Indian Women’s Football – AIFF floats tender for commercial partner for IWL, IWL 2 for next five years

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday issued a Request for Proposal (RFP), inviting bids for the right to monetize the commercial rights of the first and second divisions of the Indian Women’s League (IWL) for five years.

IWL is the top level of the women’s game in India, while IWL 2 is the second division. East Bengal are the defending IWL champions and Garhwal United won the IWL 2 title last season.

The 2025-26 season of IWL is planned in two phases, with the first phase taking place from December 20, 2025 to January 6, 2026 and the second between April 20 and May 10 next year.

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The IWL 2 will probably start in the second half of January.

As per the RFP, individual bidders must have a net worth of at least Rs 30 Crore and consortia Rs 100 Crore by the end of the financial year 2024-25. Interested investors will have to pay a deposit of Rs 3 lakh to make an offer.

The AIFF will constitute a three-member Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) to select the partner, who will then have to pay a ‘Guaranteed Payment’ or five percent of its ‘Gross Revenues’ – whichever is higher – to the AIFF every year.

Part of the guaranteed payment will be used for prize money for the clubs and to cover operating costs until the 2030-31 season.

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The deadline for submitting bids is November 29, while bidders can seek clarification until November 21. The technical bids will open on November 30, while the date for opening commercial bids will be announced later.

The RFP comes at a time when its men’s football counterpart – previously released by the AIFF – has failed to find any candidates, leaving the Indian Super League – the pinnacle of men’s football – in disarray.

Published on November 15, 2025