Bengaluru Football Club Women commonly referred to as BFC Women, is a women's professional football club based in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The club competes in Karnataka Women's League, the third-tier women's football league in India.
The club is owned and operated by JSW Sports and its CEO is Sajjan Jindal.[3][4] After seven years of successful establishment and operations of the men's team, Bengaluru FC, the club commenced its women's team operations in 2021.[1]
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]
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]
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]
Like its Reserve and Academy counterpart, the women's team plays its games at the Bangalore Football Stadium (BFS),[23] a football specific stadium with 8,400 seating capacity, located in Ashok Nagar in Bengaluru.[24]
The Bengaluru FC women's team carries the same home colours as men's team; the crest features the Bangalore Palace in white to symbolize the victory of the Wodeyars, who won the palace back.[25] In the middle of the crest, a blue Gandaberunda, a mythical two-headed bird.[25] The Gandaberunda is taken from the emblem of Karnataka.[25]
On 24 January 2015, Bengaluru revealed Eddie the Eagle as its official mascot.[26]
The club colour is blue; it is often known by the nickname "The Blues".[27]
