Liga MX Femenil

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Liga MX Femenil
250px
Country Mexico
Confederation CONCACAF
Founded December 5, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-12-05)
Number of teams 18
Level on pyramid 1
Domestic cup(s) Copa MX Femenil
Campeón de Campeones
Current champions Guadalajara (2nd title)
(Clausura 2022)
Most championships UANL
(4 titles)
TV partners ESPN[1]
Fox Sports[2]
Televisa[3]
TV Azteca[4]
TVP
Website Website
2022–23 Liga MX Femenil season

The Liga MX Femenil, officially known as the Liga BBVA MX Femenil for sponsorship reasons, is the highest division of women's football in Mexico. Supervised by the Mexican Football Federation, this professional league has 18 teams, each coinciding with a Liga MX squad.[5] Following the same schedule as the men's league, each season has two halves: an apertura tournament, which takes place from July to December, and a clausura tournament, which takes place from January to May. The league's first official competitions took place in May 2017 via the Copa MX Femenil, while the inaugural season began in July 2017.[6] Liga MX CEO Enrique Bonilla stated the league was created in order to nurture the stars of the Mexico women's national football team and build an infrastructure for women's football nationwide.[7]

The current champions are C.D. Guadalajara who defeated C.F. Pachuca in 4–3 aggregate in the final on 23 May 2022.

History

Liga Mexicana de Fútbol Femenil

In 2007, there was an attempt to professionalize women's football in Mexico via the Liga Mexicana de Fútbol Femenil. While the league did foster some success, particularly when Mexico's national team beat the United States for the first time in 2010,[8] it did not have a major sponsorship and lacked media coverage. Likewise, major clubs, such as Chivas de Guadalajara, pulled their support. As a result, the league was relegated to semi-professional status.[citation needed]

NWSL

In 2012, the United States Soccer Federation, the Canadian Soccer Association, the Mexican Football Federation, the USL W-League, and the Women's Premier Soccer League met to form the National Women's Soccer League. With its inaugural season in 2013, during which Mexican player Renae Cuéllar scored the first ever goal for the league, Mexico allocated players in an effort to build talent in North America. However, by 2016, the Mexican Football Federation announced it would no longer allocate players, which foreshadowed the Liga MX Femenil.

First team

Marbella Ibarra was an enthusiastic football advocate interceded with Xolos of Tijuana to persuade them to create a women's team in 2014. Andrea Rodebaugh, former national team player and U-20 women's national team coach, took the helm during the program's stint in the Women's Premier Soccer League[9]

A New Mexican League

Preparation

In December 2016, during a general assembly meeting with all Liga MX club owners in the new Mexican Football Federation headquarters, Liga MX CEO Enrique Bonilla announced the formation of the new Liga MX Femenil.[10] In an effort to grow and build talent within Mexico, he announced that 16 Liga MX clubs (excluding Puebla and Chiapas due to financial problems) would field U-23 rosters with four U-17 players and up to two overage players.[10]

Before the inaugural season the teams took part in a domestic cup called Copa MX Femenil in May 2017.[11] The tournament took place between 3 May and 6 May 2017 with only 12 of the 16 teams participating due to four not having a team ready.[12] Pachuca won the final 9–1 against Club Tijuana.[13]

First season

The first Apertura matches were played on 28 July 2017. The Chivas won the league championship on November 24, 2017, defeating Pachuca in the last match of a two-match playoff. The two matches drew record-setting crowds of 28,955 and 32,466 spectators, respectively.[14][15]

Commentator Glenn Moore declared the Liga MX Femenil to have concluded a "very successful debut campaign."[16]

Regulations

During the inaugural season, teams were expected to field U-23 rosters; four slots were reserved for U-17 players, while two were for overage players. All players had to be born in Mexico. Additionally, the sixteen teams were split into two groups. Teams in each group played each other twice per season. The top two teams from each group advanced to the playoffs, which would be a semifinal of two matches (home and away) followed by a final, also of two matches.

After the first season, the rules mostly stayed the same. However, the U-23 limit was raised to U-24. As for the playoffs, they were expanded to eight teams. The top four teams from each group moved on to the liguilla, with the top team from one group playing the fourth ranked team from the other in the quarterfinals.

For the third season, the age limit was raised to 25, but each team was allowed to field up to 6 overage players at a time. In addition, the groups were undone, so each team would play each other at least once during the season. Foreign-born Mexican players were also allowed to play, with up to six allowed per team. This decision brought in more players from the NCAA as well as from the NWSL and Spain's Primera División.

