NWSL unveils 2027 blueprint: Early start, Super Bowl kickoff and World Cup break
The NWSL has announced its 2027 competition framework, featuring an unprecedented February 11 start date coinciding with Super Bowl weekend and a seven-week break for the World Cup.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Legoktm
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has officially unveiled its 2027 season framework, marking the earliest start in the league's history. The regular season will kick off on February 11 in Los Angeles, strategically scheduled to align with the Super Bowl weekend taking place at SoFi Stadium.
Commissioner Jessica Berman noted that the league is leaning into the massive American sports calendar to boost visibility. By leveraging shared broadcast partnerships with ESPN, the NWSL aims to be integrated into the weekend's broader media coverage.
For anyone who's tracking, that is Super Bowl weekend. We have intentionally, again, seeing the success we've had about leaning into the halo of the men's World Cup, used that same thesis for next year. And so next year, for those who don't know, it is an ABC Super Bowl, and because we share a broadcast partner, we will be working closely with ESPN to make sure that the NWSL is woven into the weekend stories. Jessica Berman
The early start is also designed to accommodate the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil, which will take place during June and July. The league has incorporated a mandatory seven-week pause to ensure players can participate in the tournament and return to club action.
The season will open with the Challenge Cup on February 6, followed by the regular season, which concludes on October 31. The 2027 campaign will be the final year with 16 teams before expansion franchises in Atlanta and Columbus join in 2028, bringing the total to 18 clubs. Berman emphasized that maintaining the high quality of play remains the league's fundamental priority during this expansion phase.