15-Year Commercial Push: AIFF, Capri Sports Join Hands for Women’s Football
A long-term commercial push is coming to Indian women’s football. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has joined hands with Capri Sports in a 15-year partnership aimed at developing and marketing the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and IWL 2.
Xtratime Webdesk: A long-term commercial push is coming to Indian women’s football. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has joined hands with Capri Sports in a 15-year partnership aimed at developing and marketing the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and IWL 2.
The agreement covers the commercial and marketing rights of India’s top two levels of women’s club football. Capri Sports will work with the AIFF and participating clubs to expand the leagues’ audience, improve their visibility and create greater opportunities for brands, broadcasters and digital platforms.
The timing of the partnership is significant, with women’s football in India entering a period of wider participation and increased competition. The ASMITA Football League has created more playing opportunities for girls, while player registrations have also continued to grow across different age groups.
The pathway towards senior club football is also getting stronger. The AIFF conducted the U17 Women’s Youth League in July and is set to launch the inaugural U15 Women’s Youth League in October. The competitions are expected to provide young players with a more structured route into the higher levels of the game.
India’s performances on the international stage have added to that momentum. The senior women’s team qualified for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup through the qualifiers in 2026, while the U20 and U17 teams also returned to their respective AFC Asian Cup competitions.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey 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.”
AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan also highlighted the importance of creating greater visibility and better opportunities for clubs and players. He 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.”
For Capri Sports, the focus will be on building fan bases, strengthening broadcast and digital engagement and creating a sustainable commercial ecosystem around women’s club football. The 15-year agreement therefore aims to give the IWL and IWL 2 a stronger commercial foundation while supporting the continued growth of women’s football in India.
