OBOS Damallsvenskan
Sweden's Premier Women's Professional Football League
Damallsvenskan
Sweden's Top-Tier Women's Football League
League Information
Basic Information
Championships & Records
About OBOS Damallsvenskan
The Damallsvenskan (Swedish: [ˈdɑ̂ːmˌalːsvɛnskan]; lit. 'Women's Allsvenskan'), known as OBOS Damallsvenskan for sponsorship reasons, is the highest division of women's football in Sweden. It is one of the best women's leagues in the world, and was founded in 1988.
The division consists of a league of 14 teams. From 2013, the Damallsvenskan began operating on a system of promotion and relegation with the Elitettan. The two lowest placed teams are relegated to the Elitettan, and the two highest placed teams from the Elitettan are promoted in their place. Starting with the 2022 season the league has been expanded from 12 to 14 teams.
The top three teams in the Damallsvenskan qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League, making it one of the most competitive women's leagues in Europe.
Swedish Women's Football League Structure
Tier 1
Damallsvenskan
Tier 2
Elitettan
Tier 3
Division 1
Tier 4
Division 2
The Swedish women's football pyramid extends to Division 6 (Tier 8), providing a comprehensive development pathway for women's football in Sweden.
League information as of 2025
2025 Clubs and Stadiums
The 2025 OBOS Damallsvenskan season features 14 teams from across Sweden, each with their own dedicated stadium and facilities.
2025 OBOS Damallsvenskan Teams
| Team | Location | Stadium | Stadium Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIK | Stockholm | Skytteholms IP | 5,200 |
| Alingsås | Alingsås | Mjörnvallen | 1,500 |
| Brommapojkarna | Stockholm | Grimsta IP | 5,000 |
| Djurgården | Stockholm | Stockholm Olympic Stadium | 14,417 |
| Häcken | Gothenburg | Bravida Arena | 6,500 |
| Hammarby | Stockholm | Hammarby IP | 3,700 |
| Kristianstad | Kristianstad | Kristianstads Fotbollsarena | 3,080 |
| Linköping | Linköping | Arena Linköping | 8,500 |
| Malmö | Malmö | Malmö Stadion | 26,500 |
| Norrköping | Norrköping | PlatinumCars Arena | 17,234 |
| Piteå | Piteå | LF Arena | 6,500 |
| Rosengård | Malmö | Malmö IP | 5,700 |
| Växjo | Växjö | Visma Arena | 12,000 |
| Vittsjö | Vittsjö | Vittsjö IP | 3,000 |
All 14 clubs participating in the 2025 OBOS Damallsvenskan season
Personnel and Kits
The 2025 OBOS Damallsvenskan features a diverse mix of Swedish and international managers, with teams sponsored by major sportswear brands.
2025 OBOS Damallsvenskan Personnel
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIK | Sweden Lukas Syberyjski | Sweden Jennie Nordin | United States Nike |
| Alingsås | Sweden Robert Ranieli | — | — |
| Brommapojkarna | Sweden Daniel Gunnars | Sweden Elsa Karlsson | United States Nike |
| Djurgården | Sweden Marcelo Fernández | — | Germany Puma |
| Häcken | Lebanon Mak Lind | — | Germany Puma |
| Hammarby | Sweden Martin Sjögren | Sweden Alice Carlsson | Sweden Craft |
| Kristianstad | Sweden Johanna Almgren Sweden Daniel Angergård |
Sweden Alice Nilsson | — |
| Linköping | Finland Jonne Kunnas | Sweden Emma Lennartsson | — |
| Malmö | Sweden Jonas Valfridsson | Sweden Elin Björklund | Germany Puma |
| Norrköping | Sweden Stellan Carlsson | — | — |
| Piteå | Sweden Fredrik Bernhardsson | Sweden Cecilia Edlund | — |
| Rosengård | Sweden Joel Kjetselberg | — | — |
| Växjo | Sweden Olof Unogård | Sweden Emma Pennsäter | — |
| Vittsjö | Serbia Mladen Blagojevic | Sweden Sandra Lynn | — |
Personnel and kit information for the 2025 OBOS Damallsvenskan season
League Information
Basic Information
Championships & Records
About WE League
The WE League (WEリーグ), officially known as the Japan Women's Empowerment Professional Football League, is the English translation of the Japanese women's professional football league, Nihon Joshi Pro Soccer League (日本女子プロサッカーリーグ, Nihon Joshi Puro Sakkā Rīgu). It is a professional football league in Japanese women's football that started in 2021.
The WE League replaced the Nihon Joshi Soccer League as the country's top league for the 2021/22 season, marking a significant evolution in Japanese women's football. The league represents a major step forward for women's football in Japan, providing a professional platform for female players.
The league features 12 teams competing in a professional environment, with the champion qualifying for the AFC Club Championship. The WE League aims to promote women's empowerment through football and develop the sport at both domestic and international levels.
Urawa Red Diamonds are the current champions, having won their second title. The league continues to grow in popularity and competitiveness, contributing to the development of women's football in Asia.
2023/24 Season
League Structure
- 12 professional teams
- Home and away format
- 22 matchdays per season
- Professional contracts
Competitions
- WE League Championship
- Empress's Cup
- AFC Club Championship
- International friendlies
The WE League represents a new era for women's football in Japan, providing professional opportunities and raising the standard of the women's game in Asia.
