The 2026 NWSL schedule arrived on Thursday, with the now-16-team expanded league gearing up for its 14th campaign complete with 248 regular-season matches, seven playoff games, and a standalone Challenge Cup.
The season officially kicks off on Friday, March 13th, with a midseason break slated for June 1st through 28th.
The 2026 NWSL schedule also sees the return of Rivalry Week in July, as well as a simultaneous kick-off Decision Day to cap the season on Sunday, November 1st.
Each team will play a total of 30 regular-season matches, with games broadcast across ESPN, Prime, ION, CBS, NWSL+, and new free streamer Victory+.
In the only major departure from the previously released framework, the league is shifting the 2026 NWSL Challenge Cup from the beginning of the season to a neutral site in June.
This year's Challenge Cup will see reigning NWSL champions Gotham FC facing the Shield-winning Kansas City Current, with the pair's 2025 quarterfinals rematch set for Friday, June 26th.
The clash will take place in Ohio at the home stadium of MLS's Columbus Crew in order to give local fans "the opportunity to experience elite women's soccer in person at this celebratory showcase event," according to Thursday's NWSL press release.
As for the 2026 NWSL Playoffs, the league's three-round postseason will begin on November 6th, with eight clubs competing for a ticket to the Championship match on Saturday, November 21st.
Even with the 2025 regular season on a break, the NWSL is staying busy, announcing its 2026 schedule framework on Wednesday as the league eyes its first-ever 16-team season.
With both expansion clubs Denver and Boston Legacy FC hitting the pitch, the NWSL plans to expand the regular season from its current 26 matches to 30 games per team, ensuring each club plays one home and one away match against each of the league's squads across the 2026 season.
The 2026 campaign will kick off on March 13th and run through November 1st, before the eight-team playoff field battles through the postseason, all aiming to lift the NWSL Championship trophy on November 21st.
Like previous seasons, next year's NWSL play will begin with a preseason appetizer, as the 2025 league champion and 2025 Shield-winner will face off in the 2026 Challenge Cup on February 20th.
Notably, the NWSL will pause regular-season play for nearly entire month of June, in part because the North America-hosted 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup will be using league venues across seven NWSL cities.
The league will also fulfill its CBA-mandated summer break, meaning each team's 30-game 2026 season will take place across 27 total weeks of competition.
Including the Challenge Cup and postseason play, the 2026 NWSL season will include 248 matches.
The league will release more scheduling details at a later date.