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Five Teams That Could Challenge Los Angeles Dodgers This Year | Deadspin.com

Five Teams That Could Challenge Los Angeles Dodgers This Year | Deadspin.com

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Feb 21, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The rich got even richer this past offseason when the Los Angeles Dodgers bolstered both their starting lineup and their bullpen in moves that caused many of the sport’s aficionados to cry foul.

After a World Series title in each of the last two seasons, the Dodgers appear to be even bigger championship favorites this season with the additions of right fielder Kyle Tucker and right-handed closer Edwin Diaz.

The prohibitive favorite tag suggests that nobody can touch the Dodgers’ combination of unlimited financial resources and immense roster talent. And yet the past two seasons show that the gap might not be as wide as it appears.

In 2024, the Dodgers barely got past the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series, needing to win the last two games of the five-game matchup just to advance. The Dodgers then rolled past the New York Mets and had their way with the New York Yankees in the World Series.

In 2025, the Dodgers did not have MLB’s best record in the regular season. That belonged to the Milwaukee Brewers at 97-65, who were operating with a payroll more than $200 million less than the $321 million the Dodgers were spending. The Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays and Yankees also finished with better regular-season records last year.

The Phillies were on the cusp of forcing a deciding game in the division series, which would have been at home, before a befuddling fielding miscue cost them in Game 4. In the World Series, the Blue Jays outplayed the Dodgers in plenty of areas, only to fall in Game 7 when L.A. stuck out its nose at the wire to win it.

Is there a team that can put a similar scare into the Dodgers in 2026? There are 29 options for knocking the king from its throne.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

After almost doing what was believed to be the unthinkable last postseason, the Blue Jays are poised as the team that appears to be the most capable of delivering a change at the top of the MLB hierarchy. 

Vladimir Gurrero Jr. had the Dodgers’ full attention last fall and Ernie Clement’s profile in Los Angeles was raised exponentially after he put a scare into all of Los Angeles. If Addison Barger’s bat continues to emerge and the pitching staff can thrive once Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios return from injuries, Toronto could be poised for another deep October run.

NEW YORK YANKEES

Sep 12, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Aaron Judge (99) reacts after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
Sep 12, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Aaron Judge (99) reacts after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

There are no significant departures from a team that was tied with the Blue Jays for best regular-season record in the American League at 94-68. Cody Bellinger is back in the fold and Aaron Judge continues to lead the way with an AVERAGE of 52.5 home runs over the past four seasons. 

Will Giancarlo Stanton, Trent Grisham and Ryan McMahon make significant contributions? Jasson Dominguez is poised to be a difference maker. Max Fried will try to hold things together at the top of the rotation while waiting for Gerrit Cole (elbow) and Carlos Rodon (elbow) to return at some point in the first half.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

While the Blue Jays or Yankees can only deliver a knockout blow to the Dodgers in the World Series, the Phillies can take care of business much earlier if they can find their late-season form from a season ago. Sure Philadelphia fell 3-1 to the Dodgers in the NL Division Series, but the matchup was closer than it now appears. 

The Dodgers clinched the series in the 11th inning of Game 4 but only because of a mental blunder on defense by pitcher Orion Kirkering. The Phillies were that close to heading back home for a deciding Game 5 with a full head of steam. Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber form a formidable offense.

NEW YORK METS

Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) works during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn ImagesFeb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) works during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

There were big changes in Queens this offseason as Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert Jr. and Marcus Semien all were significant roster additions with departures of the likes of Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte. 

The painful departure was Diaz to the Dodgers. Can Brett Baty and/or Mark Vientos deliver the kind of production that has been expected? Like the Dodgers, the Mets have a free-spender in owner Steve Cohen, who is going to figure it out eventually, just as long as his big-spending ways year after year do not make him queasy. The Mets took two games off the Dodgers in the 2024 NLCS but flopped at 83-79 last season.

