WSL Football proposes League Cup revamp as UWCL clubs face exclusion | OneFootball

Clubs competing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League could face exclusion from next season’s League Cup, as WSL Football propose a major shake-up to benefit smaller clubs.

The tournament, now known as the Subway League Cup, has consistently come under scrutiny for its format. Clubs competing in the UWCL do not feature in the group stage matches due to European duties, whilst WSL 2 clubs and WSL clubs not competing in Europe do — often with smaller squads.

According to The Telegraph, WSL Football has proposed a change in format, involving abandoning the group stage and replacing it with a Swiss model.

Since the Cup’s origins in 2011, only three clubs have ever lifted the trophy: Arsenal, Manchester City, and most recently Chelsea. Last season, the Blues needed to play just three matches in the competition before lifting the trophy, a structure that seems unfair for the lower-ranked sides who need to play double this.

The tournament has also come under immense scrutiny following Tuesday night’s draw, which was a chaotic livestream on TikTok, hosted by social media influencer GK Barry and her partner Ella Rutherford, who plays for Portsmouth. WSL Football had to apologise for comments made about Tottenham Hotspur during the draw.

The new Swiss model

The new model being proposed is called a Swiss model, which the UWCL has already implemented. It means each club will play six matches before reaching the knockout stage. Therefore, there will be no change in structure to non-European sides.

If the rule was in place this season, the previous two winners, Arsenal and Chelsea, would be unable to compete. Given the current WSL standings, both Manchester clubs and Chelsea would face expulsion from the competition next season.

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Despite losing three clubs, the competition will not see a decrease in numbers. This is due to the expansion of both the WSL and WSL 2 to 14 teams from the 2026/27 season.

WSL Football argues the revamp is to reduce player load and manage welfare with an increasing fixture list. The expansion of the WSL, alongside European football, and an inaugural Club World Cup in 2028, the league is hoping to take swift action.

With the Asian Cup around the corner, an injury-hit Arsenal are set to lose three key players, before turning their attention to the Women’s Champions Cup. The Gunners will compete in this mini tournament alongside five other winners from around the globe, including Gotham FC.

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