WSL Football launches Subway Players Cup with player welfare at its core

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·28 luglio 2026

WSL Football launches Subway Players Cup with player welfare at its core

Subway has extended its partnership with WSL Football through a new multi-year deal that will see the League Cup rebranded as the Subway Players Cup from the 2026/27 season.

WSL Football has also introduced a new format with player welfare at the heart of the changes. The new name sees the league’s commitment to putting players first while creating more meaningful opportunities across the women’s game.

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The Subway Players Cup will feature a Swiss-style league phase with fixtures drawn by region. Every club will play at least six matches before the knockout rounds, giving young players more opportunities while helping squads stay match-ready throughout the season.

UEFA Women’s Champions League clubs will no longer compete in the tournament. WSL Football made the change to ease fixture congestion and better manage player workloads during an increasingly demanding calendar.

The changes follow a review of the competition that included feedback from clubs, players and fans. According to WSL Football, players welcomed the new format, citing more game time, greater opportunities for squad rotation and a stronger chance to compete for silverware.

New visuals for the Cup competition

Alongside the relaunch, WSL Football has also unveiled a new visual for the Players Cup.

Inspired by the moment of lifting a trophy, the branding celebrates both emerging and established players. The colour palette is said to blend the identities of the WSL and WSL 2, reflecting that clubs from both divisions will compete for the trophy.

Subway’s renewed partnership follows two successful seasons as title sponsor of the League Cup. During that time, the company also supported women’s football through nutrition initiatives, including female athlete fueling guidance developed with The Well HQ.

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WSL Football Chief Revenue Officer Zarah Al-Kudcy said: “We wanted to create something that provided a platform for meaningful playing minutes for young and fringe players while addressing differences in playing opportunities across the leagues without compromising our player welfare principles. We’re confident we’ve found a positive solution and that the Players Cup can become an exciting new domestic competition in England.”

Subway EMEA Senior Marketing Director Kirstey Elston said the company is proud to continue supporting the growth of women’s football.

“We’re excited to renew our partnership with WSL Football as they continue to bring something fresh to the women’s game. The Players Cup is a fantastic opportunity to support a sport that continues to grow and inspire communities across the country.”

A new format for the Subway Players Cup

The Subway Players Cup will feature 23 clubs across two stages — a League Phase and a Knockout Phase.

The League Phase replaces the previous group stage and will run alongside UWCL match windows between September and December. Each club will play six matches — three at home and three away — against regional opponents in a single league table.

Built for players. Made for glory. Introducing the Subway Players Cup 🏆
– martedì 28 luglio 2026

Teams will earn three points for a win. If a match finishes level after 90 minutes, it will go straight to a penalty shootout rather than extra time. The shootout winner will receive two points, while the losing team will earn one point.

The top eight teams will advance to the knockout stage, with the quarter-finals taking place in January 2027. The semi-finals will follow in February before the final is played at a neutral venue across the weekend of March 13-14th, 2027.