SEATTLE MARINERS

Unable to advance to the World Series at any point in their history, the Mariners were at the door of the Fall Classic when they lost to the Blue Jays in Game 7 of last year’s ALCS. Cal Raleigh, with his 60-homer season, has supplanted Julio Rodriguez as the team’s offense anchor. 

Perhaps that relief alone will help Rodriguez to get off to an elusive fast start. Josh Naylor is back at first base and Brendan Donovan has arrived to put a charge into the top of the order. Seattle was supposed to have an all-pitch, sporadic-hit personality last season only to have Raleigh flip the script with the most home runs ever from a catcher and a switch hitter. If the Seattle pitchers have their way this season, perhaps baseball will be spending the fall in the Pacific Northwest.

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Deadspin | Galaxy could be most comfortable on counter vs. FC Dallas Jul 25, 2026; Stanford, CA, USA; LA Galaxy midfield Marco Reus (18) warms up before the start of the first half against the San Jose Earthquakes at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Galaxy may be the home side Saturday night when they face FC Dallas in Carson, Calif., but don’t be surprised if Greg Vanney’s group is content with playing on the counterattack. That hasn’t been Vanney’s preferred style as a manager across 13 MLS seasons with Toronto FC and then Los Angeles, but it’s the one that has led to the most success recently. Since April 26, the Galaxy (5-7-6, 21 points) are 3-1-2 in matches where they hold less than 50% of possession, and 0-2-1 in games where they have more than 50%. Perhaps that makes sense with an attack that has been balanced but not particularly explosive. Four LA players have at least four MLS goals, but Joao Klauss and Gabriel Pec lead the squad with five, and Klauss is injured while Pec is no longer with the squad. “You can manage 90 minutes by being off the ball a little bit more or you can manage 90 minutes by being on the ball a little bit more,” Vanney said. “Right now, sometimes we look a little more comfortable off the ball managing the larger stretches of the game. But we’ll see how the game plays out.” There is little doubt that Dallas’ attack runs through center forward Petar Musa, who will be returning from his second MLS All-Star appearance for the Saturday encounter. Musa shares the MLS lead with 13 goals in 15 appearances for Dallas (7-5-5, 26 points), including a late go-ahead tally in his return from the World Cup in a 2-2 draw against the host Portland Timbers on July 22. He is on pace to far exceed his career best of 18 goals during the 2025 season and is averaging an elite 1.01 tallies per 90 minutes, the third-highest rate among players still active in the league. (Hugo Cuypers recently transferred from Chicago to CF Monterrey in Mexico.) Musa, a Croatian international who scored his first World Cup goal in June against England, let himself savor the reward of the All-Star exhibition, including the Tuesday skills contest and Wednesday friendly between a team of MLS stars and a team of Liga MX talent. “Everything, especially (Tuesday), the skill challenge was fun,” Musa said. “But to meet new players, it’s been great. And we are enjoying each moment.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Galaxy #comfortable #counter #DallasJul 25, 2026; Stanford, CA, USA; LA Galaxy midfield Marco Reus (18) warms up before the start of the first half against the San Jose Earthquakes at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Galaxy may be the home side Saturday night when they face FC Dallas in Carson, Calif., but don’t be surprised if Greg Vanney’s group is content with playing on the counterattack.

That hasn’t been Vanney’s preferred style as a manager across 13 MLS seasons with Toronto FC and then Los Angeles, but it’s the one that has led to the most success recently.

Since April 26, the Galaxy (5-7-6, 21 points) are 3-1-2 in matches where they hold less than 50% of possession, and 0-2-1 in games where they have more than 50%.

Perhaps that makes sense with an attack that has been balanced but not particularly explosive. Four LA players have at least four MLS goals, but Joao Klauss and Gabriel Pec lead the squad with five, and Klauss is injured while Pec is no longer with the squad.

“You can manage 90 minutes by being off the ball a little bit more or you can manage 90 minutes by being on the ball a little bit more,” Vanney said. “Right now, sometimes we look a little more comfortable off the ball managing the larger stretches of the game. But we’ll see how the game plays out.”


