Rio de Janeiro, Sep 17 (IANS): Brazil's football confederation (CBF) and the federal sports ministry have launched the country's new national women's league.

The competition will comprise 20 clubs, to be divided 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, reports Xinhua.

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 Wednesday (Sep 18) with the final due to be played Dec 1.

Brazilian state-owned lender Caixa Economica Federal has pledged to invest $4 million 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 0-2 to Germany in the final.