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.
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.
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.
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.
In 2017 the national FA changed the league to a semi-professional one. Clubs now need a license, professional staff and pay their players.
List of champions Below is the list of champions. Caracas FC have been national champion six times, the most of any team.
Ed.SeasonChampion Runner-upLiga Nacional Femenina (2004–2016) 2004 Estudiantes de Mérida Estudiantes de Guárico 2005 Estudiantes de Mérida UCAB Spirit 2006 UCAB Spirit Estudiantes de Mérida 2007 Zulia UCAB Spirit 2008 Fundemer 2009 Caracas Comunidad Cristiana Anzoátegui 2010 Caracas Estudiantes de Guárico 2011 Caracas Estudiantes de Guárico 2012 Caracas Estudiantes de Guárico 2013 Estudiantes de Guárico Caracas 2014 Caracas Estudiantes de Guárico 2015 Estudiantes de Guárico 2016 Estudiantes de Guárico Flor de PatriaSuperliga Femenina (2017–2021) 2017 Estudiantes de Guárico Flor de Patria 2018 Flor de Patria Deportivo Táchira 2019 Estudiantes de Caracas Flor de Patria 2020 Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2021Liga FUTVE Femenina (2022–present) 2022 Deportivo Lara Madeira Club Lara 2023 Caracas ADIFFEM 2024 ADIFFEM Marítimo 2025 ADIFFEM Deportivo Táchira 2026 Caracas Academia Puerto Cabello
Notes
Titles by club RankClubTitlesRunner-upWinning yearsRunners-up years1Caracas 7 1 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2023, 2026 20132Estudiantes de Guárico 4 5 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 2004, 2010, 2011, 2012, 20143Estudiantes de Mérida 2 1 2004, 2005 2006 ADIFFEM 2 1 2024, 2025 20234Flor de Patria 1 3 2018 2016, 2017, 2019 UCAB Spirit 1 2 2006 2005, 2007Deportivo 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. SeasonChampion Runner-upAward 2020 Invitacional Atlético Sport Caracas Qualified for 2020 Copa Libertadores Femenina 2021 Adecuación Yaracuyanos 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. SeasonChampion Runner-upLiga 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
External links Venezuelan FA Twitter-Feed