Liga FUTVE Femenina
| Founded | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Country | Venezuela |
| Confederation | CONMEBOL |
| Divisions | 1 |
| Number of clubs | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Domestic cup | Copa Venezuela |
| International cup | Copa Libertadores de Fútbol Femenino |
| Current champions | ADIFFEM (2025) |
| Most championships | Caracas (6) |
| Current: 2025 | |
The Primera División Femenina officially named Liga FUTVE Femenina is the top level league competition for women's football in Venezuela. The winner qualifies for the Copa Libertadores de Fútbol Femenino, the South American Champions League. The competition is organised by the Venezuelan Football Federation. It was established in 2017, with the league was made into a semi-professional one, and under the control of the Women's Football Commission.[1]
History
A national amateur league was formed in 2000. In the Liga Amateur de Fútbol Femenino (LAFF) mostly University teams were playing. UCAB (Universidad Católica Andrés Bello) from Caracas won three of the four editions. In 2003/04 the national league was established. It was called the Primera División Femenina until 2016, when it was decided that women's footballers will be received with more adequate means to improve their football life, thus leading to the creation of the Super League in 2017. The newly established Super League will allow clubs to have professional contracts for female footballers and greater insurance, though it is not mandatory due to its semi-professional status.[2][3][4]
Format
In the 2011 season there were 11 teams in two divisions, an Eastern and Western one. The champion qualified for the Copa Libertadores. The 2012/13 season was played in Apertura and Clausura format. Apertura from September to December and Clausura from December to June.[5]
In 2016 the final stage consisted of a hexagonal with six teams each playing each other twice. The two leading teams played for the championship in a two leg match.[6]
In 2017 the national FA changed the league to a semi-professional one.[7] Clubs now need a license, professional staff and pay their players.
List of champions
Below is the list of champions.[8] Caracas FC have been national champion six times, the most of any team.
- (In bracket, title count):
| Ed. | Season | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liga Nacional Femenina (2004–2016) | |||
1 |
2004 | Estudiantes de Mérida (1) | Estudiantes de Guárico |
2 |
2005 | Estudiantes de Mérida (2) | UCAB Spirit |
3 |
2006 | UCAB Spirit (1) | Estudiantes de Mérida |
4 |
2007 | Zulia (1) | UCAB Spirit |
5 |
2008 | Fundemer (1) | |
6 |
2009 | Caracas (1) | Comunidad Cristiana Anzoátegui |
7 |
2010 | Caracas (2) | Estudiantes de Guárico |
8 |
2011 | Caracas[9] (3) | Estudiantes de Guárico |
9 |
2012 | Caracas[10] (4) | Estudiantes de Guárico |
10 |
2013 | Estudiantes de Guárico[11] (1) | Caracas |
11 |
2014 | Caracas[12] (5) | Estudiantes de Guárico |
12 |
2015 | Estudiantes de Guárico[13] (2) | |
13 |
2016 | Estudiantes de Guárico (3) | Flor de Patria |
| Superliga Femenina (2017–2021) | |||
14 |
2017 | Estudiantes de Guárico[14] (4) | Flor de Patria |
15 |
2018 | Flor de Patria[15][16] (1) | Deportivo Táchira |
16 |
2019 | Estudiantes de Caracas[17] (1) | Flor de Patria |
– |
2020 | Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |
– |
2021 | ||
| Primera División Femenina (2022–present) | |||
17 |
2022 | Deportivo Lara (1) | Madeira Club Lara |
18 |
2023 | Caracas (6) | ADIFFEM |
19 |
2024 | ADIFFEM (1) | Marítimo |
20 |
2025 | ADIFFEM (2) | Deportivo Táchira |
- Notes
- ^ Since Fundemer won both the Apertura and Clausura tournaments, no playoff games were played and Fundemer were declared as season champions.
- ^ Since Estudiantes de Guárico won both the Apertura and Clausura tournaments, no playoff games were played and Estudiantes were declared as season champions.
Titles by club
| Rank | Club | Titles | Runner-up | Winning years | Runners-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caracas | 6 | 1 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2023 | 2013 |
| 2 | Estudiantes de Guárico | 4 | 5 | 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 | 2004, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 |
| 3 | Estudiantes de Mérida | 2 | 1 | 2004, 2005 | 2006 |
| ADIFFEM | 2 | 1 | 2024, 2025 | 2023 | |
| 4 | Flor de Patria | 1 | 3 | 2018 | 2016, 2017, 2019 |
| UCAB Spirit | 1 | 2 | 2006 | 2005, 2007 | |
| Deportivo Lara | 1 | — | 2022 | — | |
| Estudiantes de Caracas | 1 | — | 2019 | — | |
| Fundemer | 1 | — | 2008 | — | |
| Zulia | 1 | — | 2007 | — |
National Cups
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no first division tournament in 2020 and 2021. However, extraordinary tournaments were held, in which the champions qualified for the Copa Libertadores Femenina.
