Bengaluru FC (women)

Background

In early 2013, JSW Group, which had previously considered forming a football club in Bengaluru, India, was interested in bidding for a spot in the I-League and on 15 May, The All India Football Federation (AIFF) received a bid from the group.[5][6] Two months later, on 28 May 2013, it was officially announced JSW Group had won the rights to form a direct-entry men's team for the 2013–14 I-League season in Bengaluru, Bengaluru FC.[7] On 20 July, JSW Group officially established the club as "Bengaluru Football Club" at the Bangalore Football Stadium, which had been announced as the men's home stadium for the upcoming season.[4]

Inception

Since its establishment of men's team, club has shown some support for, for example by wearing pink jerseys, worn by the men's team on International Women's Day in support of women.[8] In May 2019, the club had also organised women's 5-a-side tournament as part of the AFC Grassroots Festival involving eight teams across the city.[9] Later on 21 November 2019, the club facilitated a week-long trial for Indian women's national team's striker Bala Devi Ngangom, with Rangers W.F.C.[10] Karnataka Women's League was also established in 2019, thus supporting the discussions for the formation of a women's side of the club.[11]

Seven years later, on 17 September 2021, the club officially announced the formation of its women's team. Beginning with under-11, under-13 and under-15 girls' squads, the club decided to gradually build the foundation for a senior team that would take shape in due course, as per the then club's CEO, Mandar Tamhane.[1]

2021–2023: Karnataka Women's A Division

On 15 February 2022, Bengaluru FC Women with their under-15 squad, kicked-off their debut campaign at the KSFA Women's A Division league, the second tier of women's football in Karnataka. The debut match ended in a 2–0 defeat for the Blues against Modern Girls.[12][13] Two days later on 17 February in the club's second league game, the Blues registered a historic first victory with a thumping 10–0 win over against GRK Girls FC. Shloka Krishna became the first goalscorer for the team.[14]

They eventually ended their season with 11 points on the table and finished in fourth place.[15] Tanvi Nair was adjuded as U15 Girls' Academy player of the year on 30 May 2022, for her performance in the season.[16] In the following season, the Blues registered five consecutive wins in the league and on 11 June 2023, a 7–0 victory over Young Stars FC led to the club's maiden title. It also sealed the promotion to Karnataka Women's League, the top-tier league of Karnataka and the third tier in India.[17]

2023–present: Karnataka Women's League

Upon promotion to Karnataka Women's League (KWL) in the 2023–24 season, the Blues registered their first win in the league against Rebels Women's FC on 18 September 2023. With Chinmayi Tili becoming the first goalscorer for the club in a 2–0 win at the state's top division.[18] With 21 local players in a squad with an average age of 15 years, the Blues eventually finished eighth.[19] Later in March 2024, Rheanna Jacob became the first player from the club to score for the Indian U-20 national team in any age category, against Nepal at the 2024 SAFF U-20 Championship.[20]

The Blues began their second season in KWL with four wins in three games, but a late goal in their fifth encounter against Pass FC resullted in four defeats. They eventually finished sixth on the table with sixteen points.[21] The 2025–26 season also saw the BFC Women finish sixth with thirteen points.[22]

First-team squad

[28]