Highlights
- The ISL has extended its association with EA Sports.
- Several Indian football stars feature in the EAFC 27 promotion.
- The renewed deal arrives ahead of a new ISL season.
The Indian Super League (ISL) has signed a new four-year licensing agreement with EA Sports, keeping India’s top-flight football competition in the EA Sports FC franchise. The partnership includes EA Sports FC 27 (EAFC 27), extending the league’s relationship with the football gaming series into a new four-year cycle.
“The Indian Super League returns on FC 27!” the league announced on X on Sep 18, 2026. The ISL first appeared in FIFA Mobile before making its console debut in FIFA 22 in 2021. It subsequently featured in FIFA 23 and the EA Sports FC titles.
Which Indian Players are Featured in EAFC 27?
The ISL’s promotional material features four Indian players representing different clubs:
- Subhasish Bose: The Mohun Bagan Super Giant captain is featured in his No. 15 kit. He was named the AIFF Men’s Player of the Year for 2024-25 after captaining the club to the ISL Shield and scoring six goals during the season. He had 42 senior India caps as of May 2025.
- Sandesh Jhingan: The FC Goa captain is featured in the club’s kit. His honors include the AIFF Men’s Footballer of the Year award, the Arjuna Award, and the 2023 Intercontinental Cup. He has 77 senior India caps, according to September 2026 reporting.
- Sunil Chhetri: The Bengaluru FC captain has a 68 overall rating in EAFC 27. He is India’s most-capped player and leading international goalscorer, with 94 international goals. He is also the ISL’s all-time leading scorer, with his tally reaching 77 goals.
- Gurpreet Singh Sandhu: The Bengaluru FC goalkeeper made his senior India debut in 2011. He became the first Indian footballer to play in a UEFA Europa League match when he represented Norwegian club Stabæk in 2016. He has also won four SAFF Championship titles with India.
Meanwhile, the posters for Sunil Chhetri and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu carry the “Ultimate Edition” branding, which refers to a special edition of EAFC 27 with pre-order benefits such as early access and bonus digital currency. The posters featuring Subhasish Bose and Sandesh Jhingan carry “The Grounds” branding, referring to the game’s new open-world social football hub.
How Does the ISL 2026-27 Season Connect With EAFC 27?
The new licensing deal comes just weeks before the 2026-27 ISL season begins on Oct 10, 2026, giving the league a real-world season alongside its continued presence in EAFC 27. The campaign will feature 13 teams across 163 matches over eight months, with the traditional home-and-away format returning and the top six advancing to the playoffs.
East Bengal enters the new campaign as the 2025-26 champion after finishing level on points with Mohun Bagan but taking the title on goal difference.
For EAFC 27 players, the renewed agreement could mean continued ISL representation in the game as the 2026-27 domestic season gets underway. It could also further connect the league’s real-world campaign with its presence in EA Sports’ football simulation.
Churchill Brothers’ participation remains subject to regulatory approval. Meanwhile, Diamond Harbour FC will not take up its promoted place after failing to meet the administrative requirements for the season and will be relegated to the Indian Football League for 2027-28.
The partnership gives Indian football another bridge between its domestic competition and global gaming audience.
