Deportivo Toluca F.C. Femenil is a Mexican professional women's football club based in Toluca, State of Mexico. The club has been the women's section of the Toluca men's team since 2017 and is currently playing in the Liga Femenil. Its headquarters are located in Toluca, playing its home games at the Nemesio Diez Stadium.
History
Foundation and Early Years (2016–2020)
Deportivo Toluca Femenil debuted in the Liga MX Femenil, Mexico’s first professional women’s football league, in 2017 as part of the creation of the league. The project was established by the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF) to integrate women’s teams within the existing Liga MX clubs and promote the development of women’s football nationwide. The league was officiated on December 5, 2016, when the Liga MX Owners' Assembly approved its creation. Following this mandate, which required every top-flight men's club to form a professional women's counterpart, Toluca established its women's squad. On April 26, 2017, the official group draw for the Copa de la Liga MX Femenil 2017 was held, revealing Toluca as one of the 12 pioneering clubs selected to participate in the pilot tournament.
The competition took place entirely at the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF) headquarters in Toluca from May 3 to May 6, 2017. On May 3, 2017, Toluca participated in the historic inaugural match of both the tournament and professional women's football in Mexico, defeating Monarcas Morelia 2–1. Midfielder Andrea Hernández scored the first official goal in the club's history during the game. Managed by Juan Carlos Mendoza, the team also defeated Cruz Azul 3–0 but missed the final after a 6–1 loss to eventual champions Pachuca. Toluca finished the tournament in third place overall with six points, establishing an early competitive foundation.
The club debuted in the Apertura 2017 season, competing in the inaugural campaign of the league. During its first tournaments, Toluca Femenil worked on consolidating its squad while adapting to the competitive structure of professional women’s football in Mexico.
During its early seasons, the club established a core roster of domestic players, highlighted by the emergence of forward Mariel Román. Joining the institution during its formative years and debuting at age 15, Román became the club's all-time leading goalscorer and recorded the first hat-trick in the history of the club.
One of the club’s earliest achievements came in the Clausura 2018 tournament, when Toluca Femenil reached the semifinals after finishing among the top teams in the regular season. The team was eventually eliminated by Monterrey, who advanced to the final.
In the following seasons, Toluca Femenil remained a consistent participant in the Liga MX Femenil, regularly competing for qualification to the Liguilla (playoffs). However, the team often faced early eliminations against established clubs such as Club América, Tigres UANL, and Pachuca.
The Clausura 2020 season was significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the cancellation of the Clausura tournament and disruptions in squad continuity across the league. Following this period, Toluca Femenil underwent roster and coaching adjustments aimed at improving competitiveness.
Following the first seven matches of the Guard1anes 2020 tournament, Agustín Contreras left his position as Toluca Femenil manager for personal reasons. He was replaced on an interim basis by Alberto Cuate, who took charge beginning with the eighth matchday.
Return to the Playoffs (2021–2023)
In the Clausura 2021 and Apertura 2022 seasons, the team showed improvement, returning to playoff contention and achieving a quarterfinal appearance in the Apertura 2022, where they were eliminated by Tigres UANL.
In recent seasons, Toluca Femenil maintained a competitive position in the league, reaching the Liguilla in multiple tournaments, including Apertura 2023, while continuing to develop young talent within its squad structure.
International Recruitment and European Influence (2024–2025)
Ahead of the Apertura 2024 tournament, Toluca Femenil officially appointed French manager Patrice Lair as their new head coach. Lair arrived with an extensive résumé in European women's football, having previously won back-to-back UEFA Women's Champions League titles with Olympique Lyonnais, as well as directing clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux.
Starting in the Apertura 2024 tournament, the club's board initiated an international restructuring of its squad under Patrice Lair, a period frequently described by the media as the "French formula". The first marquee signing was multi-time European champion Amandine Henry, who established herself as the team's midfield leader following her stint in the NWSL.
To bolster the defense, the club signed Abby Erceg. Ahead of the Apertura 2025, the project expanded with the additions of Faustine Robert and Eugénie Le Sommer, who finished as the league's top scorer in the Clausura 2026 with 18 goals.
Recent Seasons (2026–present)
In early 2026, Toluca Femenil completed another major transfer by signing Sofia Jakobsson, concluding one of the most ambitious periods of international recruitment in the club's history.
In the Clausura 2026, the club achieved one of its best playoff performances. In the quarter-finals, Toluca Femenil eliminated defending champions Tigres UANL with a 4–3 aggregate victory.
The club advanced to the semi-finals, where it was eliminated by América with a 10–4 aggregate score (7–1 in the first leg and 4–3 in the second leg).
At the end of the Clausura 2026 regular season, Patrice Lair announced his departure from the club, citing personal and family reasons for not renewing his contract.
In June 2026, Spanish manager Alberto Toril was appointed head coach ahead of the Apertura 2026 tournament.
In September 2026, Toluca announced the signing of Danish defender Katrine Veje, who joined the club from AS Roma for the Apertura 2026 tournament. Veje was signed to strengthen the team's defense and can also play as a full-back and on the wing.
