AIFF and Capri Sports Sign 15-Year Deal to Build India’s Women’s Football Leagues
AIFF Capri Sports Partnership Brings Long-Term Focus to IWL
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has entered into a 15-year partnership with Capri Sports covering the commercial development and marketing rights of the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and Indian Women’s League 2 (IWL 2).
The agreement comes at a significant point for women’s football in India, with the country’s top two women’s club competitions preparing for their 2026-27 seasons. Capri Sports will work with the AIFF and participating clubs to expand audiences, improve the visibility of players and teams, attract commercial investment and strengthen broadcast and digital engagement.
Rather than focusing only on the immediate season, the 15-year arrangement provides a long-term commercial framework around the two leagues.
IWL 2026-27 Set for October Start
The partnership arrives just weeks before the next IWL season begins.
The IWL 2026-27 season is scheduled to start on October 16, with eight clubs taking part. The league will feature teams from the previous season alongside the two clubs promoted from IWL 2.
The second tier will begin shortly afterwards. IWL 2 is scheduled to start on October 23, with 20 clubs divided into four groups of five.
The group winners and the two best second-placed teams will advance to a six-team final round, which is scheduled to begin on November 25.
This structure gives Capri Sports two different levels of the women’s club game to develop commercially, from the established IWL to the emerging second tier.
Capri Sports Looks to Connect Grassroots With Elite Football
The partnership is also linked to Capri Sports’ broader plans for women’s sport.
The company recently launched Nova Sports, a grassroots-to-elite football initiative designed to create greater access and opportunities for girls across India. Nova Sports has an ambition of reaching 1.5 million girls over the next decade.
That creates a potential pathway stretching from participation at grassroots level to professional club football through IWL 2 and eventually the IWL.
Capri Sports also has experience in women’s professional sport through its association with the UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League, giving the organisation exposure to the commercial and sporting sides of women’s cricket as well as football.
IWL and IWL 2 Enter a New Commercial Chapter
For the AIFF, the agreement comes amid a wider push to strengthen women’s football at several levels.
Participation has increased through initiatives such as the ASMITA Football League, while the federation has also expanded opportunities through dedicated U15 and U17 women’s competitions. The AIFF has pointed to increased player registrations and progress made by India’s senior, U20 and U17 national teams during 2026.
The next challenge is translating that growing participation into stronger professional club competitions.
AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey said the long-term partnership could help create greater value for clubs and players while supporting the development of the wider women’s football ecosystem.
AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan also highlighted the role of the IWL in providing a stronger platform for clubs and players, with the new commercial arrangement expected to improve visibility and engagement around both competitions.
Capri Sports Plans Greater Visibility for Women’s Football
Capri Sports director and promoter Jinisha Sharma said the company’s objective is to develop the IWL and IWL 2 into commercially sustainable competitions while strengthening clubs, developing players and improving fan engagement.
The company’s head of contact sports, Apurv Gupta, said the next 15 years would focus on building audiences, increasing the visibility of clubs and players, improving broadcast and digital engagement, and creating opportunities for brands and partners.
The significance of the agreement will ultimately depend on how those plans translate into the day-to-day experience of clubs, players and supporters.
For Indian women’s football, however, the timing is notable. The IWL is entering its next season with a long-term commercial partner, while IWL 2 is establishing itself as the country’s second tier.
The two competitions now have a shared commercial framework that is designed to extend well beyond a single season.
