WSL 2025-26 fixtures RELEASED: Chelsea face Man City in blockbuster opener, Arsenal’s Emirates homecoming and a mouthwatering start for Liverpool
WSL champions Chelsea are set to face Manchester City in a headline clash on the opening weekend of the women’s top-flight season, with the match kicking off on Friday 5th September at 7.30pm.
Champions League holders Arsenal begin their campaign the following day, taking on newly promoted London City Lionesses at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday 6th September at 1.30pm.
The weekend also features a Merseyside derby, with Liverpool hosting Everton at Anfield.
Fixtures for both the Women’s Super League and WSL2 (formerly the Championship) have been released today, with both divisions set to begin over the same weekend.
Every match across the two leagues will be broadcast live via Sky Sports, the BBC or YouTube from 5th to 7th September.
This allows players from England and Spain six weeks to recover following the upcoming Women’s Euro final in Basel.
WSL champions Chelsea will face Manchester City on the opening weekend of the new season
Champions League holders Arsenal welcome London City Lionesses to the Emirates
Liverpool and Everton will square off in the Merseyside derby when the campaign begins
Elsewhere in the WSL, Brighton take on Aston Villa, Manchester United face Leicester City, and Tottenham begin their season against West Ham United.
In WSL2, last season’s runners-up Birmingham City host Bristol City, Crystal Palace travel to Charlton, and newly promoted Nottingham Forest welcome Newcastle United in a historic debut at this level. Portsmouth are at home to Durham, Sheffield United play Sunderland, and Ipswich Town begin their WSL2 journey away to Southampton.
This season marks a significant shift in the league structure, with up to three clubs eligible for promotion from WSL2 as part of the expansion of the top flight from 12 to 14 teams.
WSL Football has secured a new five-year broadcast partnership with Sky Sports and the BBC, beginning in the 2025–26 season. For the current campaign, all matches will be available on one of the two platforms.
Sky Sports is expected to schedule the majority of its WSL coverage in a regular Sunday midday slot, while the previously used 6.45pm Sunday kick-off has been scrapped. The BBC will continue to broadcast matches mainly on Sunday afternoons, with some games also set for Saturday lunchtimes.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are set to become the first club to host all of their WSL home fixtures at their men’s stadium. The move has already generated significant excitement, with over 15,000 season tickets sold ahead of the new campaign.
