Women's Super League expanding from 12 to 14 teams from 2026-27 season

The proposal was presented at a shareholders' meeting on Monday by WSL Football - the company that assumed control of the top two tiers from the Football Association in August 2024.

The FA will now meet to formally sign off the changes, which must be implemented before 31 July. This is seen as a formality following the clubs' votes.

Currently, only the WSL 2 winners earn promotion, with the bottom club in the WSL relegated - essentially one up and one down.

These are the changes that will take place next season to achieve expansion of the league:

WSL 2 champion - automatic promotion

WSL 2 runners-up - automatic promotion

WSL 2 third-place - play-off match

WSL bottom club - play-off match

However, that will change as the WSL expands from 12 teams to 14 teams for the 26-27 season. From then onwards, there will be one automatic promotion spot for the winner of WSL 2, with the bottom team in the WSL relegated.

In addition, there will be a play-off between second bottom of the WSL and runners up in WSL 2.

The FA will decide the next steps for the lower tiers.

It is expected the winners from the National League Premier Division North and the National League Premier Division South will gain automatic promotion into the WSL 2 next season.

The runners-up from those third-tier divisions would then take part in a play-off match for the final promotion spot in the second tier.

It is expected there will be two teams relegated from WSL 2 from 26-27 onwards, and two automatic promotions from the third tiers.

All clubs must meet the licence criteria to play in the WSL 2 and the WSL.

Click here to read article