There is little doubt that Dallas’ attack runs through center forward Petar Musa, who will be returning from his second MLS All-Star appearance for the Saturday encounter.

Musa shares the MLS lead with 13 goals in 15 appearances for Dallas (7-5-5, 26 points), including a late go-ahead tally in his return from the World Cup in a 2-2 draw against the host Portland Timbers on July 22.

He is on pace to far exceed his career best of 18 goals during the 2025 season and is averaging an elite 1.01 tallies per 90 minutes, the third-highest rate among players still active in the league. (Hugo Cuypers recently transferred from Chicago to CF Monterrey in Mexico.)

Musa, a Croatian international who scored his first World Cup goal in June against England, let himself savor the reward of the All-Star exhibition, including the Tuesday skills contest and Wednesday friendly between a team of MLS stars and a team of Liga MX talent.

“Everything, especially (Tuesday), the skill challenge was fun,” Musa said. “But to meet new players, it’s been great. And we are enjoying each moment.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Galaxy #comfortable #counter #Dallas">Deadspin | Galaxy could be most comfortable on counter vs. FC Dallas Jul 25, 2026; Stanford, CA, USA; LA Galaxy midfield Marco Reus (18) warms up before the start of the first half against the San Jose Earthquakes at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Galaxy may be the home side Saturday night when they face FC Dallas in Carson, Calif., but don’t be surprised if Greg Vanney’s group is content with playing on the counterattack. That hasn’t been Vanney’s preferred style as a manager across 13 MLS seasons with Toronto FC and then Los Angeles, but it’s the one that has led to the most success recently. Since April 26, the Galaxy (5-7-6, 21 points) are 3-1-2 in matches where they hold less than 50% of possession, and 0-2-1 in games where they have more than 50%. Perhaps that makes sense with an attack that has been balanced but not particularly explosive. Four LA players have at least four MLS goals, but Joao Klauss and Gabriel Pec lead the squad with five, and Klauss is injured while Pec is no longer with the squad. “You can manage 90 minutes by being off the ball a little bit more or you can manage 90 minutes by being on the ball a little bit more,” Vanney said. “Right now, sometimes we look a little more comfortable off the ball managing the larger stretches of the game. But we’ll see how the game plays out.” There is little doubt that Dallas’ attack runs through center forward Petar Musa, who will be returning from his second MLS All-Star appearance for the Saturday encounter. Musa shares the MLS lead with 13 goals in 15 appearances for Dallas (7-5-5, 26 points), including a late go-ahead tally in his return from the World Cup in a 2-2 draw against the host Portland Timbers on July 22. He is on pace to far exceed his career best of 18 goals during the 2025 season and is averaging an elite 1.01 tallies per 90 minutes, the third-highest rate among players still active in the league. (Hugo Cuypers recently transferred from Chicago to CF Monterrey in Mexico.) Musa, a Croatian international who scored his first World Cup goal in June against England, let himself savor the reward of the All-Star exhibition, including the Tuesday skills contest and Wednesday friendly between a team of MLS stars and a team of Liga MX talent. “Everything, especially (Tuesday), the skill challenge was fun,” Musa said. “But to meet new players, it’s been great. And we are enjoying each moment.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Galaxy #comfortable #counter #Dallas

Angel Reese had already established herself as one of the league’s top bigs in her first two seasons in Chicago. The former LSU star was named an All-Star in both her rookie and sophomore campaigns, broke a litany of rebounding records, and showcased her force on both ends of the floor.

But this season, she’s taken her game to a whole other level. While Reese’s individual accolades with the Sky were impressive, the team around her struggled, and the Sky found themselves near the bottom of league standings in back-to-back seasons. In April, Reese was traded to the Atlanta Dream, a team that already found themselves among the league’s best last year, but wanted to further bolster their frontcourt.

For the most part, it’s been a match made in heaven. Reese is averaging 15.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, and Atlanta is 17-10 and winners of four straight games.

