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NWSL Kicks Off 2026 Season With 16 Teams and a 30-Game Schedule

The expanded league enters a 30-game slate that will test roster depth under new acquisition rules.

Overview

  • The season opens March 13 with the Washington Spirit hosting the Portland Thorns at Audi Field.
  • Denver Summit FC and Boston Legacy FC debut as expansion clubs, with Denver reporting more than 45,000 tickets for its home opener and Boston surpassing 25,000 for its regional debut.
  • Boston will split home matches between Gillette Stadium and Centreville Bank Stadium this year, with White Stadium targeted as the permanent home beginning in 2027.
  • The 2025 collective bargaining agreement eliminated drafts in favor of an open signing system, and each club now plays 30 regular-season matches.
  • Gotham FC begins its title defense Saturday against Boston, while Washington star Trinity Rodman returns on a reported record deal linked to the league’s new High Impact Player Rule, which the players’ union has criticized.