For the fourth season, the overage limit was removed, though the teams were required to allocate minutes to younger players.

For the fifth season, the league began to allow each team to have two international non-Mexican players on their squad.[17] On 25 June 2021, Tigres became the first club to make use of this option by signing Stefany Ferrer, a Brazilian who started her career in Spain and had also played in the United States.[18] The league also began its inaugural U-17 division; Club América won the initial tournament.[19]

Beginning with the sixth season, the league implemented VAR in the playoffs phase of the tournament. International players spots also increased from 2 to 4 per team.[20]

Notable Results

The league set history as the final between Monterrey and Tigres was the highest attended club match in women's soccer history, with a total of 51,211 fans attending the match played at the Estadio BBVA. After the Spanish final of 2019, that record was broken, but Mexico still holds 7 out of the 10 highest attendance records for club games. This is in addition to Mexico's record for highest attendance of any women's sporting event, which took place during the 1971 Women's World Cup Final in the Estadio Azteca.

On 5 October 2019, the Liga MX Femenil and the NWSL hosted their first ever international friendly when Tigres hosted Houston Dash at th Estadio Universitario. Tigres won the match 2–1.

Club Changes

During the inaugural season, 16 out of 18 of the Liga MX teams fielded a women's squad. Chiapas and Puebla were given a pass given their financial struggles. However, by the second season, all 18 teams fielded a squad. By then, Chiapas had been relegated to Ascenso MX, while Lobos BUAP had been promoted to the top division. As such, Lobos BUAP and Puebla both had women's squads.

For the third season, the field expanded to 19 teams, as Atlético San Luis was promoted to Liga MX while no team was relegated. Their promotion also introduced Atlético San Luis Femenil. Additionally, Lobos BUAP was bought by then-second division FC Juárez, so the women's team moved from Puebla to Juárez to form FC Juárez Femenil. After the Apertura 2019, Veracruz folded, and with it meant the Tiburonas were now a defunct club as well, bringing the league back down to 18 teams.

Sponsorships

Just before the third season, BBVA México announced that it would sponsor the Liga MX Femenil in addition to Liga MX and Ascenso MX. With the sponsorship, which is slated for at least three years, the league's name was changed to Liga BBVA MX Femenil in June 2019. Each club also has sponsors for their jerseys, salaries, TV rights, and other factors.

Lower Divisions

In addition to the Liga Mexicana de Fútbol Femenil, which facilitates the SuperLiga and the segunda división, Mexico is also home to the Liga Mayor Femenil. Most players in the Liga MX Femenil previously played in either of these existing leagues, as well as in various Mexican or US college teams and the WPSL.

Teams

The following 18 clubs will compete in the Liga MX Femenil during the 2022–23 season.

Location of the 2022–23 Liga MX Femenil teams
Location of the 2022–23 Liga MX Femenil teams in Greater Mexico City
Club City Ground Capacity Ref
América Mexico City Azteca 81,070 [21]
Atlas Guadalajara Jalisco 55,020 [22]
Atlético San Luis San Luis Potosí City Alfonso Lastras 25,709 [23]
Cruz Azul Mexico City Instalaciones La Noria 2,000 [24][25]
Guadalajara Zapopan Akron 46,232 [26]
Juárez Ciudad Juárez Olímpico Benito Juárez 19,703 [27]
León León León 31,297 [28]
Mazatlán Mazatlán Mazatlán 25,000 [29]
Monterrey Guadalupe BBVA 51,348 [30]
Necaxa Aguascalientes City Victoria 23,851 [31]
Pachuca Pachuca Hidalgo 27,512 [32]
Puebla Puebla City Cuauhtémoc 47,417 [33]
Querétaro Querétaro City Estadio Olímpico de Querétaro 4,600 [34]
Santos Laguna Torreón Corona 29,237 [35]
Tijuana Tijuana Caliente 27,333 [36]
Toluca Toluca Nemesio Díez 31,000 [37]
UANL San Nicolás de los Garza Universitario 41,886 [38]
UNAM Mexico City Olímpico Universitario 48,297 [39]

