This year in women’s football feels largely like a transition period, with club legends heading elsewhere and competition at an all time high, with the Mexican league following suit, but not quite in the same way.
Liga MX Femenil has a new identity. At the start of the new season, the league was renamed to Liga Femenil BBVA, placing a new sponsor in the spotlight (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria). It’s important to note that this is not a new competition, but a refresh of the existing league, also marking the league’s tenth anniversary.
A new logo, anthem and visual identity have been introduced as part of the rebrand, building excitement amongst fans for a slightly different and more competitive season, backed by increased investment.
Most importantly, the competition structure has been completely altered.
To summarise, prior to the rebrand, it involved 18 teams, one league table, and 17 regular season games per club. However, the new format also involves 18 teams, but split into two groups of nine with 14 regular season games per club, with the top four from each group qualifying for the Liguilla. Albeit, the 14 games are not part of a simple, standard format. Each club will play eight matches against the other eight teams in its own group (one against every group opponent), as well as six matches against teams from the opposite group.
Unusually, each nine-team group will be divided into three blocks of three teams, in which the six cross-group fixtures will be selected in accordance to those blocks. Ultimately, each club receives two matches against teams from each of the three blocks in the opposite group, and six inter-group games in total.
A multitude of fans have been asking why this decision was made.
It is about player workload, scheduling, and the commercial identity of the league. The previous 17-game regular season contributed to busy stretches in the calendar, increasing risks of injury, as a result teams will play three less matches. The intention set out has been to decrease the number of back-to-back fixture weeks, with hopes of reducing pressure on players.
To understand how to win the title during the Liguilla, the final knockout phase, the top four teams in Group A and Group B qualify, to display an eight-team Liguilla. This is where the champion will be decided, similar to the NWSL.
Previously, each team competed directly against every other club in the same table, however now where a team is placed within their group matters hugely as a fourth-place finish in one group is enough for the playoffs, with a fifth-place finish in the other group resulting in elimination.
This presents some issues around competitiveness. Not every club will necessarily face the same opponents due to the six cross-group games being determined by the block system. Therefore, questions are being raised around competitive balance, as one group may have a tougher collection of opponents, and the cross-group draw could influence who reaches the Liguilla.
Another large change to analyse is the shortened season. Going from 17 to 14 regular season matches per team is a 17.6% reduction. As much as this has benefits such as less fixture congestion, increased recovery time, less heavy travel, and better preparation for international windows, it also means there are fewer opportunities for players to gain minutes, less chances to generate matchday revenue, limited exposure for emerging players, and for a developing women’s league, three fewer games isn’t an insignificant reduction.
The rebrand to Liga Femenil BBVA, alongside a new logo, anthem and visual identity, represents an attempt to strengthen the league’s commercial identity as it approaches a decade since its creation in 2017. With major clubs, growing international recruitment and competitions such as the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup and Concacaf W Champions Cup, Mexico’s women’s game is becoming increasingly significant across the Americas. However, inconsistent attendances, competitive balance and opportunities for domestic players remain challenges, leaving Liga Femenil with one crucial task: proving that its rapid growth can translate into a sustainable future for women’s football in Mexico.
