History of Liga MX Femenil in Timeline

Liga MX Femenil is the premier professional women's soccer league in Mexico, operating under the supervision of the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol. Currently sponsored as Liga BBVA MX Femenil, the league mirrors the Liga MX structure, featuring 18 teams, each affiliated with a corresponding men's Liga MX club. It represents the highest level of competition for women's football within the country.

1971: Mexico holds record for highest attendance on a women's football match

In 1971, Mexico held the record for the highest attendance on a women's football match, which took place during the 1971 Women's World Cup final at Estadio Azteca.

2007: Liga Mexicana de Fútbol Femenil attempt

In 2007, an attempt was made to professionalize women's football in Mexico through the Liga Mexicana de Fútbol Femenil, but it lacked major sponsorships, media coverage, and fan support, leading major clubs like Chivas to withdraw their support.

November 2012: NWSL Establishment

In November 2012, the United States Soccer Federation announced the establishment of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) to professionalize women's soccer in the United States.

2013: Mexican players allocated to NWSL clubs

Starting in 2013, the Mexican Football Federation allocated Mexican players to NWSL clubs, covering their salaries, to develop Mexican talent in the United States. Players like Maribel Domínguez and Mónica Ocampo were part of this arrangement.

2014: Club Tijuana creates professional women's team

In 2014, Marbella Ibarra, a women's football advocate, persuaded Club Tijuana to create a professional women's team, managed by Andrea Rodebaugh in the Women's Premier Soccer League.

December 2016: Liga MX Femenil Formation Announced

On December 5, 2016, Enrique Bonilla, then-Liga MX President, announced the formation of Liga MX Femenil during a general assembly meeting. Sixteen of the eighteen Liga MX clubs would field U-23 rosters with younger players.

2016: Mexican Federation ends NWSL player allocation

In early 2016, the Mexican Football Federation announced it would no longer allocate players to the NWSL due to limited playing time, foreshadowing the creation of Liga MX Femenil.

May 2017: Copa MX Femenil Tournament

Between May 3 and May 6, 2017, teams participated in Copa MX Femenil, a warm-up tournament before the inaugural season. Pachuca won, defeating Club Tijuana 9–1 in the final.

July 2017: Inaugural Liga MX Femenil Matches

On July 28, 2017, the first Apertura 2017 matches were played, marking the beginning of Liga MX Femenil.

November 2017: Chivas wins first Liga MX Femenil Championship

On November 24, 2017, Chivas won the first Liga MX Femenil championship, defeating Pachuca in the final. The two matches drew record-setting crowds of 28,955 and 32,466 spectators, respectively.

2017: Inaugural season regular phase competition format

For the inaugural 2017-18 season, the regular phase competition format consisted of 16 teams divided into two groups of eight from which the top two teams from each group at the end of the regular phase qualified to the semi-finals of the Liguilla.

2018: All Liga MX clubs have a Liga MX Femenil side

By the second season, in 2018, all 18 Liga MX clubs had an active Liga MX Femenil side.

2018: Highest-attended club match in women's football history

During the Clausura 2018 tournament, the second match of the final between Monterrey and Tigres at Estadio BBVA was the highest-attended club match in women's football history, with 51,211 fans.

2018: Regular phase format changes, and new teams added

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 nine, from which the top four teams from each group at the end of the regular phase of the tournament qualified to the quarter-finals of the Liguilla.

2018: First match between Liga MX Femenil team and NWSL side

In 2018, Houston Dash faced Monterrey in a preseason match, which ended with a 3–1 victory in favor of the Dash. This match represented the first time that a Liga MX Femenil team faced an NWSL side.

2018: Previous attendance record broken

In November 2022, the league's previous highest attendance record set during the Clausura 2018 final between Monterrey and Tigres (51,211 attendees) was broken as the first match of the Apertura 2022 final between Tigres and Club América at Estadio Azteca drew a crowd of approximately 52,654 fans.

June 2019: BBVA México sponsors Liga MX Femenil

In June 2019, BBVA México announced it would sponsor Liga MX Femenil, changing the league's name to Liga BBVA MX Femenil.

October 2019: Tigres defeats Houston Dash, first win against NWSL team

On October 5, 2019, Tigres defeated Houston Dash 2–1 at the Estadio Universitario, marking the first victory for a Liga MX Femenil team against an NWSL team.

2019: Lobos BUAP and Puebla introduce their Liga MX Femenil sides

By the second season, in the 2018-2019 season, Lobos BUAP and Puebla introduced their Liga MX Femenil sides.

2019: League expands to 19 teams

By the third season, in 2019, the league was expanded to 19 teams as Atlético San Luis Femenil was introduced due to Atlético San Luis promotion to Liga MX while no team was relegated.

2019: Regular phase format changes

For the 2019–20 season, the format was changed once more and the current regular phase format was implemented. The current format consists of a single table of 18 teams, in which each side plays against the other 17 teams.

