In a country where football is deeply woven into everyday life, La Quiniela has long been one of Spain’s great sporting rituals, passed down through generations. The weekly football pool invites participants to predict the outcomes of a selection of matches: a “1” for a home win, an “X” for a draw, and a “2” for an away victory. More than just a betting slip, it is a cultural tradition that first emerged unofficially in 1929 in the La Callealtera bar in Santander before being officially established on 22 September 1946.
Women’s football first appeared on Quiniela tickets nine years ago, but only sporadically and never as a permanent fixture. From next season, that will change. Every weekend, four Liga F matches will be included on betting slips across Spain, marking a new step in integrating the women’s game into the country’s footballing culture and mainstream visibility.
The Spanish government’s approval of a royal decree-law to include Liga F in the football pools marks a significant development. “Professionalising women’s football is much more than a sporting measure: it is a commitment to equality on and off the pitch,” said Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, who also welcomed the decision on social media. He stressed that the inclusion of women’s matches in La Quiniela will allow Liga F clubs to share in the revenue generated, as is already the case in the men’s game.
“Recognising Liga F now as a beneficiary of state betting revenues is a decisive step towards correcting historical inequalities and placing women’s football where it deserves to be,” said the Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, Milagros Tolón.
Liga F will receive 15% of the profits generated by La Quiniela, a sum expected to provide a meaningful financial boost to the competition — a development welcomed by the Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD, Higher Sports Council). The council said the funds will be allocated “on a preferential basis” to cover the costs and operational needs necessary for the proper running of professional competitions, in line with the coordination agreement with the Royal Spanish Football Federation and the collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union.
Although the growth of sports betting has reduced La Quiniela’s turnover — from €543m in 2009 to €163m in 2024 — the inclusion of Liga F still represents a financial and cultural win. Anyone hoping to win the prize will now have to pay attention to what happens every weekend on Liga F pitches. If that leads people to discover a team or a player, society will have gained — and so will women’s football.
Author: Irati Vidal
