Kowsar Women Football League

This article is about the top division in women's Iranian football. For top division in men's Iranian football, see Persian Gulf Pro League.

The Kowsar Women Football League (Persian: لیگ کوثر بانوان فوتبال ایران, Lig-e Kâuser-e Banuan-e Futbal-e Iran) is a women's football league, run by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran. At the top of the Iranian football league system, it is the country's primary competition for the sport.^[1] It was established in 2007.^[2]

Kowsar Women Football League

Founded	2007; 18 years ago (2007)
First season	2007
Country	Iran
Confederation	AFC
Number of clubs	10
Level on pyramid	1
Relegation to	Kowsar Women Football League 1st Division
Domestic cup(s)	Hazfi Cup
International cup(s)	AFC Women's Champions League
Current champions	Bam Khatoon (11th title)
Most championships	Bam Khatoon (11 titles)
Broadcaster(s)	IRIB channels
Website	www.iranleague.ir
Current: 2024–25 Kowsar League

History

Malavan squad in 2022

The idea of founding the National Women's Football League in Iran dates back to the late Pahlavi era. During that period, important steps were taken to create a strong women's club football system in Iran. In those years, Tehrani clubs were the pioneers of women's club football in Iran.^[3]

Kowsar Women Football League was founded in 2007^[4] with international standards.

Until 2024, Bam Khatoon F.C. dominated the league for years and was also known as an Asian power. They were usually in serious competition with Malavan W.F.C and they usually won against them. Malavan has a special fan culture in the league and attracts many fans to their stadium. Shahrdari Sirjan's team has usually been a serious competitor for the championship too.^[5][6]

In 2024, the Iranian Football Federation proposed a change in the number of teams in the league in order to facilitate the establishment of a women's team by the clubs of the Persian Gulf Pro League.^[7] Proposals to change the league rules were discussed.

Seasons

Kowsar Women Football League Champions^[8]

Season	Champions	Runners-up
2007–08	Bal Gostar	Malavan
2009–10	Malavan	Oghab Mazandaran
2010–11	Shen Sa Arak	Malavan
2011–12	Bam Khatoon	Sorkh Poushan Gorgan
2012–13	Bam Khatoon	Malavan
2013–14	Bam Khatoon	Malavan
2014–15	Bam Khatoon	Malavan
2015–16	Shahrdari Sirjan	Malavan
2016–17	Ayande Sazan Mihan	Bam Khatoon
2017–18	Bam Khatoon	Shahrdari Sirjan
2018–19	Bam Khatoon	Shahrdari Sirjan
2019–20	Bam Khatoon	Vuchan Kurdistan
2020–21	Shahrdari Sirjan	Bam Khatoon
2021–22	Bam Khatoon	Shahrdari Sirjan
2022–23	Bam Khatoon	Sepahan
2023–24	Bam Khatoon	Malavan
2024–25	Bam Khatoon	Sepahan

Current clubs

Team	City
Bam Khatoon F.C	Bam
Malavan	Bandar Anzali
Sepahan	Isfahan
Palayesh Gas	Ilam
Gol Gohar Sirjan	Sirjan
Peykan	Tehran
Taran Alborz	Karaj
Ista Kordestan	Sanandaj
Isatin Karan Fars	Shiraz
Ava	Tehran

Champions

Club	Winners	Runners-up	Winning seasons
Bam Khatoon	11	2	2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25
Shahrdari Sirjan	2	3	2015–16, 2020–21
Malavan	1	7	2009–10
Shen Sa Arak	1	-	2010–11
Bal Gostar	1	-	2007–08
Ayande Sazan Mihan	1	-	2016–17
Sepahan	-	2
Sorkh Poushan Gorgan	-	1
Oghab Mazandaran	-	1
Vuchan Kurdistan	-	1

Broadcasting

IRIB exclusively broadcasts the matches.

From 2024, the matches were streamed online on several different platforms, and the resulting income went indirectly to the clubs.^[9]

Sponsors

Pars Oil has been one of the sponsors of Iran's men's and women's leagues.

At least until 2024, this league did not have any sponsors. The non-broadcasting situation of the matches on Iranian television and the problems related to women's sports in Iran after the 1979 revolution caused serious economic problems for the league.^[10][11]

See also

• AFC Women's Club Championship
• Women's football in Iran
• Iran Football League Organization