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Liga MX Femenil

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Liga MX Femenil
File:Liga MX Femenil.svg
Organising bodyMexican Football Federation
FoundedDecember 5, 2016; 7 years ago (2016-12-05)
CountryMexico
ConfederationCONCACAF
Number of teams18
Level on pyramid1
Domestic cup(s)Copa MX Femenil
Current championsMonterrey (1st title)
(Apertura 2019)
Most championshipsUANL
(2 titles)
TV partnersAYM Sports
Claro[1]
Fox Sports[2]
Televisa[3]
TVC Deportes[4]
WebsiteWebsite
Current: 2019–20 Liga MX Femenil season

The Liga BBVA MX Femenil 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 Monterrey who defeated UANL 2–1 on aggregate in the Apertura 2019 final on 07 December 2019.

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 an enthusiastic football advocate interceded with Xolos of Tijuana to persuade them to create a women's team in 2014.[9] They had to travel to the USA to find similar teams to play.

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. Previously, only Alejandría Godínez, Pachuca's goalkeeper, represented the NCAA as an alumna of DePaul.

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 Tomateros.[17] 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.

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.

Sponsorship

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.

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 Women's Premier Soccer League.

Teams

The following 18 clubs will compete in the Liga MX Femenil during the 2019–20 season, after the disaffiliation of Veracruz following the Apertura 2019 tournament.

class=notpageimage|
Location of the 2019–20 Liga MX Femenil teams
class=notpageimage|
Location of the 2019–20 Liga MX Femenil teams in Greater Mexico City
Club City Ground Capacity Ref
América Mexico City Azteca 81,070 [18]
Atlas Guadalajara Jalisco 55,020 [19]
Atlético San Luis San Luis Potosí City Alfonso Lastras 25,709 [20]
Cruz Azul Ciudad Cooperativa Cruz Azul 10 de Diciembre 14,500 [21]
Guadalajara Zapopan Akron 46,232 [22]
Juárez Ciudad Juárez Olímpico Benito Juárez 19,703 [23]
León León León 31,297 [24]
Monterrey Guadalupe BBVA 51,348 [25]
Morelia Morelia Morelos 34,795 [26]
Necaxa Aguascalientes City Victoria 23,851 [27]
Pachuca Pachuca Hidalgo 27,512 [28]
Puebla Puebla City Cuauhtémoc 47,417 [29]
Querétaro Querétaro City Corregidora 34,107 [30]
Santos Laguna Torreón Corona 29,237 [31]
Tijuana Tijuana Caliente 27,333 [32]
Toluca Toluca Nemesio Díez 31,000 [33]
UANL San Nicolás de los Garza Universitario 41,886 [34]
UNAM Mexico City Estadio Olímpico Universitario 48,297 [35]

Format

For the 2019 Apertura, teams were in one group of nineteen, while for the Clausura they were in a group of eighteen. After playing each other, the top eight teams advance to the "liguilla", the league's version of the playoffs. However, due to COVID-19, both the men's and women's leagues have been indefinitely suspended.

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 Season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Media coverage

TV broadcast rights
Team Mexico Broadcaster U.S. Broadcaster Day Time*
América Televisa Univision Monday 8:00 PM
Atlas TVC Deportes — Saturday 11:00 AM
Atlético San Luis TBA TBA Monday 8:00 PM
Cruz Azul Televisa Univision Friday 4:00 PM
Guadalajara Fox Sports — Monday 7:00 PM
Juárez Televisa Univision Friday 8:00 PM
León Fox Sports / Claro — Monday 7:00 PM
Monterrey Fox Sports — Monday 9:00 PM
Morelia AYM Sports AYM Sports Monday 4:00 PM
Necaxa Claro Nuestra Visión Friday 4:00 PM
Pachuca Fox Sports / Claro — Monday 7:00 PM
Puebla TVC Deportes — Sunday 12:00 PM
Querétaro TVC Deportes — Friday 4:00 PM
Santos Laguna Fox Sports — Monday 9:00 PM
Tijuana Fox Sports — Monday 9:00 PM
Toluca Televisa Univision Monday 6:00 PM
UANL Televisa Univision Monday 8:00 PM
UNAM Televisa Univision Saturday 12:00 PM

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 6 post-season matches was 104,804. The total attendance for 118 matches was 412,006, and average of 3,492 per match.[36]

Managers

The current managers in the Liga MX Femenil are:

