domestic football.

ISL Club Owners United on Football's Growth

John Abraham said ISL club owners are united in their objective of making football bigger and stronger in India.

A more active role for club owners could potentially influence several aspects of the league, including club development, fan engagement and the overall commercial growth of Indian football.