The IWL 2025-26 season is set to be a crucial one in a successful year of Indian Women’s football, as the national team will compete in the Women’s Asian Cup in three age categories in a historical feat. The league will be a platform for the established stars to bring the best out of themselves to be in the best form for respective tournaments with the national teams, aside from fighting for their club’s objectives for the season. Meanwhile, others will strive to make the roster for the Asian Cup in the hope of becoming the new stars of the Blue Tigresses, making this campaign hugely competitive. The IWL will also be played in two phases, giving adequate time for national team camps in preparation for the Asian Cups at the U-17, U-20 and the senior level next year. All of these have prompted the eight participating clubs to organise strong clubs for the campaign, including promoted sides Sesa FA and Garhwal United.
Defending champions East Bengal added more strength to their star-studded squad, which contributed to a historic title last time. The signature of national team forward Jyoti Chouhan is exciting, but the headline-making arrival was of Fazila Ikwaput from Gokulam Kerala, who scored a record 24 goals in a single season and a staggering 42 goals in IWL. Former winners Sethu FC and Gokulam Kerala are also not left behind, with eye-catching foreign signings as well as national team players and future star additions. Kickstart FC has also made rounds with the capture of the prominent Nigerian striker Emem Essien. Meanwhile, Sreebhumi FC has assembled an experienced all-Indian squad, the only team to do so in the division this season. Each team is allowed to have a maximum of three foreigners in the squad, with all three can be fielded in a match at a time.
Here is the full squad list of all eight teams participating in the 2025-26 IWL season:
Sethu FC
Goalkeepers: Nandini, Anjila Subba, Khushi Kumari, Hempriya Seram
Defenders: Dhurga Perumal, Martina Thokchom, Grace Lalrampari, Bharti Barot, Naaz Shaikh, Trisha Mallick, Priya Chettri, Nirmala Devi, Vinothini
Midfielders: Babina Devi, Pushpa Parab, Sushmitha Jadhav, Shubhangi Subba, Karen Pais, Doreen Graham, Laxmi Tamang
Forwards: Lynda Kom, Kaviya Pakkirisamy, T. Hoshika, Malavika Prasad, Abigail Antwi, Yumlam Lali, Ruchi
Head Coach: Manoj Joshi
Kickstart FC
Goalkeepers: Maibam Devi, Haripriya Deka, Anika Devi
Defenders: Wangkhem Devi, Sumitra Marandi, Nimita Gurung, Pakpi Devi, Sanamija Chanu, Ranjana Chanu, Banti Sharma, Kiran Pisda, Aruna Bag, Sandhya Kachhap, Puja Toppo, Olivia Chanu, Thahenbi Devi, Julia Devi
Midfielders: Romina Begum, Rafiat Titilayo Aweda, Lhingneilam Kipgen, Babysana Devi, Kiranbala Chanu, Edeh Loveth, Durga A, Mariyammal Balamurugan
Forwards: Emem Essien, Sunita Munda, Aishwarya M, Roni Devi, Bibicha Devi
Head Coach: Chaoba Devi
Gokulam Kerala
Goalkeepers: Melody Chanu, Sowmiya N, Shreya Hooda, Anitha S
Defenders: Phoeby Okech, Shubhangi Singh, Rejiya Devi, Alina Chingakham, Baby Lalchhandami, TH Sahena, Kritina Devi, Sowntharya Rajkumar, Roja Devi,
Midfielders: Harmilan Kaur, Remi Thokchom, Menaka Devi, Muskan Subba, Greeshma MP, Sandra Atinga, Darshini Devi, Deblina Bhattacharjee, Priyanka Kashyap
Forwards: Shilji Shaji, Babita Devi, Daya Devi, Mira Devi, Greeshma MP, Ninika
Head Coach: Raman Vijayan
Sesa FA
Goalkeepers: Ashika Gadekar, Akila, Josline Maria D'souza
Defenders: Riya Sarkar, Seema Kispotta, Sulekha Kanhar, Ritika Baraik, Simran Narvekar, Diana Antwi, Aaroshi Govekar, Alisha Tavares, Flani Costa, Merecia Tavares, Ambruta Nayak, Sheela Singh
Midfielders: Aniela Barretto, Janhabi Kishan, Bertha Omita, Arpita Pednekar
Forwards: Piyali Roy, Laxmi Priya, Sarjida Khatun
Head Coach: Sevirino Fernandes
East Bengal FC
Goalkeepers: Elangbam Panthoi Chanu, Sikha Saren, Buli Sarkar
Defenders: Sarita Yumnam, Abena Opoku, Ashalata Devi, Astam Oraon, Sushmita Lepcha, Sweety Devi, Supriya Kispotta, Bandana Roy
Midfielders: Shilky Devi, Sathi Debnath, Soumya Guguloth, Karthika Angamuthu, Amnah Nababi, Thandamoni Baskey, Rubina Khatun, Sangita Basfore, Priyangka Devi, Birsi Oraon
Forwards: Resty Nanziri, Sulanjana Raul, Fazila Ikwaput, Jyoti Chouhan, Shrabani Murmu, Sandhiya Ranganathan, Sandhya Maity, Antasia Oraon
Head Coach: Anthony Andrews
Sreebhumi FC
Goalkeepers: Khambi Chanu, Monalisha Devi
Defenders: Afreen Peerbhoy, Poonam Sharma, Mamta Verma, Sanju Yadav, Arifa Zaheer, Thoibisana Chanu
Midfielders: Dangmei Grace, Kamala Devi, Sushmita Bardhan, Anju Chanu, MK Kashmina, Ratanbala Devi, Arina Devi, Anju Tamang, Barnali Mahata
Forwards: Bala Devi, Rimpa Haldar, Sujata Mahata, Sibani Devi, Karishma Shirvoikar, Mousumi Murmu
Head Coach: Sujata Kar
Garhwal United
Goalkeepers: Monika Devi, Ribansi Jamu, Priyanka Sutaria, Khushboo Kumari
Defenders: Jyoti, Linda Chanu, Alka Indwar, Thiemlalnei, Juhi Singh, Shivani Toppo, Mamta Kumari, Gladys Zonunsangi
Midfielders: Rupali Boro, Sanfida Nongrum, Ribahunshisha Kharshiing, Laraplang Nongrum, Esther Tingjoukim, Sanjita Devi, Joyce Larbi, Esther Tingjoukim
Forwards: Deepika Pal, Monisha Singha, Fragrancy Riwan, Shruti Kumari, Lhingdeikim, Lamneiniang, Ernestina Tetteh, Sanfida Nongrum, Niki Kumari
Head Coach: Akshay Unni
Nita FA
Goalkeepers: Malti Kumari, Susmita Pun
Defenders: Jabamani Tudu, Nishima Kumari, Khundongbam Ambalika, Viksit Bara, Malti Munda, Juli Kishan, Poonam, Susanna Konadu
Midfielders: Ipshita Rout, Hema Munda, Amiratou N’djambara, Cindy Colney, Lalita Boypai, Babita Kumari
Forwards: Neha, Jasoda Munda, Manisha Naik, Khumukcham Bhumika Devi, Priya Rui Das, Smeeta Sundas, Sonali Soren, Nibedita Nayak, Matilda Kwao
Head Coach: Paromita Sit
