Mumbai, October 19: India's premier women's club football competition, the Indian Women’s League (IWL), is set to commence its 2026-27 season on November 13. Eight top clubs will vie for the coveted title across host cities Kolkata, Jamshedpur, and Bengaluru.

This upcoming season marks a significant stride in the growth of women’s football in India, offering a crucial platform for the nation's leading female footballers to showcase their talent and compete at a high level. The league continues to be instrumental in shaping the careers of many aspiring athletes.

The eight participating clubs include six teams from the previous season: East Bengal FC, Sethu FC, Kickstart FC, Nita Football Academy, Gokulam Kerala FC, and Garhwal United FC. They will be joined by HOPS FC and Juba Sangha FC, who earned promotion to the IWL after their impressive performance in the 2025-26 IWL 2 season, finishing first and second respectively.

Defending champions East Bengal FC will enter the new season with high expectations, aiming to retain their crown. Their dominant 2025-26 campaign saw them secure 13 wins and suffer just one loss. The previous season also highlighted exceptional individual talent, with East Bengal FC’s Fazila Ikwaput leading the scoring charts with 20 goals. Nita Football Academy’s Pyari Xaxa and Sethu FC’s Lynda Kom were also notable attacking forces, underscoring the depth of talent emerging in the league.

This announcement follows the landmark 15-year partnership between the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) and Capri Sports, focused on the commercial development and marketing rights of both the IWL and IWL 2. M. Satyanarayan, AIFF Deputy Secretary General, emphasized the IWL's role as a cornerstone for women's football development, highlighting the IWL 2 as a vital pathway for clubs and players to advance within the domestic structure. He expressed enthusiasm for an exciting season and reiterated the commitment to creating more opportunities for women footballers across India.

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