John Abraham Predicts a Paradigm Shift as ISL Enters a New Era

Indian football could be approaching a defining moment.

With the new Indian Super League season set to begin on October 10, Northeast United FC owner John Abraham believes the upcoming campaign could fundamentally change the way football is perceived and consumed in India. Speaking at the unveiling of NEUFC’s new Reebok jersey in Mumbai, Abraham described the season ahead as the beginning of a new era for the league one in which club owners will play a much more active role in shaping Indian football.

For Abraham, the change goes beyond the return of another ISL season. He sees an opportunity for football to become a much bigger part of India's sporting culture.

“Football will be the new cricket in India from this year,” Abraham said, pointing to what he believes will be a major shift in the structure and direction of the league.

The NEUFC owner believes the growing involvement of club owners could prove crucial to the league's development.

According to Abraham, owners across the ISL are united by a common objective, making football more successful in India. Rather than operating as isolated franchises, clubs are increasingly looking at the bigger picture and trying to create an ecosystem that can benefit the sport as a whole. “You will see a huge paradigm shift in football from this season,” Abraham said, adding that he hopes the change will have a lasting impact.

His comments come at a significant time for the ISL. The league is returning to its traditional home-and-away format after the 2025-26 season was played as a shortened single-leg round-robin competition. The previous campaign saw all 14 clubs play 13 matches each. The return to a longer home-and-away structure is expected to give clubs more opportunities to build stronger connections with their supporters and create a genuine home advantage.

Northeast United's Fight to Stay Among the Best

Abraham's perspective is also shaped by his own experience as the owner of Northeast United FC. He described the club's journey as one of competing against significantly larger organizations while remaining committed to building a strong identity for the Northeast. “As a single owner competing with multi-billion-dollar corporations, we’re punching above our weight,” he said.

For Abraham, the presence of commercial partners such as Reebok, alongside public and private-sector support, demonstrates the growing confidence in both Northeast United and Indian football.

The club's progress on the pitch has also strengthened that belief. The Highlanders have won consecutive Durand Cup titles in 2024 and 2025, establishing themselves as one of the country's most competitive teams in recent seasons. Those successes have raised expectations ahead of the new ISL campaign.

Abraham is now setting his sights on the trophy that has continued to elude the club. “We are going to fight for the title,” he said.

Perhaps the most significant part of Abraham's message was his description of Northeast United as something larger than a sporting organization. The actor-turned-club owner believes the team has become a symbol for the region and an important source of unity. “I think today, Northeast United FC is not just a football team. We’re a movement,” he said.

Abraham pointed to the social and civil challenges experienced across parts of the Northeast and argued that football has provided a rare common platform for people to rally around.

That connection between the club and its supporters is something NEUFC hopes to strengthen further as the ISL expands its reach. The new Reebok partnership and jersey launch are therefore more than commercial developments. For the club, they are part of a broader effort to increase the visibility of Northeast football and establish the Highlanders as a nationally recognized sporting identity.

From Durand Cup Success to the ISL Challenge

Winning two successive Durand Cup titles has given Northeast United confidence, but the ISL represents a much larger and longer challenge. The league's home-and-away format will test squad depth, consistency, and the ability to perform across an entire campaign. Abraham, however, appears convinced that the club is ready.

He praised CEO Mandar and head coach Juan, along with his players, and made it clear that the objective is not simply to compete but to repeatedly challenge for trophies. The Highlanders have already demonstrated that they can win silverware.

Now they want to take the next step.

The 2026-27 ISL season will begin on October 10 and run through May 2027, giving Indian football clubs a much longer competitive window than the previous campaign. For Northeast United, it could be the season when their growing reputation finally translates into ISL success. For Abraham, it could also be the season when the league itself takes a significant step forward.

His prediction that football could become “the new cricket” is undoubtedly ambitious, but the direction he describes is clear: stronger clubs, greater owner involvement, deeper commercial partnerships, and a more passionate connection between teams and their communities.

The real test will come once the football begins. For NEUFC, the message from its owner is simple: the club has survived, built, won, and grown. Now it wants the biggest prize.

And if Abraham's vision for Indian football is correct, the coming ISL season could be about much more than deciding a champion. It could mark the beginning of a new chapter for the sport in India.