AIFF and Capri Sports sign 15-year deal for commercial rights to IWL and IWL 2
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Capri Sports on September 22, 2026 announced a 15-year partnership in India to manage the commercial development and marketing rights for the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and Indian Women’s League 2 (IWL 2). The agreement covers the top two tiers of women’s club football in the country.
Capri Sports will lead the commercial development and marketing of the IWL and IWL 2, working alongside the AIFF and participating clubs to grow audiences, raise the profile of clubs and players, attract brands and investment, and enhance broadcast and digital engagement. The announcement arrives amid a period of expanded participation at grassroots and youth levels, driven in part by the expansion of the ASMITA Football League and rising player registrations across age groups. The AIFF has also broadened competitive pathways with youth competitions: the U17 Women’s Youth League was held in July and the inaugural U15 Women’s Youth League is scheduled to begin in October. India’s women’s national teams also recorded progress in 2026, with the senior side qualifying for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup for the first time through the qualifiers route and returns to the AFC U20 and U17 Women’s Asian Cups after lengthy absences.
Under the deal, Capri Sports will be tasked with building audiences, increasing visibility for clubs and players, attracting commercial partners and investment, and strengthening broadcast and digital engagement for both leagues. The company said it will work closely with the AIFF and clubs to develop on-ground fan experiences and storytelling aimed at growing interest and commercial value.
AIFF President Mr Kalyan Chaubey commented on the timing and rationale for the partnership: “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.”
Mr Chaubey added: “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.”
AIFF Deputy Secretary General Mr M Satyanarayan outlined the league-level objective: “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.” He continued, “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.”
Capri Sports executives set out their ambitions for the partnership. Ms Jinisha Sharma, Director & Promoter, 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.” She added: “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.”
Mr Apurv Gupta, Head of Contact Sports at 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.” He added: “Our focus over the next 15 years will be on building audiences, increasing visibility for clubs and players, strengthening 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.”
The agreement will run for 15 years and covers commercial and marketing rights for both the Indian Women’s League and Indian Women’s League 2, establishing a long-term commercial association for India’s top two tiers of women’s club football.