This year, she became the fastest player in league history to record 1,000 rebounds (doing so in 78 games), and the fastest to reach 50 double-doubles (doing so in 65 games).

But, in part due to Reese’s play, they’ve already accrued wins against top teams like the Dallas Wings (who they are 3-0 against) and the Indiana Fever (who are they are 2-1 against), among others. The Dream have outscored opponents by 99 points in Reese’s minutes this season, the 21st-best net rating in the WNBA and the third-best on the Dream, per Hoops Junkie. Atlanta has had a rigorous schedule so far, and they have the third-easiest remaining schedule.

In a Wednesday night victory over the Wings, Reese tallied 22 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and a block.

In a Wednesday night interview with sideline reporter Terrika Foster-Brasby, Reese expressed gratitude for the situation she is in.

“I’m just so happy here in Atlanta; I’m just grateful to be here,” Reese said. “It’s been a sisterhood. They’ve had my back — through the highs, through the lows. It’s just a joy. I feel safe, I feel loved.”

The Dream are eyeing a title, and they have an elite core around Reese that includes Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, and Brionna Jones, among others.

They’ll have to get through some of the league’s top teams in a potential title run — they’re 0-1 against the Las Vegas Aces, 1-1 against the Minnesota Lynx, and 0-3 against the Golden State Valkyries this season. But if Reese continues to trend upwards, and if the cast around her continues to thrive, a championship could be headed to Atlanta.

#Angel #Reese #perfect #home">Angel Reese has found a perfect home Angel Reese had already established herself as one of the league’s top bigs in her first two seasons in Chicago. The former LSU star was named an All-Star in both her rookie and sophomore campaigns, broke a litany of rebounding records, and showcased her force on both ends of the floor.But this season, she’s taken her game to a whole other level. While Reese’s individual accolades with the Sky were impressive, the team around her struggled, and the Sky found themselves near the bottom of league standings in back-to-back seasons. In April, Reese was traded to the Atlanta Dream, a team that already found themselves among the league’s best last year, but wanted to further bolster their frontcourt.For the most part, it’s been a match made in heaven. Reese is averaging 15.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, and Atlanta is 17-10 and winners of four straight games.This year, she became the fastest player in league history to record 1,000 rebounds (doing so in 78 games), and the fastest to reach 50 double-doubles (doing so in 65 games).But, in part due to Reese’s play, they’ve already accrued wins against top teams like the Dallas Wings (who they are 3-0 against) and the Indiana Fever (who are they are 2-1 against), among others. The Dream have outscored opponents by 99 points in Reese’s minutes this season, the 21st-best net rating in the WNBA and the third-best on the Dream, per Hoops Junkie. Atlanta has had a rigorous schedule so far, and they have the third-easiest remaining schedule.In a Wednesday night victory over the Wings, Reese tallied 22 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and a block.In a Wednesday night interview with sideline reporter Terrika Foster-Brasby, Reese expressed gratitude for the situation she is in.“I’m just so happy here in Atlanta; I’m just grateful to be here,” Reese said. “It’s been a sisterhood. They’ve had my back — through the highs, through the lows. It’s just a joy. I feel safe, I feel loved.”The Dream are eyeing a title, and they have an elite core around Reese that includes Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, and Brionna Jones, among others.They’ll have to get through some of the league’s top teams in a potential title run — they’re 0-1 against the Las Vegas Aces, 1-1 against the Minnesota Lynx, and 0-3 against the Golden State Valkyries this season. But if Reese continues to trend upwards, and if the cast around her continues to thrive, a championship could be headed to Atlanta. #Angel #Reese #perfect #home

per Hoops Junkie. Atlanta has had a rigorous schedule so far, and they have the third-easiest remaining schedule.

In a Wednesday night victory over the Wings, Reese tallied 22 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and a block.

In a Wednesday night interview with sideline reporter Terrika Foster-Brasby, Reese expressed gratitude for the situation she is in.

