When does the WSL, FA Cup and Champions League start? | 2026/27 Key Dates | OneFootball

Women's Team

Together in every moment: 2026/27 Women's Season Tickets coming soon

Following the conclusion of Andrée Jeglertz’s side’s magnificent 2025/26 showing, attentions are beginning to turn to a hugely exciting upcoming campaign.

Manchester City harbour ambitions of retaining our Barclays Women’s Super League crown and successfully defending our FA Cup trophy after we completed a historic double last term.

2026/27 SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE 

The Blues will also return to European football’s top table for the first time since our Champions League quarter-final in 2025.

All roads lead to another enthralling campaign and here’s the dates for your diaries…

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WHEN DOES THE TRANSFER WINDOW OPEN?

The summer transfer window official opens on Thursday 18 June which signifies a period of player trading until 23:00 (UK) on Thursday 3 September.

Clubs can currently sign players who’s contracts expire this summer but can’t register them until Wednesday 1 July 2026 at the earliest.

WHEN DOES THE 2026/27 WSL SEASON BEGIN?

City’s WSL title defence will begin across the weekend of Friday 4 September to Sunday 6 September and the final top-flight fixtures will take place on Sunday 22 May.

The detailed WSL fixture information will be confirmed in the week commencing Monday 27 July.

WHEN DOES THE 2026/27 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE START?

After winning the 2025/26 WSL title, we will enter the Champions League at the League Phase.

This will see City pitted against six different teams, three at home and three away, and the draw to find out who we’ll face takes place on Friday 4 September.

The League Phase dates are as follows:

Matchday One: Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 September

Matchday Two: Wednesday 30 September and Thursday 1 October

Matchday Three: Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 October

Matchday Four: Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 November

Matchday fFve: Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 November

Matchday Six: Wednesday 16 December

The draw for the knockout phase play-offs and quarter-finals will then be held on Friday 18 December.

Should City reach the Champions League knockout play-offs, the first leg ties will be played across Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 February 2027 before the second on Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 February 2027.

Should the Blues be involved in the quarter-finals, the first leg ties will be played across Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 March 2027 before the second on Wednesday 31 March and Thursday 1 April.

The semi-final first leg will be across Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 May followed by the second leg on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 May.

The Champions League final will be held on Saturday, May 29 at Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland.

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WHEN DOES THE 2026/27 FA CUP BEGIN?

The reigning FA Cup holders’ quest in the competition begins in Round Four across the weekend of Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 January.

Last-16 matches will be held across the weekend of Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 February 21, before the quarter-finals on Saturday 20 or Sunday 21 March.

2026/27 SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE 

Semi-finals will be played across Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 April, followed by the final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 15 May or Sunday 16 May.

ARE CITY IN THE 2026/27 SUBWAY WOMEN’S LEAGUE CUP?

Due to City’s participation in the 2026/27 Champions League, we will not be playing in the Subway Women’s League Cup next season.

Changes to the competition mean those who are competing in European football will no longer enter the domestic tournament from 2026/27.

WHEN ARE THE INTERNATIONAL AND WINTER BREAKS?

The first international break of 2026/27 will be from Monday 5 October to Tuesday 13 October before the second pause in domestic football runs from Tuesday 1 December to Saturday 5 December.

City’s domestic and international pursuit will break for the winter on Monday 21 December until Sunday 3 January.

After the turn of the year, the season’s third international break starts on Wednesday 24 February and ends on Saturday 6 March before a fourth from Tuesday 13 April to Saturday 24 April.

Following the conclusion of the 2026/27 campaign, there will be an international break from Monday 7 June ahead of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup which starts on Thursday 24 June and concludes on Sunday 25 July.