Organising body | DBU |
---|---|
Founded | 1974 |
First season | 1975 |
Country | Denmark |
Confederation | UEFA |
Divisions | 2 (1975–1980) 1 (1981–present) |
Number of clubs | 20 (1975–1980) 12 (1981–1992) 8 (1993–present) |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | B-Liga |
Domestic cup(s) | DBU KvindePokalen (1992–present) |
International cup(s) | UEFA Women's Champions League |
Current champions | Fortuna Hjørring (12th title) (2024–25) |
Most championships | Brøndby IF Fortuna Hjørring (12 titles) |
Broadcaster(s) | TV 2 [1] (2025–) |
Website | kvindeliga.dk a-liga.dk |
Current: 2025–26 A-Liga |
A-Liga [2] (formerly Gjensidige Kvindeliga and Elitedivisionen) is the top-flight league for women's football in Denmark. The league is overseen by the Danish Football Association (DBU) as part of the nationwide Danmarksturneringen i kvindefodbold (Kvinde-DM) and is the top division of the Danish football league system. [3] It is semi-professional. [4] Clubs in the league must meet certain criteria concerning appropriate facilities and finances. [5] All of the league's clubs qualify for the proper rounds of the DBU KvindePokalen. The top teams of each season qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League.
The division has changed its name on several occasions. It began as Danmarksturneringen i damefodbold (1975 until 1980), then Dame 1. division (1981 until 1992), Elitedivisionen (1993 until 2015–16) and Kvindeligaen from the 2016–17 season to the 2024–25 season. [6] [7] Due to sponsorship arrangements, it was known as 3F Ligaen for fourteen seasons (2005–06 until 2018–19) and from 2019–2025 as Gjensidige Kvindeligaen. [8] [9] In 2025, the pyramid was renamed, with the top flight now called A-Liga, and the corresponding lower levels B-Liga and C-Liga, respectively.
According to FIFA's 2023 Women's Benchmarking Report, the league in 2021-22 drew an average of 388 fans per game, 57% of players had signed compensated player contracts (of whom, the average annual salary was between $10-15k USD), and 29% of players made their primary living from football. [10] The league's status as semi-professional presented challenges for its return-to-play from the 2019–2020 COVID-19 pandemic, as initially in Denmark only fully professional sports were allowed to resume. [11] A rise in interest and participation in women's football has driven increased investment into the league in recent years, although the best players in Denmark still often depart for fully professional clubs abroad. [12]
In March 2025, TV 2 announced that they had secured the broadcasting rights to the league, running until 2031. [1]
From 1994 to 2005/06 the league consisted of 8 teams playing each other 3 times and the best team then was awarded the championship. The last team was relegated with the second last team playing a playoff, against the second team of the Kvinde 1. division. 2006/07 was a transition year, because the league was extended to 10 teams. The last team after the season played a relegation match against the third placed team of the 1. division, for a place in Elitedivisionen. The top two teams of the 1. division were automatically promoted.
From 2007/08 to 2012/13 the league consisted of 10 teams. Those 10 teams played a double round robin as a regular season. After that there are 2 Playoff Groups. Place 1 to 4 of the regular season play the Championship Playoff. Place 5 to 10 play the Relegation Playoff. In the Playoffs, the points accumulated over the regular season are divided by 2 (rounding up if necessary). Those points are the starting points for the playoffs. The Championship group plays another round robin (6 matches each) with the winner being awarded the championship title. The Relegation Group plays a single round robin (5 matches each) after which, the bottom two clubs are relegated.
The 2013/14 season again was played only with eight teams. The top six after the regular season play a championship league, the seventh and the eight placed teams play in a qualification league determining whether they keep their spots or get relegated.
