a day ago
WSL clubs vote to expand league to 14 teams and introduce relegation play-off
Women's Super League 1 (WSL1) and Women's Super League 2 (WSL2) clubs have voted to expand the top-flight for the 2026-27 season from 12 to 14 teams, as well as introduce a play-off system for relegation and promotion.
The vote by the 24 member clubs of WSL1 and WSL2 took place on Monday.
For next season, 2025-26, there will be no automatic relegation spot from WSL1. Instead, the WSL2 winners and runners-up will be automatically promoted to WSL1. The 12th-placed team in WSL1 will then face the third-placed team in WSL2 in a play-off to decide the final spot in WSL1 for the 2026-27 season.
Advertisement
From the 2026-27 season onwards, the single automatic relegation spot will be reinstated to WSL1, with the winners of WSL2 automatically promoted. A play-off will take place between the 13th-placed WSL1 side and the runners-up of WSL2 for the final WSL1 spot. The men's top flights in Germany and France operate similar relegation play-offs.
'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,' said Nikki Doucet, CEO of WSL Football, the company that runs the top two women's divisions in England.
WSL2 will remain a 12-team league for the 2025-26 season but with only one automatic relegation spot for the team that finishes bottom.
The winners of the Women's National League North (WNL North) and Women's National League South (WNL South), the regionalised third-tier competitions in England, will be granted automatic promotion to WSL2 to fill the vacated spots by the promoted sides to WSL1. A play-off will then be held between the WNL North and WNL South runners-up for the final WSL2 space.
From the 2026-27 season onwards, WSL2 will have two automatic relegation spots for the 11th- and 12th-placed sides. The winners of the WNL North and WNL South will be automatically promoted.
'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,' Doucet added.
'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.'
Advertisement
According to a media briefing from WSL Football, the proposals are considered 'phase one' of the game's evolution, with a review set to be undertaken in the coming seasons.
The vote represents the culmination of a months-long consultation process between WSL Football and its 24 member clubs WSL1 and WSL2 regarding the growth and development of the women's game.
Previous discussions had reportedly included the possibility of scrapping relegation from the top tier, a proposal that received backlash from the public. A two-thirds majority vote from WSL1 and WSL2 (eight from each division) was required to approve the proposals. The proposals will now be sent to the English Football Association (FA) for ratification.
()
