Capri Sports has entered into a 15-year partnership with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to secure the commercial development and marketing rights of the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and Indian Women’s League 2 (IWL 2).
Under the partnership, Capri Sports will lead the commercial development and marketing of the two leagues, with a focus on building audiences, increasing visibility for clubs and players, attracting brands and investment, and expanding broadcast and digital engagement. The long-term partnership is aimed at creating greater commercial value around women’s club football in India.
The partnership comes shortly after Capri Sports launched Nova Sports, a grassroots-to-elite football initiative aimed at increasing access and opportunities for girls across India. The initiative has an ambition to reach 1.5 million girls over the next decade.
With Nova Sports focused on grassroots participation and the IWL and IWL 2 representing the top two tiers of women’s club football, Capri Sports is looking to create a pathway spanning participation, development and professional competition. The company also has experience in women’s sport through the UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Established in 2016, the IWL will begin its latest edition on October 15, 2026, with eight clubs competing across 56 matches in multiple host cities.
Speaking on the partnership, Jinisha Sharma, Director & 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”
On the partnership, Apurv Gupta, Head of Contact Sports, Capri Sports said, “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, AIFF said, “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.”
The partnership adds to Capri Sports’ growing presence in women’s sport and reflects its focus on developing platforms across grassroots participation and professional competition. Through the IWL and IWL 2, the organization will work with AIFF, clubs, players and other stakeholders on the long-term commercial and audience development of women’s club football in India.
