What are the key dates for the 2026-27 women's football season?

The 2026-27 women's football season is under way, with the qualifying rounds of the Champions League already ongoing, as well as the Women's Africa Cup of Nations.

Later this month, the preliminary rounds of the FA Cup begin before the league campaigns of the Women's Super League and Women's Super League 2 start in early September.

The Subway Players Cup, also known as the League Cup, also gets under way in September, with the full rounds of the FA Cup starting at the end of October.

There will also be five international breaks during the season ahead of the 2027 Women's World Cup, which takes place across June and July in Brazil.

What are the key Women's Super League and Women's Super League 2 dates?

Friday, 4 September, 2026 – First game of the season

Monday, 21 December 2026 to Saturday, 3 January, 2027 – Winter break

Saturday, 22 May, 2027 – Last game of regular season

Saturday, 29 or Sunday, 30 May, 2027 – Promotion/relegation play-off

Saturday, 8/Sunday, 9 May, 2027 – Last game of regular season

Saturday, 22 or Sunday, 23, 2027 – Play-off pre-qualifying match

When is the FA Cup and Subway Players Cup?

Sunday, 23 August, 2026 – Preliminary round

Sunday, 6 September, 2026 – First qualifying round

Sunday, 20 September, 2026 – Second qualifying round

Sunday, 4 October, 2026 – Third qualifying round

Sunday, 25 October, 2026 – First round

Sunday, 15 November, 2026 – Second round

Sunday, 13 December, 2026 – Third round

Sunday, 17 January, 2027 – Fourth round

Sunday, 21 February, 2027 – Fifth round

Sunday, 21 March, 2027 – Quarter-finals

Wednesday, 23 September, 2026 – League phase fixtures

Wednesday, 30 September, 2026 – League phase fixtures

Saturday, 17 and Sunday, 18 October, 2026 – League phase fixtures (for WSL2 sides only)

Wednesday, 21 October, 2026 – League phase fixtures

Wednesday, 28 October, 2026 – League phase fixtures

Saturday, 31 October and Sunday, 1 November – League phase fixtures (for WSL2 sides only)

Wednesday, 11 November, 2026 – League phase fixtures

Wednesday, 18 November, 2026 – League phase fixtures

Sunday, 22 November, 2026 – League phase fixtures (for WSL2 sides only)

Wednesday, 16 December, 2026 – League phase fixtures

Wednesday, 13/Thursday, 14 January, 2027 – Quarter-finals

Wednesday, 10/Thursday, 11 February, 2027 – Semi-finals

Saturday, 13 or Sunday, 14 March, 2027 - Final

Wednesday, 26 August, 2026 – Third qualifying round first legs

Wednesday, 2 September, 2026 – Third qualifying round second legs

Friday, 4 September, 2026 – League phase draw

Tuesday, 22 and Wednesday, 23 September, 2026 – League phase matchday one

Wednesday, 30 September and Thursday, 1 October, 2026 – League phase matchday two

Wednesday, 28 and Thursday, 29 October, 2026 – League phase matchday three

Tuesday, 10 and Wednesday, 11 November, 2026 – League phase matchday four

Wednesday, 18 and Thursday, 19 November, 2026 – League phase matchday five

Wednesday, 16 December, 2026 – League phase matchday six

Wednesday, 3 and Thursday, 4 February, 2027 – Knockout phase play-offs first legs

Wednesday, 10 and Thursday, 11 February, 2027 – Knockout phase play-offs second legs

Tuesday, 23 and Wednesday, 24 March, 2027 – Quarter-final first legs

Wednesday, 30 and Thursday, 31 March, 2027 – Quarter-final second legs

Saturday, 1 and Sunday, 2 May, 2027 – Semi-final first legs

Saturday, 8 and Sunday, 9 May, 2027 – Semi-final second legs

Friday, 28, Saturday, 29 or Sunday, 30 May, 2027 - Final

Women's international breaks and tournaments

Sunday, 24 July to Sunday, 16 August, 2026 – Africa Cup of Nations

Monday, 5 to Tuesday, 13 October, 2026 – October international break

Tuesday, 24 November to Saturday, 5 December, 2026 – November/December international break

Tuesday, 23 February to Saturday, 6 March, 2027 – February/March international break

Tuesday, 13 to Saturday, 24 April, 2027 – April international break

Monday, 7 to Tuesday, 15 June, 2027 – June international break

Thursday, 24 June to Sunday, 27 July, 2027 – Women's World Cup

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