FA CONFIRM WOMEN’S PROMOTION AND LEAGUE CUP CHANGES

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Extra promotion place up for grabs this season

2025-07-04T08:32:31.090Z

FA CONFIRM WOMEN’S PROMOTION AND LEAGUE CUP CHANGES

Extra promotion place up for grabs this season

2025-07-04T08:32:31.090Z

Extra promotion place up for grabs this season

The Football Association have confirmed a one-off change to the promotion system in the FA Women’s National League for the 2025/26 season.

An extra team will be promoted from tier three, alongside the winners of the Southern Premier Division and Northern Premier Division.

This place will be decided by a play-off match between the two teams that finish second in the two divisions at the end of the 2025/26 season.

The change has been implemented in order to retain a Barclays WSL2, formerly known as the Women’s Championship, division of 12 teams following the approved expansion of the Barclays Women’s Super League,

The upcoming season, which will start on Sunday 17th August and end on Sunday 26th April, will also see the FAWNL Cup change format.

A new group stage format and Professional Game Academy sides have been introduced with the aim of providing more competitive playing opportunities for younger players.

Teams will initially be drawn into 22 groups of four teams, and the 22 group winners and 10 best runners-up will advance to the Cup knockout stages.

The other 12 runners-up and 20 best third-placed teams will advance to the Plate knockout stages. From there, both the Cup and the Plate will hold four knockout rounds before the final.