Competition Format

Regular Phase

For the inaugural 2017–18 season, the regular phase competition format consisted of 16 teams divided into two groups of 8 from which the top two teams from each group qualified for the semi-finals of the playoffs.[40] For the 2018–19 season, the regular phase format was changed along with the addition of two more teams to the league. With the new format, 18 teams were divided into two groups of 9 from which the top four teams from each group qualified for the quarter-finals of the playoffs.[41] For the 2019–20 season, the format was once more changed and the current regular phase format was implemented. The current format consists of a single table of 18 teams, in which each team plays against the other 17 teams. After 17 matches, The top eight teams advance to the quarter-finals of the "liguilla", the league's version of the playoffs.[42]

Playoffs (liguilla) Phase

The liguilla (Spanish for "little league") is the playoff phase of the tournament. This phase begins with the quarter-finals, for which the top eight teams at the end of the regular phase qualify. Each stage of the liguilla is play as a two-game series. In case of draw in the aggregate scoreline of a series in the quarter-finals or semi-finals stage, the team that finished higher in the table in the regular phase of the tournament will advance to the next stage. In case of draw in the aggregate scoreline of the final, the teams will go directly to penalties to decide the champion. [1]

Promotion and Relegation

Liga MX Femenil currently does not have a Promotion and relegation system.

Champions

Season Champions Result Runners-up
Apertura 2017 Guadalajara 0–2, 3–0 Pachuca
Clausura 2018 UANL 2–2, 2–2 (4–2 pen) Monterrey
Apertura 2018 América 2–2, 1–1 (3–1 pen) UANL
Clausura 2019 UANL 1–1, 2–1 Monterrey
Apertura 2019 Monterrey 1–1, 1–0 UANL
Clausura 2020 no title awarded
Guardianes 2020 UANL 1–0, 0–1 (3–2 pen) Monterrey
Guardianes 2021 UANL 2–1, 5–3 Guadalajara
Grita México 2021 Monterrey 2–2, 0–0 (3–1 pen) UANL
Clausura 2022 Guadalajara 4–2, 0–1 Pachuca

Titles per club

Club Winners Runners-up Winning years
Tigres UANL 4 3 Clausura 2018, Clausura 2019, Guardianes 2020, Guardianes 2021
Monterrey 2 3 Apertura 2019, Grita México 2021
Guadalajara 2 1 Apertura 2017, Clausura 2022
América 1 0 Apertura 2018

Media coverage

Broadcast rights
Team Mexico Broadcaster U.S. Broadcaster Day Time*
América Televisa[Note 1] / Club América Digital[Note 9] TelevisaUnivision[Note 1] / Club América Digital[Note 9] Various Various
Atlas Atlas Digital[Note 12] Atlas Digital[Note 12] Saturday 10:00 AM
Atlético San Luis ESPN[Note 10] — Sunday 5:00 PM
Cruz Azul Televisa[Note 1] TelevisaUnivision[Note 1] Friday 4:00 PM
Guadalajara Fox Sports / Chivas TV NBCUniversal[Note 3] Monday 5:00 PM
Juárez Fox Sports Fox Deportes[Note 8] Monday 5:00 PM
León Fox Sports — Monday 7:00 PM
Mazatlán ESPN[Note 10] / TV Azteca[Note 7] / TVP[Note 11] TVP[Note 11] Friday 8:00 PM
Monterrey Fox Sports ESPN[Note 4] / Fox Deportes[Note 8] Monday 9:00 PM
Necaxa Televisa[Note 1] TelevisaUnivision[Note 1] Monday 5:00 PM
Pachuca Fox Sports — Monday 5:00 PM
Puebla ESPN[Note 10] / TV Azteca[Note 7] — Various Various
Querétaro Fox Sports — Friday 5:00 PM
Santos Laguna Fox Sports ESPN[Note 4] / Fox Deportes[Note 8] Monday 9:00 PM
Tijuana Fox Sports / Xolos Digital[Note 5] ESPN[Note 4] / Fox Deportes[Note 8] / Xolos Digital[Note 5] Monday 9:00 PM
Toluca Televisa[Note 1] TelevisaUnivision[Note 1] Monday 5:00 PM
UANL Televisa[Note 1] / Tigres Digital[Note 6] TelevisaUnivision[Note 1] / Tigres Digital[Note 6] Monday 7:00 PM
UNAM Televisa[Note 1] TelevisaUnivision[Note 1] Saturday 12:00 PM
  • (*) All match times are Mexico City Time UTC−06:00 in January – Saturday before 1st Sunday in April and last Sunday in October – December; UTC-05:00 from 1st Sunday in April – Saturday before last Sunday in October.
  1. ^ All home matches are streamed on ViX.
  2. ^ Matches are shown on TUDN USA or TUDN Xtra.
  3. ^ Matches are streamed on Telemundo streaming platforms (Telemundo Deportes App, TelemundoDeportes.com). Home matches vs Club América and any final match at home are also televised on pay TV network Universo.
  4. ^ Selected matches are streamed on ESPN+ and may air on ESPN Deportes either live or via tape-delay. Rights sublicensed from Fox Deportes.
  5. ^ Selected matches are shown on a Fox Sports-branded linear TV network in Mexico. All home matches are streamed on Xolos Femenil's digital platform (Facebook).
  6. ^ Home matches are streamed on ViX or Tigres's digital platform (Facebook).
  7. ^ Matches are shown on Azteca Digital
  8. ^ Selected matches are shown on Fox Deportes either live or via tape-delay.
  9. ^ All home matches are streamed on Club América's digital platform (YouTube).
  10. ^ All home matches are shown on an ESPN-branded linear TV network and streamed via Star+ in Mexico, Central America and Dominican Republic, and streamed via Star+ in Spanish-speaking South America.
  11. ^ All home matches are streamed via the TVP account on Facebook.
  12. ^ All home matches are streamed on Atlas's digital platform (YouTube).