In August 2025, it was announced that the 2026–2027 season would be expanded to include 10 teams. [13]
The list also includes the national champions of 1973 and 1974 that were crowned before the official establishment of a nationwide top-flight division in 1975. [14] [15]
Rank | Club | Champions | Runners-up | Winning seasons |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fortuna Hjørring | 12 | 22 | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998–99, 2001–02, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2024–25 |
2 | Brøndby IF | 12 | 10 | 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2018–19 |
3 | IK Skovbakken [a] | 10 | 6 | 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996–97, 1997–98 |
4 | B 1909 | 5 | 5 | 1981, 1983, 1985, 1992, 1993 |
5 | Ribe BK [b] | 5 | 1 | 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1979 |
6 | BK Femina | 3 | 4 | 1975, 1977, 1980 |
7 | HB Køge | 3 | 0 | 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23 |
8 | Odense Boldklub Q [c] | 2 | 0 | 1999–2000, 2000–01 |
9 | FC Nordsjælland | 1 | 1 | 2023–24 |
— | BK Stjernen Svendborg | 0 | 2 | |
— | Kolding IF [d] | 0 | 1 | |
— | BK Rødovre | 0 | 1 |
Club | 24–25 | First | Total | Recent | # | Titles | Latest |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brøndby IF | 4th | 1996–1997 | 30 | TBA | TBA | 12 | 2018–2019 |
Fortuna Hjørring | 1st | 1975 | 52 | TBA | TBA | 12 | 2024–2025 |
HB Køge | 3rd | 2019–2020 | 7 | n/a | n/a | 3 | 2022–2023 |
Kolding IF | 8th | 1975 | 30 | 2008–2009 | 18 | 0 | n/a |
FC Midtjylland | 1st (B-Liga) | 2025–2026 | 1 | n/a | n/a | 0 | n/a |
FC Nordsjælland | 2nd | 2019–2020 | 7 | 2019–2020 | n/a | 1 | 2023–2024 |
Odense Boldklub Q | 5th | 1990 | 29 | 2024–2025 | 2 | 2 | 2000–2001 |
Aarhus GF | 6th | TBA | 51 | TBA | TBA | 0 | n/a |
74 teams have played in the top flight since its inaugural season in 1975. However, several teams have merged over the years to form the current clubs, the combined results of which will be displayed where noted. The teams in bold compete in A-Liga currently, while the teams in italics are now defunct.
Incomplete
# | Club | Latest |
---|---|---|
52 | Fortuna Hjørring | 2026 |
51 | AGF Fodbold [a] | 2026 |
36 | BSF [b] | 2020 |
30 | Brøndby IF | 2026 |
30 | Kolding IF [c] | 2026 |
29 | OB Q [d] | 2026 |
28 | Vejle BK | 2018 |
26 | BK Rødovre | |
20 | Boldklubben 1909 | 1994 |
15 | Hillerød Fodbold | |
14 | BK Femina | 2000 |
13 | Ringsted IF | |
11 | BK Stjernen | |
10 | B52/Aalborg FC | |
10 | Sydmors IF | 1993 |
9 | Sundby BK | 2023 |
9 | Varde IF | 2018 |
9 | Vorup BK | 2000 |
7 | FC Nordsjælland [e] | 2026 |
7 | AaB | 2024 |
6 | HB Køge | 2026 |
1 | FC Midtjylland | 2026 |
The Danish Football Association Hall of Fame was created in 2006 to celebrate the achievements and contributions of outstanding Danish players and staff. [16] Four players who have played in the Danish top tier A-Liga, as well as one former A-Liga coach, have been inducted into the Danish Football Hall of Fame thus far. [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]
Recipient | Year | Club(s) |
---|---|---|
Lone Smidt Nielsen | 2016 | B1909 (1978–85; 1987–1990), Kolding IF (1976–1978) |
Katrine Pedersen | 2022 | Hjortshøj-Egå (HEI)/IK Skovbakken (1994–2002) |
Helle Jensen | 2024 | B52/Aalborg FC, B1909 (1989–1994), Fortuna Hjørring (1994–2000) |
Merete Pedersen | Vejle BK, OB | |
Poul Højmose | 2025 | Hjortshøj-Egå (HEI) |
Udover ændringen af slutspillet skifter den bedste danske liga, Elitedivisionen, nu navn til Kvindeligaen.
Fakta: Ændringerne i strukturen for kvinde- og pigehold,- hvis ikke andet nævnt, gældende fra sæson 16/17. 3F-ligaen: Formel ændring af navnet "Elitedivision" til "Kvindeliga"