What happened for Mapi León to return to the Spanish national team?

BarcelonaIn 2022, Spanish women's football experienced an unprecedented internal upheaval. Fifteen players from the national team, including Mapi León, decided to step aside and withdraw from the Spanish national team squad to denounce what they considered an environment harmful to their emotional and athletic health. The gesture, unprecedented until then, called into question Jorge Vilda's leadership and the lack of professionalism within the Spanish Football Federation. This resignation was a declaration of principles: they demanded better working conditions, a more prepared coaching staff, and a modern structure that would match the players' level. Over time, some returned, but Mapi León remained steadfast in her decision. What has changed that prompted her to return for the latest call-up?

The power structure would eventually give way, while Mapi León observed the changes but felt they weren't enough. Before that, things got even more twisted. In the summer of 2023, after Luis Rubiales kissed Jennifer Hermoso without consent during the World Cup victory celebration, the situation exploded. What had begun as a sporting revolt turned into a social and institutional outcry under the cry of "It's over": Rubiales finally resigned in September 2023, cornered by public outrage and judicial investigations, and Jorge Vilda was dismissed a few weeks later.

Under Montse Tomé, Vilda's right-hand woman until then, an attempt was made to project an image of moderate continuity. Under her leadership, coexistence was not easy. Tensions with parts of the dressing room, poor sporting management, controversial decisions—such as not including Jenni Hermoso to "protect her from media pressure"—and the feeling that vestiges of the past still lingered ended up wearing down her image. Some decided to return, but Mapi didn't. It wasn't enough. Tomé was a gamble for Vilda to maintain his contract, a stopgap. Finally, last summer it was decided not to renew Tomé's contract.

The appointment of Sonia Bermúdez

With the appointment of Sonia Bermúdez as the new national team coach, the Federation has sought to definitively open a new era. A women's coaching team eager to rebuild bridges with those players who once decided to step aside. "A new era," Bermúdez emphasized, summarizing the return of Mapi, as well as that of former Barça player Jenni Hermoso. "The Federation has been working for a long time so she can return. She tells us she's excited. It was one of my priorities, to be able to speak naturally," explained the new national team coach, a key player in Mapi's return. The Barça player is also performing at a high level at the start of the season, which also helps explain why she has been called up. The two main arguments are: Bermúdez's involvement in the center back's return and the player's good form.

And the path to this point is explained by dismissals and fundamental reforms. One of the most significant advances was the agreement between the Federation and the captains to establish a family conciliation plan. The agreement, signed in May 2023, included measures to facilitate the presence of family members during training camps and competitions, financial assistance for travel and accommodation, and the possibility for players with young children to travel with them and their partners or caregivers.

This call-up coincides with the final year of Mapi's contract with Barça and after the real possibility that she would leave the club—like her partner, Ingrid Engen—last summer. Ultimately, she stayed, although her continuity, that is, a renewal at Barça, is not guaranteed. Last season, the center-back was also in the eye of the storm due to a controversy that went beyond the sporting arena. It's about the private parts groping of Espanyol player Daniela Caracas, an incident that caused a stir, but that hasn't stopped her from starting for Barça and, now, returning to the Spanish national team.