| Kowsar Women Football League | |
| Country: | Iran |
| Confed: | AFC |
| First: | 2007 |
| Teams: | 10 |
| Levels: | 1 |
| Domest Cup: | Hazfi Cup |
| Confed Cup: | AFC Women's Champions League |
| Champions: | Bam Khatoon (10th title) |
| Most Champs: | Bam Khatoon (10 titles) |
| Relegation: | Kowsar Women Football League 1st Division |
| Tv: | IRIB channels |
| Current: | 2023–24 Kowsar 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]
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.
| 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 | Khatoon | |
| 2017–18 | Bam Khatoon | Shahrdari Sirjan | |
| 2018–19 | Bam Khatoon | Shahrdari Sirjan | |
| 2019–20 | Bam Khatoon | Vuchan Kurdistan | |
| 2020–21 | Shahrdari Sirjan | Khatoon | |
| 2021–22 | Bam Khatoon | Shahrdari Sirjan | |
| 2022–23 | Bam Khatoon | Sepahan | |
| 2023–24 | Bam Khatoon | Malavan |
| Team | City |
|---|---|
| Bam Khatoon F.C | Bam |
| Malavan | Bandar Anzali |
| Isfahan | |
| Ilam | |
| Sirjan | |
| Tehran | |
| Karaj | |
| Sanandaj | |
| Isatin Karan Fars | |
| Tehran | |
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning seasons | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bam Khatoon | 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24 | |||
| Shahrdari Sirjan | 2015–16, 2020–21 | |||
| Malavan | 2009–10 | |||
| Shen Sa Arak | 2010–11 | |||
| Bal Gostar | 2007–08 | |||
| Ayande Sazan Mihan | 2016–17 | |||
| Sorkh Poushan Gorgan | 2011–12 | |||
| Oghab Mazandaran | 2009–10 | |||
| Vuchan Kurdistan | 2019–20 | |||
| Sepahan | 2022–23 |
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.[8]
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.[9] [10]