“I’m just so happy here in Atlanta; I’m just grateful to be here,” Reese said. “It’s been a sisterhood. They’ve had my back — through the highs, through the lows. It’s just a joy. I feel safe, I feel loved.”

The Dream are eyeing a title, and they have an elite core around Reese that includes Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, and Brionna Jones, among others.

They’ll have to get through some of the league’s top teams in a potential title run — they’re 0-1 against the Las Vegas Aces, 1-1 against the Minnesota Lynx, and 0-3 against the Golden State Valkyries this season. But if Reese continues to trend upwards, and if the cast around her continues to thrive, a championship could be headed to Atlanta.

#Angel #Reese #perfect #home">Angel Reese has found a perfect home

Angel Reese had already established herself as one of the league’s top bigs in her first two seasons in Chicago. The former LSU star was named an All-Star in both her rookie and sophomore campaigns, broke a litany of rebounding records, and showcased her force on both ends of the floor.

But this season, she’s taken her game to a whole other level. While Reese’s individual accolades with the Sky were impressive, the team around her struggled, and the Sky found themselves near the bottom of league standings in back-to-back seasons. In April, Reese was traded to the Atlanta Dream, a team that already found themselves among the league’s best last year, but wanted to further bolster their frontcourt.

For the most part, it’s been a match made in heaven. Reese is averaging 15.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, and Atlanta is 17-10 and winners of four straight games.

This year, she became the fastest player in league history to record 1,000 rebounds (doing so in 78 games), and the fastest to reach 50 double-doubles (doing so in 65 games).

But, in part due to Reese’s play, they’ve already accrued wins against top teams like the Dallas Wings (who they are 3-0 against) and the Indiana Fever (who are they are 2-1 against), among others. The Dream have outscored opponents by 99 points in Reese’s minutes this season, the 21st-best net rating in the WNBA and the third-best on the Dream, per Hoops Junkie. Atlanta has had a rigorous schedule so far, and they have the third-easiest remaining schedule.

In a Wednesday night victory over the Wings, Reese tallied 22 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and a block.

In a Wednesday night interview with sideline reporter Terrika Foster-Brasby, Reese expressed gratitude for the situation she is in.

“I’m just so happy here in Atlanta; I’m just grateful to be here,” Reese said. “It’s been a sisterhood. They’ve had my back — through the highs, through the lows. It’s just a joy. I feel safe, I feel loved.”

The Dream are eyeing a title, and they have an elite core around Reese that includes Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, and Brionna Jones, among others.

They’ll have to get through some of the league’s top teams in a potential title run — they’re 0-1 against the Las Vegas Aces, 1-1 against the Minnesota Lynx, and 0-3 against the Golden State Valkyries this season. But if Reese continues to trend upwards, and if the cast around her continues to thrive, a championship could be headed to Atlanta.

#Angel #Reese #perfect #home

There is a particular silence that falls over a club when it shuts down. Not the managers’ howling instructions or even the players weeping into their kits. It’s the quiet folding of spreadsheets, a refusal to pay a participation fee and a conglomerate deciding that Rs. 55 lakh is too much for the privileged for pretending to care.

And just like that, Jamshedpur FC, the steel city’s improbable footnote to the Indian Super League (ISL), wrapped up its senior team operations before the 2026-27 season, folded like a shirt no longer needed into the cupboard of Tata’s sprawling empire.

That is the reality of corporate football: when the romance wanes, assets become foldable liabilities.

This was a club that was competing for the title until the final matchday last season, which had an actual stadium that it owned, and prided of a genuine, effective pipeline for talent. When the footballing world was busy balancing books during the pandemic, the club actually made profits (Rs. 2 Cr.) in the 2019-20 season, and yet on July 31, 2026, it decided that the league, and its senior first team, was not worth the candle anymore.

“It took a lot of the members of the club aback, and it was informed in a grim breath in the evening. Naturally, most of the contingent was visibly shocked, rather disappointed,” a source told Sportstar.

