Football
Football
London City Lionesses to Open Expanded WSL Season Against Manchester United
The 2026-27 Women's Super League season is set to kick off on Friday, September 4, with London City Lionesses hosting Manchester United. This opening fixture will mark the debut of two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas for London City, a club that has made eight new signings under manager Eder Maestre. The match, scheduled for 7:00 PM BST, will be broadcast live, signaling the start of an expanded 14-team league.
The new season features three promoted teams from WSL 2: Birmingham City, Charlton Athletic, and Crystal Palace, increasing the league from 12 to 14 clubs. Manchester City, the defending champions, will begin their title defense at home against newly-promoted Birmingham City on Sunday, September 6. That same day, last season’s runners-up, Arsenal, will travel to Brighton, while Tottenham hosts West Ham in a London derby.
Chelsea, eight-time champions, will play Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, September 5, with the match broadcast live. This season marks a significant shift for Chelsea, as they will play all home league matches at Stamford Bridge, concluding a nine-year tenure at Kingsmeadow. Other opening weekend fixtures include Charlton Athletic hosting Liverpool and Crystal Palace facing Everton.
Manchester United, after their opening match against London City, face a challenging early schedule, with their second game at home against Chelsea on September 13, followed by a trip to the Emirates Stadium to play Arsenal on September 19. The expanded league and increased broadcast coverage, with 25 matches on the BBC and 163 matches on Sky Sports, promise a dynamic and competitive campaign.
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