Records as of 2024
Additional League Information
League Structure
League Development
Recent Achievements
2024-25 Season
- Chelsea won 8th title
- Record attendance at Emirates
- Increased TV viewership
2025-26 Expansion
- 14 teams from 2026-27
- Enhanced broadcast deal
- New commercial partners
The WE League continues to grow as Japan's premier professional women's football league
Professional Contracts & International Recruitment
Professional Contract Requirements
Each team participating in the WE League must have at least five players on professional contracts that are not subject to a salary cap. This requirement ensures the league maintains high professional standards and attracts top talent.
JFA Salary Subsidies
The Japan Football Association subsidizes the salaries of players who transfer from the South Asian Football Confederation to the WE League, supporting regional talent development.
League Salary Subsidies
The WE League subsidizes the salaries of players from FIFA's top nations, ensuring the league can attract world-class talent and maintain competitive standards.
International Recruitment Strategy
The league actively recruits players from the best football associations, including Germany, France, and the United States. The league also provides additional funding, such as interpreter fees, to promote the internationalization of the competition.
Professional contracts and international recruitment ensure the WE League's high standards
WE League Teams
2023/24 Season - All 12 teams participating in the WE League
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| INAC Kobe Leonessa | Kobe, Hyogo | Noevir Stadium Kobe | 30,132 |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | Saitama, Saitama | Urawa Komaba Stadium | 21,500 |
| NTV Beleza | Tokyo, Tokyo | Various venues | Variable |
| JEF United Chiba | Ichihara, Chiba | Ichihara Seaside Stadium | 14,051 |
| MyNavi Sendai | Sendai, Miyagi | Yurtec Stadium Sendai | 19,694 |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina | Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture | Hiroshima Koiki Park Football Stadium No.1 | 10,000 |
| AC Nagano Parteiro | Nagano, Nagano | Minami Nagano Sports Park Stadium | 15,491 |
| Albirex Niigata | Niigata, Niigata | Niigata City Athletic Stadium | 18,671 |
| Ōmiya Ardija Ventus | Saitama, Saitama | NACK5 Stadium Omiya | 15,500 |
| Nojima Stella Kanagawa | Sagamihara, Kanagawa | Sagamihara Gion Stadium | 11,808 |
| Chifure AS Elves Saitama | Saitama and Kawagoe, Saitama | NACK5 Stadium Omiya / Kawagoe Athletic Stadium | 15,500 / 8,500 |
| Cerezo Osaka | Osaka, Osaka | Yodoko Sakura Stadium | 24,481 |
Stadium Information
Largest Stadium
Noevir Stadium Kobe
Capacity: 30,132
Smallest Stadium
Hiroshima Koiki Park Football Stadium No.1
Capacity: 10,000
Geographic Distribution
From Hokkaido to Kyushu
National coverage
The WE League features 12 professional teams across Japan with modern stadium facilities
WE League Champions History
Complete Champions History - From inaugural season to present
| Season | Champion | Title Details | Total Spectators | Average Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | INAC Kobe Leonessa | First WE League title (4th title overall) |
– | – |
| 2022/23 | Urawa Red Diamonds | First WE League title (5th title overall) |
134,424 | 1,344 |
| 2023/24 | Urawa Red Diamonds | Second WE League title (6th title overall) |
124,207 | 1,568 |
| 2024/25 | Next Season | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Championship Highlights
Inaugural Champion
2021/22 Season
First WE League title
4th title overall
Back-to-Back Champion
2022/23 & 2023/24
Consecutive titles
6th title overall
Attendance Growth
2023/24: 124,207 total
Average: 1,568 viewers
Strong fan support
Championship Statistics
Urawa Red Diamonds are the current defending champions with back-to-back titles
WE League Leadership Transition
Chairperson Transition Announcement
The WE League announced on Wednesday that Kikuko Okajima will step down as chairperson at the end of September, with former V-Varen Nagasaki president Haruna Takata nominated to replace her at the head of Japan's professional women's soccer league as it enters its second season.
Kikuko Okajima's Legacy
Okajima, a former soccer player and Japan international who spent most of her career in the United States, was appointed to the role at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. The Japan Football Association hoped to leverage her experience and connections in the sports and financial worlds.
The 64-year-old participated in early board meetings remotely from her home in Baltimore, Maryland, but traveled frequently to Japan as border controls eased and was present when the league opened on September 12, 2021, with 11 clubs stretching from northeastern Sendai to western Hiroshima.
New Leadership
Haruna Takata, former president of V-Varen Nagasaki, has been nominated to succeed Okajima as the new chairperson of the WE League. This transition marks an important milestone as the league continues to grow and develop.
The leadership change comes as the WE League enters its second season, building on the foundation established during Okajima's tenure and the successful inaugural season.
Kikuko Okajima's Vision for the WE League
During her tenure, Okajima emphasized the importance of professional development and international collaboration in women's football. Her vision focused on creating opportunities for Japanese players while establishing the WE League as a competitive platform that could attract global talent.
Okajima's leadership was instrumental in navigating the challenges of launching a professional league during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the WE League's successful debut and establishing it as Japan's premier women's football competition.
Key Achievements Under Okajima's Leadership
Kikuko Okajima's leadership laid the foundation for the WE League's success and growth