Silence falls on Red Miners as Jamshedpur FC pulls the plug on its ISL journey There is a particular silence that falls over a club when it shuts down. Not the managers’ howling instructions or even the players weeping into their kits. It’s the quiet folding of spreadsheets, a refusal to pay a participation fee and a conglomerate deciding that Rs. 55 lakh is too much for the privileged for pretending to care.And just like that, Jamshedpur FC, the steel city’s improbable footnote to the Indian Super League (ISL), wrapped up its senior team operations before the 2026-27 season, folded like a shirt no longer needed into the cupboard of Tata’s sprawling empire.That is the reality of corporate football: when the romance wanes, assets become foldable liabilities.This was a club that was competing for the title until the final matchday last season, which had an actual stadium that it owned, and prided of a genuine, effective pipeline for talent. When the footballing world was busy balancing books during the pandemic, the club actually made profits (Rs. 2 Cr.) in the 2019-20 season, and yet on July 31, 2026, it decided that the league, and its senior first team, was not worth the candle anymore.“It took a lot of the members of the club aback, and it was informed in a grim breath in the evening. Naturally, most of the contingent was visibly shocked, rather disappointed,” a source told Sportstar. Jamshedpur FC had an actual stadium that it owned, and prided of a genuine, effective pipeline for talent. | Photo Credit: ISL Media Jamshedpur FC had an actual stadium that it owned, and prided of a genuine, effective pipeline for talent. | Photo Credit: ISL Media The Tata Group has not provided an explanation for the decision. But it comes against the backdrop of the prolonged decline of Indian football in the last few years, which has had a domino effect on the men’s topflight. The men’s team’s FIFA rankings have plummeted, the league’s commercial value shrank by 97 per cent last season, and four ISL clubs have either shut down or shifted base. ISL Clubs which have shut down or have been rebranded: Pune City FC Atletico de Kolkata Delhi Dynamos Hyderabad FC Jamshedpur FC Reliance, the initial commercial partner, is gone. The City Football Group abandoned Mumbai City’s ship last season, and now Tata, gently, has shown itself out.In the last two years, the Tata-owned club lost about Rs. 11 Crore, while its Central Rights income collapsed from Rs. 21.24 crore to Rs. 32 Lakhs – a fall of nearly 99 per cent. As a result, its deficit in football operations tripled, from Rs. 1 Crore in the 2024-25 season to Rs. 2.8 Crore in the 2025-26 season.Capital fuels growth, and that in turn drives football, and that goes on in cycles.The most promising trend for Jamshedpur FC, in the last two years, was grassroots development, player transfers and training compensation (providing facilities for player training). And the conglomerate, as they usually do, got its blue-eyed boy here – the kids.“JFSPL (Jamshedpur Football and Sporting Private Limited) remains committed, in other capacities, to the continued growth and development of football in India. We will continue in our endeavour to promote and develop the game of football, including at the grassroots level,” the club said in its statement.The decision also pushed players into choppy waters. Players, some of whom were chiselled at the storied Tata Football Academy (TFA), will now be expected to run from pillar to post late in the summer window for a new team when most teams already have their squads chalked out.But the real victims of the decision will not be the professionals. Footballers are mercenaries by profession: they will find another jersey to don, another bench to warm.The tragedy will lie with the fans – people who built a community organically, named it the Red Miners, and rallied behind the team no matter how it played. The roar at the JRD Stadium when a TFA product scored meant something, everything, and that is what will no longer be heard.The ones who gave free treats when Jamshedpur won, to the ones who quietly bought season tickets, the silence will now haunt them, leaving them wondering if this was just part of an elaborate, expensive dream. The tragedy will lie with the fans – people who built a community organically, named it the Red Miners, and rallied behind the team no matter how it played. | Photo Credit: ISL Media The tragedy will lie with the fans – people who built a community organically, named it the Red Miners, and rallied behind the team no matter how it played. | Photo Credit: ISL Media The Tata group showed that Jamshedpur FC, in the ISL, had always been a product rather than a community club, and when a product wears out, it is sold in parts, just like its ball bearings and wires.And dreamers? Well, they get a press release.Published on Aug 01, 2026 #Silence #falls #Red #Miners #Jamshedpur #pulls #plug #ISL #journey

