WSL Clubs Vote to Exclude Champions League Teams from Next Season's League Cup Amid Calendar Challenges
On 19 December 2025, clubs in the Women's Super League (WSL) voted to exclude teams participating in the Champions League from next season's League Cup. The decision comes as the League Cup format will also change, adopting a Swiss-style league system where the top eight teams progress to the knockout rounds, replacing the previous group stages.
The upcoming Sunday quarter-finals highlight some of the top WSL clubs facing off: West Ham vs Manchester City, Liverpool vs Chelsea, Manchester United vs Tottenham, and Crystal Palace vs Arsenal.
This calendar adjustment responds to the planned expansion of the WSL from 12 to 14 teams beginning in the 2026-27 season, which demands four additional matchdays and further tightens an already congested schedule.
The constraints arise due to several new competitions and revised formats, including the introduction of the Champions Cup, the expansion of the Champions League to 18 teams, the 2028 Club World Cup, the World Cup's expansion to 48 teams by 2031, and FIFA's decision to reduce international windows from six to five annually.
FIFA has stated that international football remains a key growth driver for the sport and encourages smarter distribution of playing minutes alongside developing deeper squad strength, rather than simply reducing the number of fixtures.
However, excluding Champions League clubs from the League Cup has potential downsides. These include the removal of opportunities for clubs to achieve a domestic treble, reduced broadcast appeal, diminished sponsorship interest, and a less competitive League Cup overall.
