Capri Sports has entered into a 15-year partnership with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to manage the commercial development and marketing rights of the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and IWL 2.

Under the partnership, Capri Sports will work across audience development, club and player visibility, brand partnerships, broadcast and digital engagement, and commercial opportunities for both leagues.

The agreement follows Capri Sports’ launch of Nova Sports, a grassroots-to-elite football initiative aimed at increasing access to football for girls across India. The initiative has a stated target of reaching 1.5 million girls over the next decade.

Capri Sports also owns the UP Warriorz franchise in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), giving the company interests across women’s cricket and football.

The IWL was established in 2016, with its latest season scheduled to begin on 15 October 2026. 

The season will feature eight clubs across 56 matches and multiple host cities.

The partnership places the IWL and IWL 2 alongside Nova Sports within Capri Sports’ women’s football portfolio, covering grassroots participation through to professional club competition.

Jinisha Sharma, director and promoter, Capri Sports, said, “Women’s football is entering a defining era globally, with leagues attracting new audiences, investment and cultural relevance. India has the talent and scale to be part of this momentum, but our players need strong competition, professional environments and clear pathways to grow. Our ambition is to build the IWL and IWL 2 into aspirational and commercially sustainable platforms, strengthening clubs, developing talent, and investing in storytelling, fan engagement and on-ground experiences that bring more people, brands and investment into the game. We believe sporting success, social impact and commercial value can and must grow together. This is a long-term commitment to building the ecosystem women’s football in India deserves."

Apurv Gupta, head - contact sports, Capri Sports, added, “We are delighted to partner with the AIFF on the Indian Women’s League and Indian Women’s League 2. With the two leagues representing the top two tiers of women’s club football in India, we see a significant opportunity to build a stronger commercial ecosystem around the sport. Our focus over the next 15 years will be on building audiences, increasing visibility for clubs and players, shaping broadcast and digital engagement, and creating meaningful opportunities for brands and partners to participate in the growth of women’s football. We look forward to working closely with the AIFF, clubs, players and all stakeholders to build leagues that are commercially sustainable and can create lasting value for the wider ecosystem.”

Kalyan Chaubey, president, AIFF, said, “The timing of this partnership is very important for women’s football in India. In recent years, we have seen greater participation through initiatives such as the ASMITA leagues, growth in player registrations, and the introduction of dedicated U17 and U15 women’s youth competitions. At the same time, our senior, U20 and U17 national teams have all made significant progress at the Asian level in 2026. The next step is to ensure that our club competitions also grow in strength and professionalism. A long-term commercial partner with the right intent can help us build on this momentum, create greater value for our clubs and players, and develop a stronger women’s football ecosystem over the next 15 years.”

M Satyanarayan, deputy secretary general, AIFF,  added, “The Indian Women’s League has an important role to play in the growth of women’s football in the country, and having a long-term commercial partner will help us take the league forward. With Capri Sports coming on board for both the IWL and IWL 2, we have an opportunity to build greater visibility for the leagues, create more interest among fans and partners, and provide a stronger platform for our clubs and players. We look forward to working together to develop women’s club football in India.”