Stadium
Deportivo Toluca Femenil plays its home matches at the Nemesio Diez Stadium, located in Toluca, State of Mexico. The stadium is shared with the men's team, Toluca, and is one of the oldest professional football venues in Mexico, having originally opened in 1954.
The stadium has undergone several renovations throughout its history. The most significant modern redevelopment took place between 2015 and 2017, when the venue was extensively rebuilt. The renovation included the demolition and reconstruction of stands, modernization of facilities, improved lighting systems, and the installation of a new roof covering most of the seating areas.
Following the renovation, the stadium’s capacity was increased to approximately 30,000 spectators. The redesign also aimed to improve visibility and bring fans closer to the pitch, creating a more compact and modern football environment.
The venue is notable for its high altitude, located at approximately 2,600 metres (8,530 ft) above sea level, making it one of the highest professional football stadiums in Mexico. This altitude often influences match conditions, particularly affecting visiting teams unaccustomed to thinner air.
For the Liga MX Femenil matches, Toluca Femenil regularly uses the stadium as its primary home venue, hosting regular season fixtures and occasional playoff matches. The stadium is considered an important home ground within the women’s league structure due to its infrastructure and historical significance within Mexican football.
Metepec Facilities
The Metepec Facilities are a sports complex operated by Deportivo Toluca F.C., located in Metepec, State of Mexico. The complex has been used by Deportivo Toluca Femenil for training and as an alternative venue for home matches since the team's establishment in 2017.
During the 2017 Apertura, the Metepec Facilities were used as a home venue during Toluca's inaugural season in the Liga MX Femenil. On 28 July 2017, Toluca played Cruz Azul Femenil there in its first league match, defeating Cruz Azul 2–1.
The facilities were also used for training during the team's inaugural season. In August 2017, Toluca Femenil held a training session in Metepec ahead of its match against Pumas UNAM Femenil.
During the 2018 Apertura, Toluca Femenil continued to use the Metepec Facilities for its preparation. The team held its preseason there before the start of the tournament.
For the 2019 Apertura, Toluca Femenil returned to the Metepec Facilities as a home venue after having played some of its previous home matches at the Estadio Nemesio Díez. The tournament schedule indicated that Toluca would move its home matches from the Nemesio Díez to the Metepec Facilities for the tournament.
The Metepec Facilities were also used as a home venue during the 2021 season. On 15 February 2021, Toluca Femenil hosted Cruz Azul Femenil at the complex in a league match that ended in a 1–1 draw.
In May 2021, Toluca also played the first leg of its quarter-final series against Guadalajara Femenil at the Metepec Facilities, losing 1–0.
In 2021, a report on a visit by representatives of the Global Football Alliance to Deportivo Toluca's facilities stated that the Metepec complex included facilities designated for the women's team, including changing rooms, a dining area and a gym.
Support Deportivo Toluca Femenil is supported by local fan groups, including women-led branches of the club's traditional barra, "La Perra Brava". These organized groups focus on supporting the women's team while also organizing family-oriented events and community support networks for female fans, aiming to increase female participation in Mexican football stands.
Kit Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor 2017–2023 Under Armour Banamex 2023–2027 New Balance Arabela
As of 2025, Toluca Femenil's kit is supplied by American sportswear company New Balance under a four-year contract signed in 2023, while Arabela is one of the team's main shirt sponsors. Arabela became an official sponsor of the women's team in 2021. In January 2024, Mexican company La Moderna became a sponsor of the team to support the development of its women's football program.
Personnel Management staff Position StaffOwner Valentín Diez Morodo Sporting Chairman Francisco Suinaga Conde Sporting Director Renato Luis Ferreira
Presidents Name Period Francisco Suinaga Conde 2017–2023 Arturo Pérez Arredondo 2024–2025 Francisco Suinaga Conde 2026 – Present
Coaching staff Position StaffManager Alberto TorilAssistant manager Daniel PérezFitness coaches Daniel Sánchez Milton Silvera Valeria De Luna Therapist Luz VargasTeam doctor Carlos VillasanaDoctor assistant Angélica Arellano
Source: Liga MX Femenil
Managers chronological list
Name From To Ref. Juan Mendoza 2017 2019 César Arzate (Interim) 2020 2020 Agustín Contreras 2020 2020 Alberto Cuate 2020 2021 Gabriel Velasco 2022 2024 Ricardo Belli 2024 2025 Patrice Lair 2025 2026 Alberto Toril 2026 Present
Top managers appearances
PositionManagerPeriodGames1 Juan Mendoza 2017–2019 842 Gabriel Velasco 2022–2024 853 Patrice Lair 2025–2026 274 Ricardo Belli 2024–2025 245 Agustín Contreras 2019–2020 14
Players
Current squad As of September 4 2026
International players Note: Players in bold are part of the latest squad in the corresponding category.
Selection Category Player(s) Colombia Absolute Manuela Paví Denmark Absolute Katrine Veje France Absolute Eugénie Le Sommer Jamaica Absolute Deneisha Blackwood Sweden Absolute Sofia Jakobsson
Foreign players Note: Players in bold are part of the latest squad in the corresponding category.