Jamshedpur FC had an actual stadium that it owned, and prided of a genuine, effective pipeline for talent. | Photo Credit: ISL Media

lightbox-info

Jamshedpur FC had an actual stadium that it owned, and prided of a genuine, effective pipeline for talent. | Photo Credit: ISL Media

The Tata Group has not provided an explanation for the decision. But it comes against the backdrop of the prolonged decline of Indian football in the last few years, which has had a domino effect on the men’s topflight. The men’s team’s FIFA rankings have plummeted, the league’s commercial value shrank by 97 per cent last season, and four ISL clubs have either shut down or shifted base.

ISL Clubs which have shut down or have been rebranded:

Pune City FC

Atletico de Kolkata

Delhi Dynamos

Hyderabad FC

Jamshedpur FC

Reliance, the initial commercial partner, is gone. The City Football Group abandoned Mumbai City’s ship last season, and now Tata, gently, has shown itself out.

In the last two years, the Tata-owned club lost about Rs. 11 Crore, while its Central Rights income collapsed from Rs. 21.24 crore to Rs. 32 Lakhs – a fall of nearly 99 per cent. As a result, its deficit in football operations tripled, from Rs. 1 Crore in the 2024-25 season to Rs. 2.8 Crore in the 2025-26 season.

Capital fuels growth, and that in turn drives football, and that goes on in cycles.

The most promising trend for Jamshedpur FC, in the last two years, was grassroots development, player transfers and training compensation (providing facilities for player training). And the conglomerate, as they usually do, got its blue-eyed boy here – the kids.

“JFSPL (Jamshedpur Football and Sporting Private Limited) remains committed, in other capacities, to the continued growth and development of football in India. We will continue in our endeavour to promote and develop the game of football, including at the grassroots level,” the club said in its statement.

The decision also pushed players into choppy waters. Players, some of whom were chiselled at the storied Tata Football Academy (TFA), will now be expected to run from pillar to post late in the summer window for a new team when most teams already have their squads chalked out.

But the real victims of the decision will not be the professionals. Footballers are mercenaries by profession: they will find another jersey to don, another bench to warm.

The tragedy will lie with the fans – people who built a community organically, named it the Red Miners, and rallied behind the team no matter how it played. The roar at the JRD Stadium when a TFA product scored meant something, everything, and that is what will no longer be heard.

The ones who gave free treats when Jamshedpur won, to the ones who quietly bought season tickets, the silence will now haunt them, leaving them wondering if this was just part of an elaborate, expensive dream.

The tragedy will lie with the fans – people who built a community organically, named it the Red Miners, and rallied behind the team no matter how it played.

The tragedy will lie with the fans – people who built a community organically, named it the Red Miners, and rallied behind the team no matter how it played. | Photo Credit: ISL Media

lightbox-info

The tragedy will lie with the fans – people who built a community organically, named it the Red Miners, and rallied behind the team no matter how it played. | Photo Credit: ISL Media

The Tata group showed that Jamshedpur FC, in the ISL, had always been a product rather than a community club, and when a product wears out, it is sold in parts, just like its ball bearings and wires.

And dreamers? Well, they get a press release.

