It has been announced that the Barclays WSL will be expanded to 14 teams for the 2026/2027 season.
The new-look league will remain in the same format with automatic promotion for the Barclays WSL 2 champion and relegation for the WSL side who finishes bottom. In addition, a play-off game will be introduced between the 13th-place WSL team and the WSL 2 runner-up to provide added jeopardy to the season. At the other end of the table, the top three finishers will continue to qualify for the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Meanwhile, the WSL 2 will remain as a 12-team league.
In order to get the top tier up to 14, there will be some unique changes to the 2025/2026 campaign for one season only. Three teams will be promoted from the WSL 2 – the top two automatically and then a play-off between the 12-place WSL side and whoever finishes third in WSL 2. There will then be additional promotion opportunities from the FA Women’s National League Premier Division in order to fill the vacancies in Tier 2. These will be confirmed by the FA in due course.
Clubs voted for the expansion at a WSL Football shareholders’ meeting on Monday and the decision was subject to the approval of The FA Board, which went through on Friday.
“Over the past few months, WSL Football has led a thorough and robust, consultative process backed by research and analysis which explored multiple options that could drive the game forward and help it reach its potential,” WSL Football’s CEO Nikki Doucet said: “Our priority was to find a route that would benefit the whole women’s game pyramid, and we believe this next evolution of women’s professional football will raise minimum standards, create distinction and incentivise investment across the board.”
“Subject to the approval from The FA Board, expanding the BWSL to 14 teams will stimulate movement between leagues and through the pyramid which increases opportunities. The introduction of a promotion/relegation playoff creates distinction for the women’s game and introduces a high-profile, high stakes match.”
