The Indian Women’s League (IWL) 2026, officially the 2025–26 season, is the 9th edition of India’s premier women’s football competition, governed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
This season is being hailed as a landmark campaign for women’s club football in India, running across two phases to accommodate a packed international calendar for the Blue Tigresses.
IWL 2025–26 Season Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Edition | 9th Season |
| Organiser | All India Football Federation (AIFF) |
| Format | Double Round-Robin (Two Phases) |
| Total Teams | 8 |
| Total Matches | 56 (Phase 1: 27 + Phase 2: 29) |
| Defending Champions | East Bengal FC |
IWL 2026 Schedule: Two-Phase Format Explained
For the first time in its history, the IWL 2025–26 has been split into two distinct phases, a decision driven by the unprecedented international commitments of the Indian women’s national teams across multiple AFC tournaments.
| Phase | Dates |
|---|---|
| Phase 1 | December 20, 2025 – January 9, 2026 |
| Phase 2 | April 27 – May 18, 2026 |
The mid-season break was introduced to free up players for:
- AFC Women’s Asian Cup (Senior) — March 1–21, 2026
- AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup — April 1–18, 2026
- AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup — April 30 – May 17, 2026
All matches kick off at 15:00 IST or 19:00 IST on match days.
IWL 2026 Teams & Squads: All Eight Participating Clubs
Eight clubs are competing in the 2025–26 IWL season. Two clubs, Garhwal United FC and Sesa FA, were promoted from IWL 2, with Sesa FA replacing Indian Arrows Women after the AIFF reversed its earlier decision to elevate the developmental side.
| Sr. No. | Club | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Bengal FC (Defending Champions) | West Bengal |
| 2 | Gokulam Kerala FC | Kerala |
| 3 | Kickstart FC | Karnataka |
| 4 | Sethu FC | Tamil Nadu |
| 5 | Sribhumi FC | West Bengal |
| 6 | Sangam Sporting Club | Manipur |
| 7 | Garhwal United FC (Promoted) | Uttarakhand |
| 8 | Sesa FA (Promoted) | Goa |
Each club is permitted to register a maximum of three foreign players, all of whom can feature simultaneously in the starting XI.
Kolkata Takes Centre Stage – IWL 2026 Venues
Departing from last season’s home-and-away format, all IWL 2025–26 matches are hosted at centralised venues in West Bengal.
Phase 1 Venues:
- AIFF National Centre of Excellence (NCE) — Salt Lake, Kolkata
- Kalyani Municipal Stadium — Kalyani, West Bengal
Phase 2 Venues:
- AIFF National Centre of Excellence (NCE) — Salt Lake, Kolkata
- East Bengal Ground — Kolkata
The centralised hosting model ensures logistical efficiency and gives fans in Kolkata the chance to watch all participating clubs in action at the same venues.
IWL 2026 Live Streaming – How to Watch Online
There is no live TV broadcast of the IWL 2025–26 on any television channel in India. All matches are exclusively available via free digital streaming.
- Platform: Indian Football YouTube Channel
- Cost: Free — no subscription required
- Devices: Mobile, tablet, desktop, smart TV
Fans can also follow live updates on the official AIFF website and the AIFF’s social media handles on Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram.
IWL 2026 Tickets
The IWL 2025–26 follows a free entry model for spectators at both venues, consistent with AIFF’s push to grow grassroots attendance for women’s football.
Fans are encouraged to visit the stadiums and support the teams in person. For the latest updates on gate timings and match-day information, check the official AIFF website at the-aiff.com.
Current Standings & Title Race
As of early May 2026, East Bengal FC lead the table with an impressive 18 points from 6 Phase 1 matches and are on course to defend their IWL crown. At the other end, Sesa FA (1 point) and Kickstart FC (6 points) are fighting to avoid the bottom two relegation spots.
The bottom two teams at season’s end will be relegated to IWL 2, while the top two sides in IWL 2 will earn promotion for 2026–27. The IWL champions also earn a coveted berth in the AFC Women’s Champions League the following season.
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IWL 2026 Matters for Indian Women’s Football
The 2025–26 IWL season is more than just a domestic title race, it represents a watershed moment for women’s football in India. With the Blue Tigresses competing simultaneously at three separate AFC Women’s Asian Cup tournaments (Senior, U20, and U17), the league’s two-phase structure ensures club football and international football can coexist and thrive together.
Follow every match, every goal, and every twist in the title race on the Indian Football YouTube channel, it’s free, it’s live, and women’s football in India has never looked this exciting.
