Segunda Federación (women)

"Segunda División Pro (women)" redirects here. For the current second tier, see Primera Federación (women).
Segunda Federación
Founded2018 (as Segunda División Pro, second tier)
2022 (as Segunda Federación, third tier)
CountrySpain
ConfederationUEFA
Number of clubs32
Level on pyramid3
Promotion toPrimera Federación
Relegation toTercera Federación
Current: 2022–23

The Segunda Federación is the third tier of the Spanish women's football league system, beginning with the 2022–23 season.

With a format of two regionalised groups, it is the female equivalent of the men's Primera Federación and is run by the Royal Spanish Football Federation.

History

On 24 July 2018, the Royal Spanish Football Federation agreed to create a new second division between the Primera División, featuring 16 teams, and the Segunda División, in which 112 teams were involved.[1]

In its first season, the league was to be contested by 32 teams divided into two groups: two teams relegated from the 2018–19 Primera División and the 30 best teams from the 2018–19 Segunda División.

In July 2019, the new second tier was renamed as Segunda División Pro being later re-branded as Reto Iberdrola for sponsorship reasons. The level below which had carried that name previously recovered its former name of Primera Nacional.

On 10 June 2020, the Segunda División was granted professionalized league status.[2]

In early 2022, it was confirmed that the league structure would be altered again, after only three seasons: the existing Primera División would be a standalone professional league of 16 teams, the second tier would be a single nationwide 16-team division known as the Primera Federación, the existing Segunda División Pro with two regionalised groups (32 teams) would become the third tier and be named the Segunda Federación, and the existing Primera Nacional division of 96 teams (six regionalised 16-team groups) would become the fourth tier. These levels would be administered by the RFEF and more closely resemble the men's post-2021 structure, albeit only one professional league and six fourth-tier groups rather than five[3] (the fourth level was re-named the Tercera Federación FUTFEM prior to the 2023–24 season).

Format

The 32 teams are divided into two groups according to geographical criteria. The two group winners promote directly to Primera Federación.[4]

2022–23 teams

From 2021–22 Segunda División Pro
(12)		 From 2021–22 Primera Nacional
(20)
Zaragoza CFF Peluquería Mixta Friol
Madrid CFF B Viajes Interrías FF
CD Parquesol Sárdoma CF
Santa Teresa CD Bizkerre CF
CD Femarguín CDF Osasuna Femenino B
Real Unión Tenerife Athletic Club C
CDE Racing Féminas CE Europa
Real Betis B CD Atlético Baleares
FF La Solana RCD Espanyol de Barcelona B
CD Pozoalbense Málaga CF
Atlético de Madrid B Almería
CD Pradejón CFF Cáceres Atlético
- Real Madrid CF B
Torrelodones CF
CD Getafe Femenino
Fundación CD Tenerife
Unión Viera CF
Valencia Féminas CF B
Levante UD B
CFF Albacete

References

  1. ^ "La RFEF crea una nueva competición para potenciar el fútbol femenino, la Primera División B" [RFEF creates a new competition for developing the women's football, the Primera División B] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  2. ^ Women’s soccer gains professional status in Spain, The Seattle Times, 10 June 2020
  3. ^ Nuevo estructura de ligas de fútbol femenino a patir de 2022-2023 [New structure of women's football leagues from 2022-2023], Manel Expósito, Fútboleras, 10 February 2022 (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2022
  4. ^ "La Rfef revoluciona el fútbol femenino con una Primera B de sólo 32 equipos" [RFEF revolutionizes the women's football with a Primera B of only 32 teams] (in Spanish). Palco23. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.