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Invitacional | Atlético Sport (1) | Caracas | Qualified for 2020 Copa Libertadores Femenina |
| 2021 Adecuación | Yaracuyanos (1) | Caracas | Qualified for 2021 Copa Libertadores Femenina |
Parallel tournaments
The Liga Nacional Femenina served as the First Division until 2016, as in 2017 it was replaced by the Superliga Femenina. However, it continued organizing its tournament in parallel with the Superliga until 2019.
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liga Nacional Femenina | |||
| 2017 | Deportivo Lara | —
| |
| 2018 | Arroceros de Calabozo | Dynamo Puerto | |
| 2019 | Deportivo Petare | —
| |
| Defunct Tournament | |||
Half-year / Short tournaments
Apertura and Clausura seasons
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liga Nacional Femenina (2004–2019) | ||||
| 2005 | Apertura | Estudiantes de Mérida | Caracas | |
| Clausura | UCAB Spirit | Estudiantes de Mérida | ||
| 2006 | Apertura | Estudiantes de Mérida | UCAB Spirit | |
| Clausura | UCAB Spirit | Estudiantes de Guárico | ||
| 2007 | Apertura | UCAB Spirit | Estudiantes de Guárico | |
| Clausura | Zulia | Comunidad Cristiana Anzoátegui | ||
| 2008 | Apertura | Fundemer | Zulia | |
| Clausura | Fundemer | Caracas | ||
| 2013 | Apertura | Estudiantes de Guárico | Caracas | |
| Clausura | Estudiantes de Guárico | Caracas | ||
| 2014 | Apertura | Caracas | Estudiantes de Guárico | |
| Clausura | Estudiantes de Guárico | Deportivo Anzoátegui | ||
| 2015 | Apertura | Estudiantes de Guárico | Deportivo Anzoátegui | |
| Clausura | Estudiantes de Guárico | Caracas | ||
| 2016 | Apertura | Estudiantes de Guárico | Deportivo Anzoátegui | |
| Clausura | Flor de Patria | Caracas | ||
| 2017 | Apertura | Deportivo Lara | Academia Puerto Cabello | |
| Clausura | Deportivo Lara | Real Amistad | ||
| 2018 | Apertura | Dynamo Puerto | Arroceros de Calabozo | |
| Clausura | Arroceros de Calabozo | Casa Portuguesa | ||
| 2019 | Apertura | Deportivo Petare | Yaracuyanos | |
| Clausura | Deportivo Petare | Dynamo Puerto | ||
References
- ^ "Arbitrosfvf.com - Sitio Oficial" (PDF). 2016-03-04. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
- ^ "Superliga Femenina de Fútbol profesional de Venezuela se organiza por primera vez | | Efecto Cocuyo". 2017-02-20. Archived from the original on 2017-02-20. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
- ^ "La Superliga Femenina sale a la luz en marzo". 2017-02-20. Archived from the original on 2017-02-20. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
- ^ "Se realizará la primera Superliga Femenina de Fútbol en Venezuela | ACN". 2017-02-20. Archived from the original on 2017-02-20. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
- ^ "2012/13 format" (in Spanish). mundodelfutbolfemenino.blogspot.com. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
- ^ "DANZ y Estudiantes de Guárico a la final de la liga nacional" (in Spanish). diarioelnacionalista.com.ve. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
- ^ "Artloft".
- ^ "Venezuela - List of Women Champions". RSSSF. 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
- ^ "venezuela - feminas del caracas fc ya son tricampeonas" [Women of FC Caracas are three time champion.] (in Spanish). 11 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ "Caracas wins title" (in Spanish). rnv.gov.ve. 22 June 2012. Archived from the original on 21 February 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
- ^ "Estudiantes de Guárico ganó 3-1 al Caracas FC y se tituló campeón femenino" (in Spanish). balonazos.com. 1 September 2013. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ "Caracas FC femenino es campeón por quinta vez y va a la Libertadores" (in Spanish). primicia.com.ve. 12 October 2014. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ "Estudiantes de Guárico campeonas absolutas" (in Spanish). eltubazodigital.com. 26 September 2015. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
- ^ "Estudiantes de Guárico conquisto la Súper Liga" (in Spanish). diarioeltiempo.com.ve. 13 August 2017. Archived from the original on 14 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- ^ "Flor de Patria se tituló campeón del Torneo Apertura". 21 June 2018.
- ^ "Flor de Patria se tituló campeón de la Superliga Femenina". 22 October 2018.
- ^ "Estudiantes de Caracas se coronó en la Superliga Femenina". lavinotinto.com (in Spanish). 11 August 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.