Ashton Gate to Host 2026 Women’s League Cup Final Amid Chelsea’s Premier League Challenges
Ashton Gate in Bristol has been confirmed as the venue for the 2026 Women’s League Cup final, scheduled for Sunday 15 March 2026 with a 2:15pm GMT kick-off. This marks the first time the final will be held at this ground, although Ashton Gate previously hosted the Women’s FA Cup final in 2012. The final will be broadcast live on BBC One and Sky Sports.
The quarter-final matches for the Women’s League Cup will take place on the same weekend, all starting at 1pm. The fixtures are Liverpool vs Chelsea, Crystal Palace vs Arsenal, Manchester City vs West Ham, and Manchester United vs Tottenham. Since the competition's inception in 2011, only Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City have secured the title.
Chelsea currently face challenges with injuries, exacerbated by their recent Club World Cup commitments. Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea head coach, remains under scrutiny following controversial comments last weekend. He is expected to hold a pre-weekend press conference ahead of Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League away fixture at Newcastle United.
Reports in the media suggest a dispute between Maresca and the Chelsea board regarding transfer signings. Additionally, Maresca has been linked with a potential move to Manchester City to replace Pep Guardiola, under whom he previously served as an assistant during the 2022-23 season.
