North Macedonia Women's Championship
The North Macedonia Women's Championship is the top tier of women's football in the country, featuring elite clubs battling for national supremacy. Organized by the Football Federation of North Macedonia (FFNM), it serves as a vital platform for elevating women's soccer standards across the Balkans.
History and foundation
Women's football in North Macedonia emerged in the late 1990s following independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. The official league launched in 2007, with early dominance by clubs like Našeica from Prilep and Biljana 1975 from Strumica. A highlight was 2014, when ŽFK Malidera from Kichevo clinched the title in a thrilling final upset. Reforms in 2018 introduced playoffs for added excitement. Teteks reached the UEFA Women's Champions League first qualifying round in 2022, falling to Hungary's Ferencváros.
Tournament format
The league comprises 8–10 teams in a double round-robin format, with each playing 14–18 home-and-away matches. The regular season champion is crowned, often followed by playoffs for the top 4. Known as Prva ženska Liga, seasons run from August to May with a winter break. Bottom teams face relegation to the First League.
Interesting facts
Matches average 3.2 goals, favoring quick counters and set pieces. All-time top scorer is Marija Spirkovska of Teteks with 156 goals. Stars include Elena Gligorovska of ŽFK 2005 Strumica (89 league goals, national team regular) and Anastasija Ristovska from Biljana (2023 assist leader). Goalkeeper Tea Todorovska (Malidera) shines in Europe, boosting the national team's FIFA ranking surge in 2023.