Published on Aug 01, 2026

#Silence #falls #Red #Miners #Jamshedpur #pulls #plug #ISL #journey">Silence falls on Red Miners as Jamshedpur FC pulls the plug on its ISL journey There is a particular silence that falls over a club when it shuts down. Not the managers’ howling instructions or even the players weeping into their kits. It’s the quiet folding of spreadsheets, a refusal to pay a participation fee and a conglomerate deciding that Rs. 55 lakh is too much for the privileged for pretending to care.And just like that, Jamshedpur FC, the steel city’s improbable footnote to the Indian Super League (ISL), wrapped up its senior team operations before the 2026-27 season, folded like a shirt no longer needed into the cupboard of Tata’s sprawling empire.That is the reality of corporate football: when the romance wanes, assets become foldable liabilities.This was a club that was competing for the title until the final matchday last season, which had an actual stadium that it owned, and prided of a genuine, effective pipeline for talent. When the footballing world was busy balancing books during the pandemic, the club actually made profits (Rs. 2 Cr.) in the 2019-20 season, and yet on July 31, 2026, it decided that the league, and its senior first team, was not worth the candle anymore.“It took a lot of the members of the club aback, and it was informed in a grim breath in the evening. Naturally, most of the contingent was visibly shocked, rather disappointed,” a source told Sportstar. Jamshedpur FC had an actual stadium that it owned, and prided of a genuine, effective pipeline for talent. | Photo Credit: ISL Media Jamshedpur FC had an actual stadium that it owned, and prided of a genuine, effective pipeline for talent. | Photo Credit: ISL Media The Tata Group has not provided an explanation for the decision. But it comes against the backdrop of the prolonged decline of Indian football in the last few years, which has had a domino effect on the men’s topflight. The men’s team’s FIFA rankings have plummeted, the league’s commercial value shrank by 97 per cent last season, and four ISL clubs have either shut down or shifted base. ISL Clubs which have shut down or have been rebranded: Pune City FC Atletico de Kolkata Delhi Dynamos Hyderabad FC Jamshedpur FC Reliance, the initial commercial partner, is gone. The City Football Group abandoned Mumbai City’s ship last season, and now Tata, gently, has shown itself out.In the last two years, the Tata-owned club lost about Rs. 11 Crore, while its Central Rights income collapsed from Rs. 21.24 crore to Rs. 32 Lakhs – a fall of nearly 99 per cent. As a result, its deficit in football operations tripled, from Rs. 1 Crore in the 2024-25 season to Rs. 2.8 Crore in the 2025-26 season.Capital fuels growth, and that in turn drives football, and that goes on in cycles.The most promising trend for Jamshedpur FC, in the last two years, was grassroots development, player transfers and training compensation (providing facilities for player training). And the conglomerate, as they usually do, got its blue-eyed boy here – the kids.“JFSPL (Jamshedpur Football and Sporting Private Limited) remains committed, in other capacities, to the continued growth and development of football in India. We will continue in our endeavour to promote and develop the game of football, including at the grassroots level,” the club said in its statement.The decision also pushed players into choppy waters. Players, some of whom were chiselled at the storied Tata Football Academy (TFA), will now be expected to run from pillar to post late in the summer window for a new team when most teams already have their squads chalked out.But the real victims of the decision will not be the professionals. Footballers are mercenaries by profession: they will find another jersey to don, another bench to warm.The tragedy will lie with the fans – people who built a community organically, named it the Red Miners, and rallied behind the team no matter how it played. The roar at the JRD Stadium when a TFA product scored meant something, everything, and that is what will no longer be heard.The ones who gave free treats when Jamshedpur won, to the ones who quietly bought season tickets, the silence will now haunt them, leaving them wondering if this was just part of an elaborate, expensive dream. The tragedy will lie with the fans – people who built a community organically, named it the Red Miners, and rallied behind the team no matter how it played. | Photo Credit: ISL Media The tragedy will lie with the fans – people who built a community organically, named it the Red Miners, and rallied behind the team no matter how it played. | Photo Credit: ISL Media The Tata group showed that Jamshedpur FC, in the ISL, had always been a product rather than a community club, and when a product wears out, it is sold in parts, just like its ball bearings and wires.And dreamers? Well, they get a press release.Published on Aug 01, 2026 #Silence #falls #Red #Miners #Jamshedpur #pulls #plug #ISL #journey

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