Japan To Launch Women’s Pro Football League Next Year

In a boost for women’s football, the Japan Football Association (JFA) has announced plans for the nation’s first professional women’s league next year.

The Women Empowerment League (WE League) is due to take place between the autumn of 2021 and May 2022 will be positioned above the existing top-flight Nadeshiko League as part of a domestic revamp of the beautiful game.

The final composition of the WE League will be confirmed next year, with between six and ten teams selected to take part. It has also been confirmed that over half of each club’s executives and staff must be female in order for them to able to join the league.

The traditional home and away league format competition will begin with no relegation ‘for several years’ according to the JFA, though promotion from the body’s lower tiers will be implemented.

The league is set to begin shortly after the Japanese women’s national team takes part in the football tournament at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympic Games and as Japan eyes hosting rights for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. 

JFA president Tashima Kohzo said he hoped that the competition will encourage greater female representation in Japanese football, while also providing a platform for gender equality and wider business opportunities for the sport.

“After long discussions, we have reached the conclusion that this is the right timing to move forward,” he said. “The purpose of the launch of the new league is not just the development of women’s football in Japan. Our aim is to contribute to build a sustainable society through promoting female social participation and enhancing diversities and choices.

“How we contribute to the society through sports is an important mission for all of us in the sports world. We will work on to establish the career of women’s professional footballer, which is the dream of many girls, and further promote women’s empowerment and solve social issues.”