AIFF hands Capri Sports 15-year mandate to build women’s league business

The All India Football Federation has agreed a 15-year partnership with Capri Sports for the commercial development and marketing of the Indian Women’s League and IWL 2.Capri Sports will work with the AIFF and participating clubs to grow audiences, increase the visibility of teams and players, attract brands and investment and strengthen broadcast and digital engagement across both divisions.AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey said: “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.”The duration of the agreement gives Capri Sports a significantly longer development window than a conventional sponsorship or rights cycle, allowing the company to build commercial structures around the leagues rather than focusing primarily on short-term inventory sales.Capri Sports director and promoter Jinisha Sharma 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.”The agreement arrives as the AIFF expands the player pathway beneath the senior leagues.Participation has increased through the ASMITA Football League, while dedicated U17 competition has been introduced and the inaugural U15 Women’s Youth League is scheduled to begin in October.India’s women’s national teams have also recorded progress in 2026, with the senior side qualifying for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup through the qualification route for the first time, while the U20 and U17 teams returned to their respective continental competitions.Capri Sports head of contact sports Apurv Gupta said the company’s focus will be on building audiences, strengthening broadcast and digital engagement and creating opportunities for commercial partners.The 15-year structure gives the AIFF and Capri Sports time to develop the IWL and IWL 2 as connected commercial properties, with league visibility, club sustainability and investor appeal now central to the next phase of women’s football development in India.