The ninth season of the Indian Women’s League is set to kick off on Saturday, featuring eight teams vying for the title of India’s top women’s football club. Defending champions East Bengal FC will aim to secure their title on home turf, as the 2025-26 league is organized in a centralized format in Kolkata and Kalyani.
In the past three seasons, the IWL crown has seen three different champions. East Bengal and Odisha FC claimed their first titles in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, respectively, breaking Gokulam Kerala FC’s streak, which saw them win three titles in a row from 2020 to 2023. An intriguing aspect of last season was Odisha FC’s relegation, marking them as the first reigning champions in Indian top-flight league history to be relegated the following season.
Tournament Format
The 2025-26 IWL will feature a double round-robin format, divided into two phases coinciding with the Indian senior and U20 women’s teams’ Asian Cup campaigns. Each club will play seven matches in the first phase from December 20, 2025, to January 9, 2026. The second phase will commence on April 20, 2026, concluding on May 10, 2026.
Key Storylines to Watch
- East Bengal FC is on a quest to become only the second team to defend an IWL title.
- Gokulam Kerala aims to add a fourth star to their crest.
- Sethu FC seeks to reclaim a trophy from the favorites.
- Newly-promoted Garhwal United FC and Sesa Football Academy are eager to prove themselves in top-tier football.
- Sribhumi FC, designated as dark horses last season, hopes to build on their success.
East Bengal FC
2025 has been a remarkable year for East Bengal. In just their third season in the IWL, they showcased dominance by finishing eight points ahead of Gokulam. Since August, the Moshal Girls have been actively representing India in Asia, successfully navigating the preliminary round of the AFC Women’s Champions League in Cambodia. They faced tough competition in China during the group stage, falling short in their knockout stage aspirations due to a last-minute goal. Despite this setback, they have excelled in the SAFF Women’s Club Championship, scoring 13 goals without conceding any. East Bengal will begin their title defense on December 24 against Sethu FC, looking to bolster their confidence with a potential international trophy.
Gokulam Kerala FC
As they enter their ninth IWL season, Gokulam Kerala remains the only team with multiple championship titles. The club significantly reshaped women’s football in India but has faced challenges in the past two seasons. With a new head coach, Raman Vijayan, and some key signings—including senior national players Shreya Hooda and Priyadharshini S.—they hope to reclaim their title. Although they lost top scorer Fazila Ikwaput to East Bengal, they retained defender Phoeby Okech and brought in new talents like Ghanaian midfielder Sandra Atinga.
Sribhumi FC
Fresh off a successful debut season where they finished third, Sribhumi FC aims to improve further under the guidance of AIFF Women’s Coach of the Year, Sujata Kar. They have made several high-profile domestic signings, including Anju Tamang and Grace Dangmei, and retained their strong scoring duo, Bala Devi and Mousumi Murmu. The squad also boasts impressive youngsters from the Indian U20 squad.
Kickstart FC
With finishes of third, second, third, and fourth in the past four seasons, Kickstart FC remains a consistent top-half team. Last season started tough, but they finished strong with six unbeaten matches. Head coach Chaoba Devi enters her third season with the team, now featuring a new foreign line-up. The core of the squad remains intact, ensuring continuity.
Sethu FC
One of three former champions in this season’s lineup, Sethu FC has struggled to replicate past success since their last title in the 2021-22 season. With a new head coach, Manoj Joshi, and new attacking signings such as Lynda Kom, they are poised for a resurgence. Key returning players like Malavika P and Babina Lisham are expected to anchor the squad.
Nita Football Academy
Nita FA had a mixed debut season, narrowly avoiding relegation. Coach Paromita Sit will look to improve in their second season. Despite the departure of their top scorer Rahama Jafaru, they signed prolific striker Pyari Xaxa and several promising U20 talents.
Garhwal United FC
Garhwal United FC enters its inaugural IWL campaign with excitement following a dominant previous season in lower tier football. They secured eight wins out of eight and boast a youthful squad with a majority of academy players. Key player Lhingdeikim, an India U20 international, stands out as they make their mark in the top tier.
Sesa Football Academy
Sesa Football Academy returns to the IWL as the first Goan side in recent years after their third-place finish in IWL 2. Despite significant changes in their squad, they retain key players like Aniela Barretto. Foreign signings like Kenyan forward Omita Bertha will be crucial for their goal of avoiding relegation.
All matches will be streamed live on the Indian Football YouTube channel.