Nat. Name Club Appointed Time as manager
Mexico Eva Espejo Pachuca 25 January 2017 7 years, 285 days
Mexico Leonardo Cuéllar América 28 February 2017 7 years, 251 days
Mexico Ileana Dávila UNAM 8 March 2017 7 years, 242 days
Mexico Héctor Becerra Monterrey 4 December 2017 6 years, 337 days
Mexico Everaldo Begines León 20 June 2018 6 years, 138 days
Mexico Fabiola Vargas Necaxa 5 July 2018 6 years, 123 days
Mexico Filadelfo Rangel Morelia 6 July 2018 6 years, 122 days
Mexico Fernando Samayoa Atlas 12 July 2018 6 years, 116 days
Mexico Jorge Gómez Puebla 10 December 2018 5 years, 331 days
Mexico Ramón Villa Zevallos Guadalajara 31 May 2019 5 years, 158 days
Mexico Roberto Medina UANL 31 May 2019 5 years, 158 days
Mexico Rogelio Martínez Cruz Azul 3 June 2019 5 years, 155 days
Mexico Félix Martínez Querétaro 12 July 2019 5 years, 116 days
Mexico Martín Pérez Padrón Santos Laguna 30 November 2019 4 years, 341 days
Mexico Agustín Contreras Toluca 9 December 2019 4 years, 332 days
Mexico Gabino Amparán Juárez 10 December 2019 4 years, 331 days
Mexico Luis Martínez Atlético San Luis 2 January 2020 4 years, 308 days
Colombia Frankie Oviedo Tijuana 27 May 2020 4 years, 162 days

References

  1. ^ includes Claro Sports
  2. ^ includes Fox Sports 2
  3. ^ includes TDN and Univisión TDN
  4. ^ includes TVC Deportes 2
  5. ^ "Sin Puebla ni Jaguares, Liga Femenil alista Copa como ensayo". 16 February 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "La Liga MX anuncia el sorteo para el Torneo de Copa Femenil". MARCA Claro. 24 April 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "México tendrá Liga MX femenil a partir de 2017". El Financiero. 5 December 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "U.S. Women Upset by Mexico 2-1 at CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  9. ^ Lakhani, Nina (2018-10-21). "Pioneer of women's football in Mexico is latest victim of Tijuana violence". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
  10. ^ a b MX, LIGA MX / ASCENSO. "LIGA MX - Página Oficial de la Liga del Fútbol Profesional en México .: Bienvenido". www.ligamx.net.
  11. ^ "Realizarán sorteo para Copa MX Femenil". ESPN Deportes. 24 April 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Clubes faltantes no estaban listos para la Copa Femenil: Bonilla". MedioTiempo. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  13. ^ "Pachuca, primer Campeón del futbol Femenil". www.record.com.mx (in Spanish). 6 May 2017. Retrieved 2020-05-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "Pachuca Tomó Ventaja en la Gran Final". www.ligafemenil.mx. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 2020-05-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "El Club Guadalajara es Campeón de la LIGA MX Femenil". www.ligafemenil.mx. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 2020-05-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Moore, Glenn (Dec 29, 2017), "Kansas Move to Utah", World Soccer Magazine.
  17. ^ Gomez, Eric (5 May 2018). "Brilliant Liga MX Femenil final the cherry on top of a groundbreaking debut season". ESPN.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ "Club América". ligafemenil.mx.
  19. ^ "Atlas". www.ligafemenil.mx. Retrieved 26 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "Club Atlético de San Luis". Liga MX Femenil. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  21. ^ "Cruz Azul". ligafemenil.mx. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  22. ^ "C.D. Guadalajara". ligafemenil.mx. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  23. ^ "FC Juarez". www.ligafemenil.mx. Retrieved 26 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ "Estadio Nou Camp". www.ligafemenil.mx. Retrieved 26 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ "Monterrey". ligafemenil.mx. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  26. ^ "Monarcas Morelia". Sit34,984. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  27. ^ "Nexaca". ligafemenil.mx. Retrieved 3 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ "Pachuca". ligafemenil.mx. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  29. ^ "Puebla FC". www.ligafemenil.mx. Retrieved 26 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ "Estadio La Corregidora". www.ligafemenil.mx. Retrieved 26 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  31. ^ "Santos Laguna". ligafemenil.mx. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  32. ^ "Club Tijuana". ligafemenil.mx. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  33. ^ "Toluca". ligafemenil.mx. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  34. ^ "Tigres UANL". ligafemenil.mx. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  35. ^ "UNAM". ligafemenil.mx. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  36. ^ "Liga MX Femenil reveals impressive attendance numbers". www.concacaf.com. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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