If you still think women's soccer in North America starts and ends with the NWSL, you’re basically missing the most explosive story in the sport. Since its first kickoff in 2017, the Liga MX Femenil (officially the Liga MX Femenil, though many still search for it as the Primera División Femenil de México) has transformed from a skeptical "social project" into a commercial juggernaut that is genuinely scaring established European leagues. It’s loud. It’s chaotic. It’s breaking attendance records that stood for decades. Honestly, the growth is kind of terrifying if you’re a rival league trying to keep hold of top talent.
The league didn't just happen. It was born out of a realization that Mexican fans were already obsessed with the game; they just needed a reason to care about the women's side. What they got was a masterclass in tribalism and branding. Unlike some leagues that started with independent franchises, Mexico tied its women's teams directly to the massive brands of the men's clubs. Think Club América, Chivas, and Tigres. This wasn't just a nice gesture. It was a tactical move that inherited decades of built-in hatred and loyalty.
The Attendance Myth and the Tigres Phenomenon
People often assume women's soccer is a "charity" product. In Mexico, the numbers say otherwise. We’ve seen crowds of over 50,000 people at the Estadio Azteca for a final. That’s not a fluke. It's a Tuesday.
The real heartbeat of the Liga MX Femenil lives in Monterrey. If you want to understand why this league works, look at Tigres Femenil and Rayadas. They’ve turned the "Clásico Regio" into a mandatory viewing event. Tigres, specifically, has operated with a "Super Team" mentality since day one. They didn't wait for the league to grow; they forced it to grow by signing players like Lizbeth Ovalle, who is, quite frankly, one of the most underrated wingers on the planet.
- The 2022 Apertura Final: This saw a combined attendance of over 90,000 fans across two legs.
- The Global Rank: Mexico consistently ranks in the top three globally for domestic league attendance, often rivaling or beating England's WSL.
- The Investment: Teams like Pachuca and Monterrey are spending on infrastructure that rivals mid-tier men's clubs in Europe.
It isn't all sunshine, though. While the top five or six teams are living in a professional utopia, the bottom of the table still struggles with wage gaps and limited resources. It’s a league of two speeds. You have the "Big Four" who can fly private and sign world-class internationals, and then you have teams that are still trying to figure out how to market a Tuesday night game in a half-empty stadium.
📖 Related: Why Netball Girls Sri Lanka Are Quietly Dominating Asian Sports
Why Foreign Stars are Flocking to Mexico
A few years ago, the league was strictly for Mexican-born players. That changed. Now, the Liga MX Femenil is a global destination. When Jennifer Hermoso—fresh off a Champions League title and becoming a Spanish icon—decided to sign with Pachuca, it sent shockwaves through the sport. People asked, "Why Mexico?"
The answer is simple: The lifestyle, the passionate fanbases, and, increasingly, the paycheck. Nike and other massive sponsors have realized that the engagement rates for Mexican female athletes on social media are significantly higher than many of their male counterparts. It’s a goldmine.
Sarah Luebbert is another perfect example. The American winger became a cult hero at Club América. She didn't just play there; she became part of the fabric of the club. This cross-pollination with the US market is something the Primera División Femenil de México is banking on. They want the Mexican-American dual national players. They want the talent that the US system overlooks.
The Tactical Shift
Mexican soccer has always been about technical proficiency. In the women’s game, this translates to a very high-paced, ball-retention style that is honestly more fun to watch than some of the more "physical" leagues in Northern Europe. Coaches like Milagros Martínez and Ángel Villacampa have brought European tactical rigor to a league that already had the "garra" (grit).
👉 See also: Why Cumberland Valley Boys Basketball Dominates the Mid-Penn (and What’s Next)
The Pay Equity Problem No One Wants to Talk About
We have to be real here. Despite the glitz of the finals, the average salary in the Liga MX Femenil remains a point of massive contention. In late 2023, the Mexican Senate moved toward a law requiring equal base pay for male and female athletes. Sounds great, right?
Well, the clubs panicked.
Owners argued that forcing a "one-size-fits-all" salary structure would bankrupt the smaller teams. It’s a classic business vs. ethics standoff. Experts like Mariana Gutiérrez, the league's director, have had to navigate a minefield between keeping the league financially viable and ensuring players don't have to work second jobs. Most top-tier players are doing great. The youngsters? They're often making less than a call-center worker. It’s a gap that has to close if the league wants to be taken seriously as a top-five global entity.
Breaking the "Glass Ceiling" of the Liguilla
The "Liguilla" (the playoff system) is where the Liga MX Femenil truly shines. In Mexico, the regular season is just a long warm-up. The real season starts in November (Apertura) or May (Clausura).
✨ Don't miss: What Channel is Champions League on: Where to Watch Every Game in 2026
The drama is unmatched. You have teams like Chivas Femenil, who rely heavily on homegrown talent, going up against the "galáctico" spending of América. It’s a clash of philosophies. What’s fascinating is how the fans have embraced it. You’ll see grandfathers taking their granddaughters to the stadium, wearing "Licha" Cervantes jerseys. That generational shift is something you can't manufacture with an ad campaign. It’s organic. It’s real.
But there’s a danger. The league is becoming top-heavy. If Tigres, Monterrey, América, and Chivas win everything for the next ten years, will the fans in Querétaro or Mazatlán stay interested? Parity is the next big challenge. The league needs a draft system or a more robust youth development incentive to ensure the "smaller" teams can actually compete.
How to Actually Follow the League
If you’re trying to get into the Liga MX Femenil, it can be a bit of a headache with broadcasting rights. It’s not all in one place. You’ve got games on ViX, some on Fox Sports, and others on YouTube. It’s a fragmented mess, but that’s also part of the charm—it feels like a treasure hunt.
- Watch the "Clásico Nacional": América vs. Chivas. Even if you don't know the players, the energy in the stadium will tell you everything you need to know.
- Follow the Transfers: Mexico is becoming a "feeder" league for the NWSL and Europe, but it's also a "retirement" home for legends. The mix is wild.
- Check the Stats: Look up "Katty Martínez." She’s a goal-scoring machine who has played for both Tigres and América. Her career trajectory is basically the history of the league in a nutshell.
What’s Next for Mexican Women's Soccer?
The goal is no longer just "survival." The Liga MX Femenil is eyeing a merger or a more permanent tournament with the NWSL (like the Summer Cup). They want the North American market. They want the television dollars from the US.
The biggest hurdle isn't the talent on the pitch; it's the bureaucracy in the boardrooms. If the Mexican Federation (FMF) can stay out of its own way and keep investing in the women's academies, the ceiling for this league doesn't exist. We are looking at a future where the best players in the world choose CDMX over London or Portland.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Investors:
- For the Casual Viewer: Stop comparing it to the men's game. The tactical nuances and the connection with the fans in the Liga MX Femenil offer a completely different, often more accessible, sporting experience. Start by following the "Liguilla" to see the league at its peak intensity.
- For Brand Sponsors: The "Big Four" (Tigres, América, Chivas, Rayadas) are reaching saturation. The real value is in mid-level clubs like Pachuca or Tijuana (Xolos), where player accessibility and community loyalty are incredibly high for a fraction of the buy-in cost.
- For Talent Scouts: Look beyond the goal scorers. The league is producing world-class fullbacks and holding midfielders who are physically ready for the transition to more "athletic" leagues like the NWSL or the Frauen-Bundesliga.
- Monitor the Legal Landscape: Keep a close eye on the "Equal Pay" legislation in the Mexican Senate. The outcome of this bill will dictate the financial structure of the league for the next decade. If passed without amendments, expect a consolidation of teams. If modified, expect a massive influx of new investment.