Indian football has lost several clubs over the past two decades because of financial troubles, ownership changes, administrative uncertainty and poor long-term planning. Jamshedpur FC became the latest club to shut down in 2026, taking the total number of clubs that have ceased operations since 2002 to 20.
Here is the list of the vanished Indian football clubs
FC Kochin (2002) – Kerala’s first professional club and the only state side to play in the National Football League (NFL) folded after financial problems. The club had won the Durand Cup in its debut season and was nicknamed ‘The Elephants’.
#THROWBACK | A moment from the 1997 IFA Shield Final with Bhaichung Bhutia of East Bengal against the heavyweight trio of I. M. Vijayan, Raman Vijayan and Carlton Chapman of FC Kochin.
— East Bengal History (@ebfchistory) June 7, 2026
East Bengal defeated the superstar oriented Kochin side 3—2 to lift the trophy. pic.twitter.com/yaUhLG2Fni
Fransa-Pax FC (2006) – The Goa-based club shut down midway through the NFL season after owner Mickky Pacheco accused the AIFF of conspiring to relegate the team.
Mahindra United FC (2010) – One of India’s most successful clubs, Mahindra United won the NFL, Federation Cup, Durand Cup and IFA Shield before ending its senior football operations to focus on grassroots development.
JCT FC (2011) – Punjab’s historic club, winner of the inaugural NFL title in 1996 and renowned for producing players like Sunil Chhetri, disbanded its senior team, although its academy continues to operate.
Bengal Mumbai FC (2011) – The Mumbai-based club, which won the Mumbai Football League and Rovers Cup in its first season, folded due to financial and organisational issues.
Viva Kerala FC (2012) – Formerly known as Chirag United Club Kerala, the Kochi-based side closed after sponsorship problems despite competing in the NFL, I-League and Kerala Premier League.
Travancore Titanium FC (2015) – The Kerala club, which won one Kerala Premier League title and 10 Kerala State Club Football Championships, shut down because of financial constraints and recruitment problems.
Bharat FC (2015) – Founded by the Kalyani Group, the Pune-based club survived only one I-League season before financial concerns forced it to close.
Royal Wahingdoh (2016) – Meghalaya’s famous club finished third in the I-League after earning promotion but decided not to continue because of rising costs and uncertainty surrounding the league.
Pune FC (2016) – One of the I-League’s strongest clubs, Pune FC shut down due to financial problems before its academy was taken over by FC Pune City.
Mumbai FC (2017) – After suffering relegation from the I-League and facing years of financial struggles, the club eventually ceased operations.
DSK Shivajians FC (2017) – The Pune club, which partnered with Liverpool FC for a residential academy, closed after the DSK Group ran into financial trouble.
Delhi Dynamos (2019) – One of the Indian Super League’s founding clubs, Delhi Dynamos was relocated to Bhubaneswar and rebranded as Odisha FC.
Delhi Dynamos have today parted ways with striker Andrija Kaluderovic. https://t.co/sDxQWNXclc #RoarWithTheLions pic.twitter.com/qiZBHfUmix
— Delhi Dynamos FC (@DelhiDynamos) January 10, 2019
FC Pune City (2019) – The ISL franchise dissolved after financial problems and AIFF disciplinary action, making way for Hyderabad FC.
ATK (Atletico de Kolkata) (2020) – Three-time ISL champions ATK ceased to exist after merging with Mohun Bagan to form ATK Mohun Bagan.
United Sikkim FC (2021) – Co-owned by Bhaichung Bhutia, the club shut down permanently after a brief revival, though its academy remains active.
Indian Arrows (2022) – The AIFF’s developmental team, created to nurture India’s top young footballers, ended operations after multiple stints in the I-League.
Imagine this team regularly played in I League or ISL.
— 90min_India (@90min_India) June 19, 2025
As Indian arrows, 10 goal hota Aaj hamara.
MF @kalyanchaubey bring back Indian arrows 🙏🥺. pic.twitter.com/h5kfQNb2jt
Chennai City FC (2023) – The 2018-19 I-League champions exited professional football after repeated failures to meet AIFF club licensing requirements.
Salgaocar FC (2023) – One of India’s most decorated clubs, Salgaocar shut down its senior team after years of disagreement with the AIFF over Indian football’s restructuring.
Jamshedpur FC (2026) – Founded in 2017, the ISL Shield winners of 2021-22 consistently outperformed expectations on a modest budget. However, following prolonged uncertainty during the 2025-26 season and the club’s refusal to pay the ISL participation fee, Jamshedpur FC became the latest club to cease operations.
What does the it mean for Indian football?
The closure of 20 clubs in just over two decades reflects the deep structural problems affecting Indian football. Several historic and successful teams disappeared because of financial instability, weak sponsorship, poor governance and uncertainty over the country’s football pyramid.
Bychung Bhutia expressed deep concern about the state of Indian football
Talking to the Sportstar, he said, ” “Very, very sad. I think Jamshedpur was such an important factor. A renowned industrialist team, the Tata Group team, shutting down is definitely a very, very bad thing. Yes, the club is a different thing, but you have one of the biggest corporates, just not in India, but worldwide.” He also added, A lot of upcoming investment in football, it will just put a very negative message. Jamshedpur used to [have] quite a good crowd. A lot of the players on contract will become clubless, and then a lot of people [who] have been working there.”
As reported by Sportstar, the club decided on 30th July not to participate with a 50 lakh entry fee, and officials have conveyed to the respective groups involved on Friday.