Beatriz Álvarez attended the Women's Leagues Forum in London to drive the growth and professionalisation of women's football.
Liga F President, Beatriz Álvarez, along with Pablo Vilches, the organisation's CEO, and Pedro Malabia, Strategy Director, have travelled to London to attend the General Assembly of the Women's Leagues Forum, a global organisation representing professional women's leagues. Their aim is to discuss and advance collaborative efforts for the implementation of common projects and the search for opportunities for the development of professional women's football.
28 JAN 2026
The meeting was hosted by WSL Football (ENG), whose CEO Nikki Doucet co-chairs the WLF together with Jessica Berman, Commissioner of the NWSL (USA). The WLF operates under the umbrella of the World Leagues Association and acts as the collective platform through which 19 national women’s leagues from around the world cooperate, advocate, and strengthen the women’s game.
The group focused on its shared mission of enhancing national league development and coordinated advocacy within the framework of international football.
League delegates reviewed the latest benchmarking data collected across member leagues, identifying trends and tracking their trajectories, and considered potential business development opportunities.
Central to discussions was the evolving international match calendar and the unique contribution of national leagues as crucial foundational elements of the professional game. Global player union FIFPRO presented on player workload, highlighting the disparity where some footballers face higher workloads, while others experience underload — reinforcing the essential role national leagues play in creating both employment opportunities and necessary playing conditions for professional development. Experts from WSL Football presented on leading practices in performance well-being and medical support.
With a focus on growing professionalism in women’s football, leagues from around the world shared best practice case studies in building reach, raising revenues and increasing fan engagement.
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For the first time, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) presented to the women’s leagues on developments in the Laws of the Game, with further contributions from experts from the Premier League, La Liga and the League Managers Association on promoting the game’s progress.
“We were proud to host this year’s meeting and collaborate to advance our sport,” said Nikki Doucet, CEO of WSL Football and Co-Chair of the WLF. “The conversations held here underscore how vital strong national leagues are — not only for player careers and competition standards, but for the long-term sustainability of women’s football worldwide.”
“The Women’s Leagues Forum continues to be an essential space for collective progress,” said Jessica Berman, Commissioner of the NWSL and Co-Chair of the WLF. “By coming together to compare data, exchange experiences, and champion shared priorities, we are strengthening the global ecosystem that women’s football depends on.”
The meeting was attended by representatives from the following leagues: A League Women (AUS), Lotto Super League (BEL), Northern Super League (CAN), Barclays WSL and WSL2 (ENG), Liga F (ESP), Arkema Premiere Ligue (FRA), Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga (GER), Besta Deild Kvenna (ISL), Serie A Femminile (ITA), WE League (JPN), Liga BBVA MX Femenil (MEX), Eredivisie CV (NED), Toppserien (NOR), Liga BPI (POR), ScottishPower Women’s Premier League (SCO), OBOS Damallsvenskan (SWE), NWSL (USA). They were joined by stakeholder representatives from European Leagues, FIFPRO, FIFA, UEFA and EFC