The 2026-27 season of Indian women’s club football is set to begin in October, with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announcing the opening dates for the country’s top two women’s league divisions — the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and Indian Women’s League 2 (IWL 2).
The IWL will kick off on October 16, 2026, with eight teams competing for the coveted top-flight title. Six clubs from the previous season — East Bengal FC, Sethu FC, Kickstart FC, Nita FA, Gokulam Kerala FC and Garhwal United FC — will be joined by promoted sides HOPS FC and Juba Sangha FC.
The second tier, IWL 2, will begin on October 23. A total of 20 teams will be divided into four groups of five for the group stage. The four group winners, along with the two best second-placed teams, will qualify for the six-team final round, which is scheduled to commence on November 25.
The AIFF is expected to release the complete list of participating teams and the detailed fixtures at a later date.
IWL Set for Long-Term Expansion
The AIFF has also outlined an ambitious expansion plan for the IWL beyond the upcoming season. The league currently features eight teams, but the committee is targeting an increase to 10 teams by 2028-29, followed by an expansion to 12 teams by 2032.
The number of league matches is also expected to rise significantly, with the AIFF targeting around 90 IWL matches by the 2028-29 season.
The proposed expansion is aimed at giving more players regular competitive football, strengthening the professional women’s football structure and creating a wider talent pool for the Indian women’s national team.
With more teams, more matches and higher coaching standards planned, the AIFF’s long-term vision could provide a significant boost to the development of women’s football in India.
Picture Courtesy: East Bengal Media
