The ISL 2026-27 season is three weeks old. And the table is already telling a story nobody predicted.
NorthEast United are top. Punjab FC are second. And the defending champions, East Bengal, are not first . The giants are chasing.
The Table That Nobody Expected
Here is where things stand after Matchweek 3:
| Position | Club | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NorthEast United | 7 |
| 2 | Punjab FC | 7 |
| 3 | East Bengal | 6 |
| 4 | Bengaluru FC | 6 |
| 5 | Mohun Bagan | 6 |
Data: Khel Now
NorthEast United have been the story of the season. They beat Mohun Bagan in the opening week. They thrashed Kerala Blasters 4-1. Alaeddine Ajaraie has been unstoppable, with two goals and one assist .
But East Bengal are lurking. Ake Loba scored twice and assisted another in a 5-1 demolition of Inter Kashi . The defending champions are not going anywhere.
The Tactical Shift: Why the Underdogs Are Winning
The early ISL table is not an accident. It is the result of a tactical shift that has caught the traditional giants off guard. For years, the ISL was dominated by teams that relied on individual brilliance—a marquee striker here, a world-class playmaker there. But this season, the teams at the top are the ones playing as a collective unit.
Take NorthEast United, for example. They do not have the most expensive squad in the league. They do not have the biggest fanbase. But what they do have is a clear identity. Their high-pressing system suffocates opponents in the midfield. Alaeddine Ajaraie is not just scoring goals; he is the first line of defense, constantly closing down defenders. That is not luck. That is coaching.
Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are still searching for their rhythm. The giants have the star power, but star power takes time to gel. When you have three or four new signings in the starting XI, the understanding between players is not instant. The early weeks of the season are always about finding that chemistry. That is why the table looks upside down right now.
The YouTube Effect: A New Era for Indian Football Fans
But the biggest tactical shift is happening off the pitch. This season, every single ISL match is being streamed live and free on YouTube. No subscriptions. No cable TV. Just a phone and an internet connection. For a country where millions of fans watch cricket for free, this is a game-changer.
The numbers tell the story. More young fans are tuning in. The league is reaching audiences in tier-2 and tier-3 cities where sports broadcasting was previously limited. The ISL is no longer a niche product for the elite. It is becoming a mass-market phenomenon. If this continues, the commercial value of the league will skyrocket. And that money will eventually trickle down to grassroots football.
My Take: The Format Change Is the Real Story
Here is what the headlines will miss. This ISL season is not just a title race. It is an experiment.
For the first time in years, the ISL has returned to a full home-and-away format. 13 teams. 163 matches. Eight months of football . And every single match is streaming free on YouTube .
That is the real story. Not NorthEast United’s early lead. Not East Bengal’s warning. The story is that the ISL is finally accessible to everyone. No subscription. No cable. Just football.
The early table is tight. NorthEast United and Punjab have set the pace. The giants are chasing. But the real winner might be the fan who can watch every match for free.
What Happens Next
The season runs until May 2027 . The table will change. NorthEast United will face pressure. East Bengal will find their rhythm. Mohun Bagan will climb.
But the question is not who wins the Shield. The question is whether this season’s accessibility experiment works. If it does, Indian football changes. If it doesn’t, the ISL goes back to being a niche product.
So, will NorthEast United win the Shield? Probably not. The ISL is a marathon, not a sprint. As the season progresses, the bigger squads will find their form. Injuries will play a role. Refereeing decisions will even out. The giants will climb the table.
But what this early start has done is prove that the ISL is no longer predictable. The days of knowing the top four before the season even begins are over. Any team can beat any team on their day. And for a league that is still fighting for relevance in a cricket-obsessed nation, that unpredictability is the most valuable asset it has.
The football is on the pitch. But the future is on YouTube.
