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IWL 2025-26 Phase 2 Resumes April 27 in Kolkata After National Team Hiatus

The second phase of the Indian Women's League 2025-26 is set to begin in Kolkata on April 27. The hiatus was taken to accommodate national team camps and AFC tournaments. A total of 29 matches will be played across two venues, with East Bengal FC currently leading the standings. The bottom two teams at the season's end will be relegated to IWL 2.

Key Points: IWL 2025-26 Phase 2 Starts April 27 in Kolkata

  • Phase 2 runs April 27 to May 18
  • 29 matches in double round-robin format
  • East Bengal FC leads with 18 points
  • Top two IWL 2 teams promoted
2 min read

IWL 2025-26 phase 2 to kick off on April 27 in Kolkata

The Indian Women's League Phase 2 kicks off April 27 in Kolkata with 29 matches. Defending champions East Bengal FC lead the table.

"The league took a hiatus... to allow player availability for the senior and U20 women's national teams camps - Press Release"

New Delhi, April 16

The second phase of the Indian Women's League 2025-26 will kick off on Monday, April 27 in Kolkata.

The proceedings will start with East Bengal FC versus Sribhumi FC, a fixture rescheduled from Phase 1, at the East Bengal Ground on April 27 at 19:00 IST. Phase 1, which was held from December 20, 2025, to January 9, 2026, saw 27 matches.

The league took a hiatus of more than three months to allow player availability for the senior and U20 women's national teams camps and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Asian Cup in March and the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup in April, as per a press release.

A further 29 matches will be played in Phase 2 from April 27 to May 18, with the eight teams playing each other in the second leg of the double round-robin format of the league. The matches will be played in two venues -- AIFF National Centre of Excellence and the East Bengal Ground. All matches will kick off at 15:00 and 19:00 IST.

Defending champions East Bengal FC are currently at the top of the table with 18 points from six games, while Sesa FA and Kickstart FC occupy the relegation spots with one and six points, respectively. The team with the most points at the end of the season will be crowned champions. On the other hand, the seventh and eighth-placed sides will be relegated to IWL 2 next season.

The top two teams from the IWL 2 2025-26 final round will be promoted to IWL 2026-27.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
Good to see the schedule considers national team commitments. The break for the AFC cups was necessary. Hope our players gained valuable experience. Now, back to the league battle!
R
Rohit P
East Bengal Ground on a Monday night? Wish I could be there in Kolkata! The relegation fight looks intense. Sesa FA with just 1 point needs a miracle. Hope the matches get good coverage on TV.
S
Sarah B
Respectfully, a three-month hiatus in the middle of a season feels too long. Momentum is lost for fans and players. The AIFF should plan the calendar better to avoid such big gaps in the future.
V
Vikram M
Kolkata is the perfect city to host this phase. Football passion runs deep there. Hope the local crowds come out to support the women's teams. The double round-robin format makes every match crucial now.
K
Kavya N
Promotion and relegation adds so much excitement! Not just about the title, but also the fight for survival. More investment in IWL 2 will be great for the overall ecosystem. Jai Hind!

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