Iranian Kowsar Women League

The Iranian Kowsar Women Football League (, Lig-e Kâuser-e Banuan-e Futbal-e Iran) is a women's football league, run by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI). At the top of the Iranian football league system, it is the country's primary competition for the sport. It was established in 2007.

History 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.

Kowsar Women Football League was founded in 2007 with international standards.

In July 2019, the FFIRI signed a contract with Pars Oil Company for the sponsorship of Iran's football referees, including the (male) Pro League, women referees in the Women's League, and futsal league, and received shirts with the company. However, female Pro League referees lodged a complaint against unpaid wages, which led to their dismissal, in violation of the Federation's statute. After the chairman of the FFIRI's Referees Committee intervened, all of the women were backpaid, but were then terminated and disqualified.

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.

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. Proposals to change the league rules were discussed.

Seasons + Kowsar Women Football League Champions Season Champions Runners-up 2007–08Bal GostarMalavan 2009–10MalavanOghab Mazandaran 2010–11Shen Sa ArakMalavan 2011–12Bam KhatoonSorkh Poushan Gorgan 2012–13Bam KhatoonMalavan 2013–14Bam KhatoonMalavan 2014–15Bam KhatoonMalavan 2015–16 Malavan 2016–17Ayande Sazan Mihan Bam Khatoon 2017–18Bam KhatoonShahrdari Sirjan 2018–19Bam KhatoonShahrdari Sirjan 2019–20 Bam Khatoon 2020–21 Shahrdari Sirjan Bam Khatoon 2021–22 Bam KhatoonShahrdari Sirjan 2022–23 Bam Khatoon Sepahan 2023–24 Bam Khatoon Malavan 2024–25 Bam Khatoon Sepahan

Current clubs

2025–26 Iranian Kowsar Women League table

Champions

Club Winners Runners-up Winning seasonsBam Khatoon2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25Shahrdari Sirjan2015–16, 2020–21Malavan2009–10Shen Sa Arak2010–11Bal Gostar2007–08Ayande Sazan Mihan2016–17SepahanSorkh Poushan GorganOghab MazandaranVuchan Kurdistan

Top goalscorers SeasonPlayerTeamGoals 2009-10Sara GhomiMalavan262010-11Bayan Mahmoud322011-12Sara GhomiMalavan472012-13Maryam Rahimi472013-14Sara GhomiMalavan352014-15Sara GhomiMalavan372015-16Sara GhomiMalavan242016-17Zahra Hatamnejad252019-19Zahra GhanbariBam Khatoon512021-22Zahra GhanbariBam Khatoon392023-24Zahra GhanbariBam Khatoon152024-25Zahra GhanbariBam Khatoon222025-26Afsaneh ChatrenoorGol Gohar Sirjan15 Most time goalscorers 5 times. Sara Ghomi (2009-10, 2011-12, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16). Most goals by a player in a single season 51 goals. Zahra Ghanbari (2017-18).

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.

Notes about clubs

There are at least three clubs from the Kurdistan region: (formerly Ista Kurdistan, sometimes spelt Eesta Kordistan, now based in Alborz province) (also spelt Wechan Kurdistan)

Iranian Kowsar Women League

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