June 2020: Monarcas Morelia relocated to Mazatlán

In June 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Monarcas Morelia franchised was relocated to Mazatlán, putting an end to Morelia Femenil's three-years old trajectory in the top flight, and creating and integrating Mazatlán F.C. as the newest member of the league.

June 2021: Teams allowed non-Mexican players and youth division inaugurated

In June 2021, for the fifth season, teams could have two non-Mexican players. Tigres signed Stefany Ferrer, a Brazilian player. The league inaugurated its youth division, with Club América winning the first tournament.

2021: Overage limit removed and Campeón de Campeonas introduced

In 2021, for the fourth season, the overage limit was removed, but teams were required to allocate playing time to U-20 players. The Campeón de Campeonas championship was introduced, with Tigres winning the first edition automatically.

July 2022: Club América faces Bayer 04 Leverkusen

On July 5, 2022, Club América played against Frauen-Bundesliga team Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Estadio Azteca, marking the first time a Liga MX Femenil team faced a European team. América won 1–0.

November 2022: Record attendance and viewership for Apertura 2022 final

In November 2022, the first match of the Apertura 2022 final between Tigres and Club América at Estadio Azteca drew 52,654 fans, breaking the previous attendance record. The final was viewed by more than 5.3 million people, becoming the most-viewed Liga MX Femenil final.

2022: Previous attendance record broken

During the Clausura 2023 tournament, the previous attendance record of the league that was set during the Apertura 2022 final was broken once again during the Clausura 2023 tournament final, as approximately 58,156 fans attended the second leg of this final at Estadio Azteca to watch Club América win its second title in history.

2022: Liga MX Femenil youth division starts

Since 2022, Liga MX Femenil has had a youth division to develop talent, beginning as a U-17 division.

March 2023: Nike becomes official sponsor of Liga MX Femenil

On March 29, 2023, Liga MX Femenil announced that Nike would become an official sponsor of the league, providing the official match ball and equipment to players.

2023: Youth division becomes a U-19 division

During the 2023-24 season, the Liga MX Femenil youth division became a U-19 division.

2023: First transfer fee paid between Liga MX Femenil clubs

During the Apertura 2023 tournament, the transfer of Miah Zuazua from FC Juárez to Club América was the first transaction between two Liga MX Femenil clubs involving a transfer fee.

2023: Scarlett Camberos transfer and attendance record broken

During the Clausura 2023 tournament, Club América transferred Scarlett Camberos to Angel City FC in one of the most expensive transfers in women's football of 2023. The attendance record was broken again with 58,156 fans at the final, and the tournament became the most-viewed in league history with over 15 million viewers.

2023: Teams that qualified for Summer Cup

In 2024, the league collaborated with the NWSL to stage the Summer Cup. This competition featured the six Liga MX Femenil teams that accumulated the most number of points across the Clausura and Apertura tournaments during 2023.

March 2024: CONCACAF W Champions Cup announced

On March 12, 2024, CONCACAF announced the CONCACAF W Champions Cup. Liga MX Femenil is allocated three spots into the group stage of the competition.

September 2024: Largest transfer fee paid

On September 12, 2024, América agreed with SC Internacional to transfer Priscila for a $497,403 fee plus incentives, making it the largest transfer between Latin-American women's football clubs.

September 2024: Liga TDP Femenil announced

On September 25, 2024, Liga TDP Femenil was announced with support from the Mexican Football Federation to develop players for Liga MX Femenil clubs.

October 2024: Liga TDP Femenil first season begins

On October 8, 2024, the first season of Liga TDP Femenil officially began.

2024: Liga MX Femenil and NWSL Summer Cup

In 2024, the league collaborated with the NWSL to stage the Summer Cup. It featured all 14 teams from the NWSL and six Liga MX Femenil teams with the most points from the 2023 Clausura and Apertura tournaments.

August 2025: Lizbeth Ovalle transferred to Orlando Pride for record fee

On August 21, 2025, Tigres agreed to transfer Mexican forward Lizbeth Ovalle to NWSL club Orlando Pride for a reported $1.5 million USD, setting a new world-record transfer fee in women’s football.

August 2025: First Liga MX Femenil All-Star Game

On August 22, 2025, the league celebrated their first All-Star game by facing FC Barcelona in Monterrey. Barcelona won on penalties after a 2–2 draw.

November 2025: Tigres UANL win Apertura 2025 final

In November 2025, Tigres UANL defeated Club America with a 4–3 aggregate score in the Apertura 2025 final, securing the championship.

2025: Liga MX Femenil "FutFem Donde Sea" Initiative

Beginning with the Clausura 2025 tournament, Liga MX Femenil launched the "FutFem Donde Sea (women’s football everywhere)" initiative to produce TV broadcasts and stream home games of América, Cruz Azul, Monterrey, Necaxa, Pumas, and Toluca on YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, with the aim of expanding audience reach and centralizing TV rights.

2025: Liga MX Femenil Mandatory Teams

In 2025, Liga MX regulations mandated that every club participating in the men's first division must also field a women's side in Liga MX Femenil, eliminating temporary exceptions previously granted to financially unstable clubs.