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SportsLondon City Lionesses to host Manchester United in WSL opener as 2026-27 season expands to 14 teams
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The Women's Super League (WSL) has announced its fixtures for the 2026-27 season, with big-spending London City Lionesses hosting Manchester United in the opening match on Friday, 4 September. The Michelle Kang-owned club features new signings, two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas and goalkeeper Mary Earps, who returns to the WSL after leaving Paris Saint-Germain. Champions Manchester City begin their title defense against promoted Birmingham. The season marks the WSL's expansion to 14 teams, with Charlton, Crystal Palace, and Birmingham promoted. New relegation and promotion rules will apply between the WSL and WSL2. Other opening weekend matches include Arsenal vs Brighton, Tottenham vs West Ham, Chelsea vs Aston Villa, and Crystal Palace vs Everton.
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Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas signed for London City this summer and her new team will open the WSL season. Photograph: London City Lionesses
- Big-spending club kick off season on Friday 4 September
- Champions Manchester City begin against Birmingham
Fans eager to see London City Lionesses with two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas in their ranks will not have to wait long. The big-spending club will kick off the new Women's Super League season against Manchester United on Friday 4 September.
The Michelle Kang-owned side welcome United to Hayes Lane in the first match of the 2026-27 campaign. The fixture is also likely to feature goalkeeper Mary Earps, who returns to the WSL for an opener against her former club after leaving Paris Saint-Germain to join London City this summer.
The full fixture list for the new season has been announced following an extremely complex scheduling process. WSL Football ran more than 1.5 billion scheduling iterations, balancing stadium availability and broadcast windows after the release of calendars and fixtures for the Premier League, EFL, men's National League, men's FA Cup, women's FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and men's and women's Champions League.
Opening Weekend Highlights
- Manchester City, the reigning WSL champions, begin their title defence against WSL2 champions Birmingham. City have added former Arsenal forward Beth Mead and Chelsea defender Niamh Charles to their squad.
- Arsenal start their campaign against Brighton, who knocked the Gunners out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage and later earned a league draw that handed Manchester City their first title since 2016.
- Charlton, who earned a playoff win over Leicester to secure promotion, will play Liverpool at home.
- Tottenham host West Ham.
- Chelsea welcome Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge.
- Crystal Palace mark their return to the WSL against Everton.
Birmingham, Charlton, and Crystal Palace were promoted as the top flight expanded to 14 teams for the first time.
WSL2 Opening Fixtures
- Watford host Burnley at Vicarage Road
- Bristol City face Sunderland
- Durham play Southampton
- Ipswich meet Nottingham Forest
- Newcastle host Wolves
- Sheffield United tackle relegated Leicester City
New Promotion and Relegation Rules
Following the 2025-26 transition season, new rules will apply between the top two divisions:
- The team that finishes top of WSL2 will be promoted, replacing the team relegated from the WSL in bottom place.
- The teams finishing second and third in WSL2 will meet to determine who will face the team that finishes 13th in the WSL in a playoff for a place in the top flight.
Explore more on these topics:
- Women's Super League
- London City Lionesses
- Women's football
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Football | The GuardianWestern
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WSL fixtures: London City Lionesses open 2026-27 season against Manchester United