FA approve WSL expansion to 14 teams from the 2026/27; Next season, the WSL 2’s top two teams will be promoted, with third-place facing a relegation play-off with the top-flight’s bottom team; from then, 14th-placed will face WSL relegation, then 13th faces WSL 2 runners-up in a play-off

The FA have given their approval to the Women’s Super League expanding to 14 teams from the 2026/27 season.

The current league format sees one team relegated from the women’s football’s top tier, but it will now change to two teams relegated and promoted every season.

In order to reach 14 teams for the 2026/27 campaign, the top two teams in the second tier – the Women’s Super League 2 – will be automatically promoted to the WSL.

The final 14th spot will be decided by a relegation play-off at the end of the season between the 12th-placed team in the WSL and the third-placed team in the Women’s Super League 2.

In a statement, the FA said there would be “consequential changes to promotion throughout the remainder of the Women’s Football Pyramid for the 2025-26 season, which will be decided in due course”.

From the 2026/27 season, the last-placed 14th team in the league will be automatically relegated, with the 13th-placed team facing a play-off with the WSL 2 runners-up.

A statement from the WSL read: “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.

“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.”

Analysis: New rules controversial – but add to drama
Sky Sports News’ Anton Toloui:

The league’s bosses have thought long and hard about how best to expand the top division but today’s announcement won’t be without its critics.

The threat of relegation remains for the worst performing team in WSL this season but it’s a realistic possibility that side could tank all year and still retain their top flight status.

That being said, having at least two teams come up from WSL2 is a huge win for clubs that have been developing and investing in their women’s programmes.

Teams such as Birmingham City, Bristol City, Charlton, Newcastle and others will be delighted to now have three opportunities to win promotion to the promised land instead of squandering more time and money without a decent chance of going up.

And who doesn’t love a play-off? Having one with such jeopardy feels like a massive boost, in terms of entertainment, for the women’s game.

Sky to show nearly 90 per cent of WSL games from next season
In October, it was announced that Sky Sports has signed a new five-year deal to broadcast the WSL – securing the rights to show nearly 90 per cent of the league’s games.

From next season, Sky will broadcast 118 matches from the WSL, up more than three times the number of games currently, with 78 fixtures shown exclusively.

With over 75 per cent of first picks plus all matches from the closing weekend exclusive to Sky, women’s football fans are guaranteed more of the best matches week in, week out from England’s top flight.

The new partnership also gives Sky the option to show matches from the Women’s Championship and Women’s League Cup, including the final. This brings both competitions onto Sky platforms for the first time.

In 2023, Sky Sports broadcast over 70 per cent of all live televised women’s sport. Women’s football can be enjoyed alongside England Cricket, The Hundred, US Open tennis, WTA Tour, women’s golf majors, England Netball, F1 Academy, WPL Cricket, women’s boxing, Women’s Super League (rugby league) and more.

Football fans can enjoy this huge increase of fixtures from the women’s game from next season at the same time as Sky’s record deal with the Premier League kicks in, including at least 215 matches – an increase of 70 per cent on exclusively live games.

Sky Sports to show 215 live PL games from next season
Watch more Premier League matches on Sky Sports ever before with 215 games live of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
From next season, Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.

And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games next season are on Sky Sports.

Skysports.com

Cole Palmer says the Club World Cup will continue to bring the Chelsea squad closer together, with our new No.10 highlighting the bonds he has built with team-mates old and new.

The Blues have been Stateside for just under a week and face off against Brazilian club Flamengo at Lincoln Financial Field tomorrow in our second Group D fixture. Enzo Maresca and his players will be hoping for a similar result to our opening match, where we ran out 2-0 winners against Los Angeles FC in Atlanta.

Tournament football creates unique environments, and the Blues squad could be together for a month should we reach the final of the Club World Cup. It’s that closeness that Palmer believes will only benefit team cohesion, particularly with new players joining the group such as Mamadou Sarr, Dario Essugo and Liam Delap.

Palmer has a strong connection with Delap – and Romeo Lavia – having played alongside the duo during his time in Manchester City’s Academy.

‘I think being with each other every day brings us together,’ he began. ‘[For example], I’ve played with Liam for a number of years now, which started at City, and I feel like I know where he’s going to be on the pitch. I like to find him. Hopefully, I can assist him a lot this season.

‘Romeo and Liam are my age, and I’ve played with them for a while. Obviously, Tosin is from Manchester too, and we have a good friendship.

‘We’ve played at England together at different levels with Noni, Liam and Noni so I feel like it’s a good group and we get on well.’

Cole is also pleased to have made a significant change during the off-season, switching his squad number from 20 to 10. As he explains, it’s a decision taken to follow in the footsteps of two of his footballing idols.

‘I wore No.10 growing up and I like the number,’ Palmer added. ‘Lionel Messi is, obviously, the big one [who has worn the number] and then players like Wayne Rooney – it’s just a really iconic number.’

Chelseafc.com

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has revealed he has not yet spoken to winger Mykhailo Mudryk since the Ukrainian was charged with violating anti-doping rules.

The 24-year-old is facing a lengthy ban after the Football Association announced on Thursday it had charged the player.

Mudryk has not played since being suspended last December after testing positive for a prohibited substance.

He was last seen in public at the Europa Conference League final in Wroclaw last month having attended in a private capacity.

Mudryk is not allowed to train with the squad, who are currently at the Club World Cup in the United States.

Speaking ahead of the Blues’ second match of the tournament against Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday, Maresca said: “I spoke with ‘Misha’ in Poland when we played the Conference League final but I didn’t speak with him since that time.

“To be honest, I didn’t see the news. They communicated (it to) me last night. There is nothing more that I can add at the moment because I don’t have more information.”

Chelsea did not officially comment after the charges were announced but have previously said they are supporting the player.

Maresca said: “The last time I spoke with Misha he was quite good. I didn’t see him worried, or at least I didn’t see him not good. It was OK.

“I don’t know how he is now but for sure in the next days, weeks, we’re going to have a talk.”

Chelsea are in the market for a new winger this summer, and have been heavily linked with Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, but Maresca says that is not because of the Mudryk situation.

The Italian said: “We had already one entire season, almost, without Misha.

“We’ve decided to go for a winger not because of Misha. It’s something quite clear, it’s a position that we need to improve.”

Maresca dismissed speculation over the future of another winger in England international Noni Madueke, with reports Arsenal are monitoring his situation.

Maresca said: “Noni is our player. In this moment, you can read much speculation about many players, but Noni is our player. We consider Noni our player for next season.”

Maresca is set to make changes to his side for the Flamengo clash at Lincoln Financial Field due to the anticipated heat.

The Blues, who opened their campaign in Group D with a 2-0 win over LAFC, are set to face the Brazilians at 2pm local time, with the temperature forecast to reach 28C.

Maresca said: “It’s not easy because of the temperature. This is the reason why we’re going to try to rotate players.

“Unfortunately for us, as a Brazilian team, they are more used to playing in this temperature – but it doesn’t matter. We’re going to try to do our best to win the game.”

Rte.ie