Brazil's football confederation (CBF) and federal sports ministry on Monday launched the country's new national women's league.

The competition will comprise 20 clubs, to be divided evenly into four groups. Teams will play each other on a home and away basis with the top two from each group progressing to the quarterfinals.

It is the fourth reincarnation of a nationwide women's football league in Brazil. The most recent version - Taca Brasil de futebol feminino - was played for the last time in 2006.

The competition begins on Wednesday (Sept. 18) with the final due to be played on December 1.

Brazilian state-owned lender Caixa Economica Federal has pledged to invest four million US dollars to the league and will pay the travel costs of all teams.

While Brazil's men have won five World Cups, the female team's best World Cup result was second at the 2007 tournament in China, when they lost 2-0 to Germany in the final.