The 2025-26 season of the Indian Women’s League, known as the IWL, will be the ninth edition of the top-flight and probably the most significant one to date. This time, the IWL will be played in two phases, with the first one starting from 20th December 2025 and running until 9 January 2026, while the latter phase is scheduled from April 20 to May 10, 2026. It allows for the availability of players and adequate time for national team camps preparing to participate in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in three age categories in 2026, the first time in history. The senior Asian Cup will be held from 1-21 March 2026, followed by the U-20 from 1-18 April 2026 and the U-17 from 30 April -17 May 2026. Eight teams will be participating this season, along with defending champions East Bengal FC and the two promoted teams from the IWL 2, Garhwal United and Sesa FA. The decision to promote the AIFF development team, Indian Arrows, was rescinded, allowing the latter, which came third in the IWL 2, to get promoted to the first division instead.
IWL 2025-26 Teams
Sethu FC
This will be Sethu FC’s seventh participation in the IWL since making their debut in 2017 and they will be desperate to replace their worst campaign in the division last time. The 2018-19 champions finished down in fifth place on the table the previous season and have not accumulated more than 17 points in the past two editions of the league. With some talent-filled signings and renewed hope, Sethu FC looks to be a title contender again this season.
Kickstart FC
The six-time Karnataka Women’s League champions, Kickstart FC, are set to make their fourth straight participation in their IWL since making their debut in the 2021–22 season. The side made a remarkable run in the 2022–23 season, reaching the final of the competition and has always been a title contender from the get-go. However, they missed out on a top-three finish last season for the first time in their league history, prompting them to perform better this time.
Gokulam Kerala
Once the undisputed queens of the IWL, Gokulam Kerala FC have now failed to win the top division in the last two seasons. They were once again beaten by a maiden winner last time, finishing eight points behind the top spot despite their best efforts. As a result, the Malabarians also failed to qualify for continental football once again. The record three-time winners will be aiming to restore their reign amid fierce challenges this season for a memorable comeback.
Sesa FA
Sesa FA finished behind the top two, winners Garhwal United and Indian Arrows, in the final round of the IWL 2 last season, missing out on the promotion spots. They collected only one win in four available games, losing the rest and finishing third with just three points. However, with AIFF backtracking on their decision to promote their development side, Indian Arrows to IWL, Sesa FA was chosen to enter the top-flight. The 2024-25 Goa women’s league winners will compete in the IWL for the first time.
Nita FA
Avoiding relegation by two points last season, Nita FA will play their second consecutive season in the IWL with the hope of a better finish this time. The Odisha-based club registered just 14 points from 14 games with just four wins, although three of them came against the relegated clubs that made the difference. Otherwise, they had the worst defence last season, which they will be desperate to patch up this time.
East Bengal FC
East Bengal FC lifted their first IWL title in just their second season in the league after a revolutionary transformation last year. The Red and Gold collected a league record 37 points, winning 12 games, scoring 38 goals and conceding just 10 on their way to glory in a stunning season. They are aiming to be just the second club in IWL history to retain the title. Something not unfamiliar to their coach, Anthony Andrews, who did the same with Gokulam Kerala as he targets a fourth title overall.
Sreebhumi FC
Sreebhumi FC, like Nita FA, is making their second consecutive appearance in the first division, hoping to build on its third-place finish in their debut. Despite losing six times, the Kolkata-based side had a decent finish with 22 points from 14 games, winning half of their games and finishing ahead of seasonal campaigners like Kickstart and Sethu. With a squad blend of experience and talent this time, Sreebhumi FC are looking to make the most of their opportunity this time.
Garhwal United
Delhi-based club Garhwal United had a memorable outing in the second division last season by topping the IWL 2 Final Round to earn promotion to IWL for the first time in their history. After making a clean slate of the group stages, Garhwal continued the momentum in the final round, winning all four games, earning maximum points and entering the IWL with style. The team will wish to stay in the top-flight and cause a few upsets in their debut season to make their presence felt.
IWL 2025-26 Phase 1 Fixtures
December 2025
20 December 2025
Sethu FC vs Kickstart FC - National Centre of Excellence (09:00)
Nita FA vs Gokulam Kerala - Kalyani Stadium (15:00)
Garhwal United vs Sesa FA - National Centre of Excellence (15:00)
Sreebhumi FC vs East Bengal FC - TBD
24 December 2025
Gokulam Kerala vs Sreebhumi FC - Kalyani Stadium (09:00)
Nita FA vs Sesa FA - National Centre of Excellence (09:00)
Sethu FC vs East Bengal FC - Kalyani Stadium (15:00)
Kickstart FC vs Garhwal United - National Centre of Excellence (15:00)
27 December 2025
Sreebhumi FC vs Sesa FA - Kalyani Stadium (09:00)
Kickstart FC vs Nita FA - National Centre of Excellence (09:00)
East Bengal FC vs Garhwal United - Kalyani Stadium (15:00)
Sethu FC vs Gokulam Kerala - National Centre of Excellence (15:00)
30 December 2025
Sreebhumi FC vs Sethu FC - Kalyani Stadium (09:00)
Garhwal United vs Nita FA - National Centre of Excellence (09:00)
East Bengal FC vs Sesa FA - Kalyani Stadium (15:00)
Gokulam Kerala vs Kickstart FC - National Centre of Excellence (15:00)
January 2026
2 January 2026
Kickstart FC vs Sreebhumi FC - Kalyani Stadium (09:00)
Gokulam Kerala vs Garhwal United - National Centre of Excellence (09:00)
Nita FA vs East Bengal FC - Kalyani Stadium (15:00)
Sesa FA vs Sethu FC - National Centre of Excellence (15:00)
6 January 2026
Garhwal United vs Sreebhumi FC - Kalyani Stadium (09:00)
Sesa FA vs Gokulam Kerala - National Centre of Excellence (09:00)
Kickstart FC vs East Bengal FC - Kalyani Stadium (15:00)
Sethu FC vs Nita FA - National Centre of Excellence (15:00)
9 January 2026
Nita FA vs Sreebhumi FC - Kalyani Stadium (09:00)
Kickstart FC vs Sesa FA - National Centre of Excellence (09:00)
Gokulam Kerala vs East Bengal FC - Kalyani Stadium (15:00)
Sethu FC vs Garhwal United - National Centre of Excellence (15:00)