Attendance

The attendance for the first regular season for the 16 teams was 307,202 for 112 matches, an average of 2,743 per match. The attendance for the 6 post-season matches was 104,804. The total attendance for 118 matches was 412,006, an average of 3,492 per match.[43]

The league has set various attendance records for women's club soccer. The Tigres vs. Monterrey final in May 2018 saw over 51,000 attendees; this occupied the top spot in the world for nearly a year. Prior to this match, Mexico's other finals and rivalry games had also set new records or made it into the top 10 attendance records.[44]

Managers

The current managers in the Liga MX Femenil are:

Nat. Name Club Appointed Time as manager
Mexico Carla Rossi Querétaro 11 June 2020 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Mexico Carlos Roberto Pérez Cruz Azul 22 December 2020 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Mexico Jorge Campos Santos Laguna 19 January 2021 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Mexico Eva Espejo Monterrey 13 June 2021 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Mexico Gabriel Velasco Toluca 27 November 2021 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Mexico Pablo Luna Puebla 6 December 2021 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Mexico Juan Pablo Alfaro Guadalajara 14 December 2021 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Mexico Adrián Martínez León 16 December 2021 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Mexico Gerardo Castillo Necaxa 3 February 2022 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Mexico Juan Carlos Cacho Pachuca 11 April 2022 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Mexico Fernando Samayoa Atlético San Luis 4 May 2022 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Spain Mila Martínez Juárez 1 June 2022 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Mexico Fabiola Vargas Atlas 8 June 2022 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Canada Carmelina Moscato UANL 9 June 2022 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Spain Ángel Villacampa América 17 June 2022 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Mexico Juan Manuel Romo Tijuana 28 June 2022 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Mexico José Alonso Madrigal (Interim) Mazatlán 31 August 2022 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.
Mexico David Cotero (Interim) UNAM 20 October 2022 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.

Top scorers

Tournament Player Club Goals
Apertura 2017 Mexico Lucero Cuevas América 15
Clausura 2018 Mexico Lucero Cuevas América 15
Apertura 2018 Mexico Desirée Monsiváis Monterrey 13
Clausura 2019 Mexico Fabiola Ibarra Atlas 7
Mexico Isela Ojeda Santos Laguna
Apertura 2019 Mexico Desirée Monsiváis Monterrey 17
Mexico Viridiana Salazar Pachuca
Guardianes 2020 Mexico Katty Martínez UANL 18
Guardianes 2021 Mexico Alison González Atlas 18
Grita México 2021 Mexico Alicia Cervantes Guadalajara 17
Clausura 2022 Mexico Alicia Cervantes Guadalajara 14
Apertura 2022 United States Mia Fishel UANL 17

References

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External links

  1. ↑ includes ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPN+, and Star+
  2. ↑ includes Fox Sports 2
  3. ↑ includes Vix
  4. ↑ Includes Azteca Digital
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  16. ↑ Moore, Glenn (Dec 29, 2017), "Kansas Move to Utah", World Soccer Magazine.
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  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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