The 2025–26 season of the Indian Women’s League (IWL) has marked a clear turning point in the evolution of women’s club football in India.
Now in its ninth edition, the league has moved decisively beyond its early identity as a short-format national tournament and into a more structured, competitive ecosystem aligned with continental football calendars. With a split-season model, centralised venues in West Bengal, and sharper tactical identities across clubs, the current campaign reflects a league in transition one where historic hierarchies are being challenged and professional standards are visibly rising.
The All India Football Federation’s decision to stage Phase 1 of the season in a compressed window at the National Centre of Excellence in Kolkata and the Kalyani Municipal Stadium has played a significant role in shaping this shift. Reduced travel, consistent pitch conditions, and better broadcast infrastructure have created an environment conducive to tactical experimentation and performance analysis. The result has been a league phase that has quickly separated contenders from strugglers, while also exposing the growing gap between well-prepared squads and those still adjusting to top-flight demands.
At the top of the table, Nita Football Academy and East Bengal FC have emerged as the dominant forces. Both boast identical goal differences at this stage, but their paths to success have been markedly different. Nita FA’s rise has been the most striking narrative of the season. A team that narrowly avoided relegation last year, they have reinvented themselves through targeted recruitment and a high-intensity playing style under head coach Paromita Sit.
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The signing of India international Pyari Xaxa has transformed their attacking output, providing clinical finishing that was missing in previous campaigns. Early goals have become a defining feature of Nita FA’s approach, forcing opponents onto the back foot and opening space for creative players like Amiratou N’djambara and young India U-20 prospect Neha to exploit.
East Bengal FC, by contrast, have built their title challenge on defensive control and squad depth. The defending champions have conceded just once in their opening matches, underlining a system that prioritizes structure and discipline. Coach Anthony Andrews, who has multiple IWL titles to his name, has refined a possession-based model where defensive solidity is the platform for attacking freedom. The acquisition of Ugandan striker Fazila Ikwaput from Gokulam Kerala has further tilted the balance in their favor. Her physical presence and penalty-box awareness have complemented the movement and technical quality of Indian internationals like Soumya Guguloth and Sulanjana Raul, most notably in their emphatic 9–0 victory over Sesa FA.
Behind the leading pair, the mid-table battle has added another layer of intrigue. Sethu FC and Sribhumi FC represent two contrasting recruitment philosophies. Sethu have leaned into a more international profile, integrating Ghanaian players to add physicality and control in midfield. Their ability to manage game tempo was evident in their win over Sribhumi, where composure under pressure proved decisive. Sribhumi, meanwhile, have relied on experienced domestic campaigners, with Captain Dangmei Grace acting as the creative fulcrum. Their 4–0 win over Gokulam Kerala showed that tactical clarity and familiarity can still overcome squads with greater individual pedigree.
Perhaps the most telling storyline of the season has been the transition faced by Gokulam Kerala FC. Once the undisputed powerhouse of the IWL with three consecutive titles, they are now navigating a period of rebuilding. The departure of Fazila Ikwaput has left a significant void in attack, and while new foreign recruits have shown flashes of quality, cohesion has been inconsistent. Under new head coach Raman Vijayan, the focus has shifted toward defensive organization and youth integration, but the lack of a reliable goal scorer has limited their ceiling in Phase 1.
At the lower end of the table, the challenges for newly promoted sides have been stark. Garhwal United FC, champions of IWL 2, have shown commendable defensive discipline and tactical maturity despite fielding one of the youngest squads in the league. Narrow wins and tight losses suggest a team capable of adaptation. Sesa Football Academy, on the other hand, have endured a harsh introduction to top-tier football. Heavy defeats have exposed structural weaknesses, compounded by limited preparation time following their late inclusion in the league. While corporate backing provides long-term stability, immediate tactical adjustments will be crucial to arrest the slide.
Beyond results, the 2025–26 IWL has highlighted broader trends in Indian women’s football. Corporate sponsorships, improved kit partnerships, and higher broadcast standards point to growing commercial confidence in the league. On the pitch, tactical evolution is evident in the increased use of attacking full-backs, high-press systems, and foreign midfield anchors to provide balance and control.
As the league pauses before Phase 2 later in the year, the title race appears finely poised between Nita FA and East Bengal FC, with mid-table battles and relegation fights still wide open.
More importantly, the season has confirmed that the era of a single dominant force is over. The Indian Women’s League is becoming a genuinely competitive platform one that not only crowns champions but also shapes the future of women’s football in India.
