WSL Expansion: 14 Teams from 2026/27
- The Women's super League (WSL) is poised for important changes as it expands from 12 to 14 teams for the 2026-27 season.
- WSL football, which assumed control of the top two tiers from the Football Association (FA) in August 2024, presented the proposal at a shareholders' meeting on Monday.The FA...
- Currently, only the WSL 2 champion earns automatic promotion, while the bottom club in the WSL faces relegation.Under the new structure for the upcoming season, the WSL 2...
Get ready for a major shake-up! The women’s Super League (WSL) is expanding to 14 teams for the 2026-27 season, triggering significant changes to the promotion and relegation system. Witness the shift as WSL 2 champions and runners-up gain automatic promotion, while playoff matches decide the fate of the WSL’s bottom clubs. News Directory 3 is on top of the FA’s decisions, ensuring all clubs meet licensing criteria. From the 2026-27 season, expect two WSL 2 relegations and automatic promotions from the third tiers. Discover what’s next as the WSL landscape evolves!
WSL Expansion Set to Shake Up promotion, Relegation Landscape
The Women’s super League (WSL) is poised for important changes as it expands from 12 to 14 teams for the 2026-27 season. This expansion will bring about alterations to the promotion and relegation system, impacting the league’s competitive balance and the role of each team.
WSL football, which assumed control of the top two tiers from the Football Association (FA) in August 2024, presented the proposal at a shareholders’ meeting on Monday.The FA is expected to formally approve the changes before July 31, a move considered a formality following the clubs’ votes.
Currently, only the WSL 2 champion earns automatic promotion, while the bottom club in the WSL faces relegation.Under the new structure for the upcoming season, the WSL 2 champion and runner-up will both gain automatic promotion. A play-off match will then determine the fate of the WSL’s bottom club and the third-place team in WSL 2.
Looking ahead to the 2026-27 season and beyond, the promotion landscape will shift again. The WSL 2 winner will secure automatic promotion, and the bottom WSL team will be relegated.A play-off will also occur between the second-to-last team in the WSL and the WSL 2 runner-up.
The FA will determine the subsequent steps for the lower tiers. The winners of the National League Premier Division North and South are expected to gain automatic promotion into WSL 2 next season. The runners-up from those third-tier divisions would then compete in a play-off for the final promotion spot in the second tier.
From the 2026-27 season onward, two teams are expected to be relegated from WSL 2, with two automatic promotions from the third tiers. All clubs must meet the licensing criteria to participate in both the WSL 2 and the WSL.
What’s next
the upcoming changes promise a more dynamic and competitive surroundings within the WSL and its feeder leagues. The increased number of teams and the introduction of play-off matches will likely create more opportunities for clubs to rise through the ranks and establish their role in women’s soccer.