What are the key dates for the women's football season?
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The 2026-27 women's football season is under way, with the qualifying rounds of the Champions League already ongoing, as well as the Women's Africa Cup of Nations.
Later this month, the preliminary rounds of the FA Cup begin before the league campaigns of the Women's Super League and Women's Super League 2 start in early September.
The Subway Players Cup, also known as the League Cup, also gets under way in September, with the full rounds of the FA Cup starting at the end of October.
There will also be five international breaks during the season ahead of the 2027 Women's World Cup, which takes place across June and July in Brazil.
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What are the key Women's Super League and Women's Super League 2 dates?
Manchester City won the Women's Super League and Women's FA Cup during the 2025-26 season
Women's Super League
Friday, 4 September, 2026 – First game of the season
Monday, 21 December 2026 to Saturday, 3 January, 2027 – Winter break
Saturday, 22 May, 2027 – Last game of regular season
Saturday, 29 or Sunday, 30 May, 2027 – Promotion/relegation play-off
Women's Super League 2
Friday, 4 September, 2026 – First game of the season
Monday, 21 December 2026 to Saturday, 3 January, 2027 – Winter break
Saturday, 8/Sunday, 9 May, 2027 – Last game of regular season
Saturday, 22 or Sunday, 23, 2027 – Play-off pre-qualifying match
Saturday, 29 or Sunday, 30 May, 2027 – Promotion/relegation play-off
When is the FA Cup and Subway Players Cup?
Women's FA Cup
Sunday, 23 August, 2026 – Preliminary round
Sunday, 6 September, 2026 – First qualifying round
Sunday, 20 September, 2026 – Second qualifying round
Sunday, 4 October, 2026 – Third qualifying round
Sunday, 25 October, 2026 – First round
Sunday, 15 November, 2026 – Second round
Sunday, 13 December, 2026 – Third round
Sunday, 17 January, 2027 – Fourth round
Sunday, 21 February, 2027 – Fifth round
Sunday, 21 March, 2027 – Quarter-finals
Sunday, 11 April, 2027 – Semi-finals
Sunday, 15 May, 2027 – Final
Subway Players Cup
Wednesday, 23 September, 2026 – League phase fixtures
Wednesday, 30 September, 2026 – League phase fixtures
Saturday, 17 and Sunday, 18 October, 2026 – League phase fixtures (for WSL2 sides only)
Wednesday, 21 October, 2026 – League phase fixtures
Wednesday, 28 October, 2026 – League phase fixtures
Saturday, 31 October and Sunday, 1 November – League phase fixtures (for WSL2 sides only)
Wednesday, 11 November, 2026 – League phase fixtures
Wednesday, 18 November, 2026 – League phase fixtures
Sunday, 22 November, 2026 – League phase fixtures (for WSL2 sides only)
Wednesday, 16 December, 2026 – League phase fixtures
Wednesday, 13/Thursday, 14 January, 2027 – Quarter-finals
Wednesday, 10/Thursday, 11 February, 2027 – Semi-finals
Saturday, 13 or Sunday, 14 March, 2027 - Final
When is the Champions League?
Wednesday, 26 August, 2026 – Third qualifying round first legs
Wednesday, 2 September, 2026 – Third qualifying round second legs
Friday, 4 September, 2026 – League phase draw
Tuesday, 22 and Wednesday, 23 September, 2026 – League phase matchday one
Wednesday, 30 September and Thursday, 1 October, 2026 – League phase matchday two
Wednesday, 28 and Thursday, 29 October, 2026 – League phase matchday three
Tuesday, 10 and Wednesday, 11 November, 2026 – League phase matchday four
Wednesday, 18 and Thursday, 19 November, 2026 – League phase matchday five
Wednesday, 16 December, 2026 – League phase matchday six
Wednesday, 3 and Thursday, 4 February, 2027 – Knockout phase play-offs first legs
Wednesday, 10 and Thursday, 11 February, 2027 – Knockout phase play-offs second legs
Tuesday, 23 and Wednesday, 24 March, 2027 – Quarter-final first legs
Wednesday, 30 and Thursday, 31 March, 2027 – Quarter-final second legs
Saturday, 1 and Sunday, 2 May, 2027 – Semi-final first legs
Saturday, 8 and Sunday, 9 May, 2027 – Semi-final second legs
Friday, 28, Saturday, 29 or Sunday, 30 May, 2027 - Final
Women's international breaks and tournaments
Sunday, 24 July to Sunday, 16 August, 2026 – Africa Cup of Nations
Monday, 5 to Tuesday, 13 October, 2026 – October international break
Tuesday, 24 November to Saturday, 5 December, 2026 – November/December international break
Tuesday, 23 February to Saturday, 6 March, 2027 – February/March international break
Tuesday, 13 to Saturday, 24 April, 2027 – April international break
Monday, 7 to Tuesday, 15 June, 2027 – June international break
Thursday, 24 June to Sunday, 27 July, 2027 – Women's World Cup
This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
