When the Indian Women's League returns on November 13, two new clubs will join the fray

The Indian Women’s League (IWL) will begin its 2026-27 season on November 13, with eight clubs across Kolkata, Jamshedpur and Bengaluru vying for the title. The campaign will feature 56 matches in a double round-robin format, with the final matches scheduled for 23 January 2027.

Defending champions East Bengal FC will be the mainstay of the competition after a dominant 2025-26 campaign in which they recorded 13 wins and just one defeat. They will be joined by Sethu FC, Kickstart FC, Nita Football Academy, Gokulam Kerala FC and Garhwal United FC who are returning for the new season.

HOPS FC and Juba Sangha FC complete the eight-team line-up after gaining promotion from IWL 2. The two clubs finished first and second respectively in the 2025-26 Second Division competition.

In a double round-robin format, each club plays the other seven teams twice. Matches will be played in three cities, the season will last just over two months.

East Bengal will be looking to build on their impressive title-winning campaign, which also produced the league’s top scorer. Fazila Ikwaput ended the 2025-26 season with 20 goals, while Nita Football Academy’s Pyari Xaxa and Sethu FC’s Lynda Kom Serto were other notable attacking performers.

The upcoming season also marks a new phase in the commercial development of women’s club football in India following a 15-year partnership between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Capri Sports for the commercial development and marketing rights of IWL and IWL 2.

AIFF Deputy General Secretary M Satyanarayan said the league remains central to the development of women’s football in the country.

“The Indian Women’s League remains a cornerstone of the development of women’s football in India. The 2026-27 season will see eight clubs compete for the title with players from across the country looking to make their mark on the national stage. Alongside the IWL, the IWL 2 provides a valuable pathway for clubs and players to progress through the domestic structure. We look forward to another exciting season of women’s football in India and remain committed to creating more opportunities for women in India.

East Bengal are targeting a successful title defense with HOPS FC and Juba Sangha FC advancing from IWL 2. The new season will offer a new test to the eight competing clubs when the league kicks off on November 13.

Kalyani: Kalyani Stadium

November 13: East Bengal FC vs Gokulam Kerala FC
November 14: Kickstart FC vs Sethu FC
November 16: Nita FA vs Garhwal United FC
November 17: Juba Sangha FC vs HOPS FC
November 19: Nita FA vs East Bengal FC
November 20: Sethu FC vs Gokulam Kerala FC
November 20: Kickstart FC vs HOPS FC
November 21: Juba Sangha FC vs Garhwal United FC
November 23: Kickstart FC vs East Bengal FC
November 24: Gokulam Kerala FC vs Garhwal United FC
November 26: HOPS FC vs Sethu FC
November 27: Nita FA vs. Juba Sangha FC
November 27: Garhwal United FC vs East Bengal FC
November 28: Kickstart FC vs Gokulam Kerala FC
November 30: Juba Sangha FC vs Sethu FC
December 1: HOPS FC x Nita FA
December 3: East Bengal FC vs Sethu FC
December 4: Gokulam Kerala FC Vs. Nita FA
December 4: Juba Sangha FC vs Kickstart FC
December 5: Garhwal United FC vs HOPS FC

Jamshedpur: Tata Football Ground

December 10: East Bengal FC vs HOPS FC
December 11: Gokulam Kerala FC vs Juba Sangha FC
December 12: Sethu FC vs Garhwal United FC
December 14: Kickstart FC vs Nita FA
December 14: East Bengal FC vs Juba Sangha FC
December 15: Gokulam Kerala FC vs HOPS FC
December 17: Kickstart FC vs Garhwal United FC
December 18: Nita FA vs. Sethu FC
December 18: Gokulam Kerala FC vs East Bengal FC
December 19: HOPS FC vs Juba Sangha FC
December 21: Garhwal United FC vs Nita FA
December 22: Sethu FC vs Kickstart FC
December 24: Garhwal United FC vs Juba Sangha FC
December 25: East Bengal FC vs Nita FA
December 25: HOPS FC vs Kickstart FC
December 26: Gokulam Kerala FC vs Sethu FC
December 28: East Bengal FC vs Kickstart FC
December 29: Garhwal United FC vs Gokulam Kerala FC

Bengaluru: To be confirmed (TBC)

4 January 2027: Juba Sangha FC vs. Nita FA
January 5: Sethu FC vs HOPS FC
January 7: East Bengal FC Vs. Garhwal United FC
January 8: Sethu FC vs Juba Sangha FC
January 8: Gokulam Kerala FC vs Kickstart FC
January 9: Nita FA vs HOPS FC
January 11: Sethu FC vs East Bengal FC
January 12: HOPS FC vs Garhwal United FC
January 14: Kickstart FC vs Juba Sangha FC
January 15: Nita FA vs. Gokulam Kerala FC
January 15: HOPS FC vs East Bengal FC
January 16: Garhwal United FC Vs. Sethu FC
January 18: Juba Sangha FC vs. Gokulam Kerala FC
January 19: Nita FA vs Kickstart FC
January 21: Juba Sangha FC vs. East Bengal FC
January 22: Garhwal United FC vs Kickstart FC
January 22: FC HOPS vs Gokulam Kerala FC
January 23: Sethu FC vs Nita FA

– The end