Founded 2009 Most successful club(s) São José (3 titles) | Number of teams 12,10 until 2010 | |
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Current champions Sportivo Limpeño (1st title) | ||
The Copa Libertadores Femenina (sometimes called Copa Libertadores Femenino) is an annual international women's association football club competition in South America. It is organised by the South American Football Federation (CONMEBOL). The competition started in the 2009 season in response to the increased interest in women's football. It is the only CONMEBOL club competition for women.
Contents
The tournament is the women's version of the Copa Libertadores which is organised since 1960. Beginning in 2019 clubs will not gain entry to the men's Libertadores, if they don't also have a women's team. The change was made to strengthen the women's Libertadores.
History
The competition was officially announced in March 2009, and it was approved by CONMEBOL's Executive Committee on July 3 of that year. CONMEBOL decided that the competition's first edition will be played in Santos and Guarujá, Brazil from October 3 to October 18, 2009. The competition was organized by CONMEBOL, FPF, CBF and Santos Futebol Clube.
Colombian team Formas Íntimas is the only team to appear in all editions up to 2014.
Format
In 2009 and 2010 the tournament was played by ten teams, one from each CONMEBOL country, divided in two groups of five clubs each. The two best-placed teams of each group qualify to play the semifinal and the winners then play the final, while the losers play the third-place game.
From 2011 onwards twelve teams played the tournament and were divided into three groups of four. The group winners and best runner-up advanced to the semi-finals.
The 2015 edition was the first to be held outside Brazil. Medellin in Colombia have made an official bid, with cities in Paraguay, Chile and again Brazil interested as well. Medellin was then announced host just before the 2014 edition.
Performance by nation
After the 2016 edition. So far only Peruvian teams have not reached a semi-final.
Top scorers
Cristiane is the competitions top scorer. She scored a record 15 goals in 2009 when Santos played six matches, she won a second top scorer award in 2012 and also scored 7 goals in 2010. Ysaura Viso is the other player to win a second top scorer award.