The soccer calendar might be getting more crowded. This week, reports surfaced indicating that US Soccer and other domestic women’s pro leagues are considering introducing interleague soccer matches as early as 2028.
The NWSL has apparently been involved in the talks. First-tier USL Super League and upcoming second-flight WPSL Pro league have also showed interest.
Formatting could also feature amateur and semi-pro clubs, mirroring the men’s century-old US Open Cup and England’s FA Cup.
According to ESPN, however, the governing bodies are leaning more toward a shortened NWSL-style clash. That plan stands in contrast to a traditional season-long event.
It would likely be modeled after the pro league’s single-game Challenge Cup. Dating to 2020, the modern Challenge Cup started as a longer Covid-era competition.
“Details like format and structure of the potential competition are being approached with a blank slate rather than directly copying the men’s US Open Cup,” a source told ESPN.
