NWSL 2027 Season Kickoff Set for Feb. 11 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles

The 2027 NWSL season will begin on February 11 in Los Angeles, marking the earliest start date in league history by more than a month.

The National Women’s Soccer League will launch its 2027 campaign on Feb. 11 at BMO Stadium, where Angel City FC is scheduled to host the season-opening match. This start date falls exactly three days before Super Bowl XLI, which takes place Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The league’s earliest kickoff in history facilitates a full 30-game regular season schedule while accommodating a seven-week hiatus for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. This pause begins with a mandated rest week on June 7 and extends through the tournament final on July 25.

Preseason training for the 2027 NWSL season is slated to begin between Jan. 2 and Jan. 7, occurring just six weeks after the conclusion of the 2026 NWSL Championship. This timeline represents the shortest off-season the league has ever recorded. Before the regular season officially commences, the NWSL Challenge Cup will take place on Feb. 6. That single-match event will feature a contest between the 2026 NWSL Shield winner and the 2026 NWSL Championship winner at a neutral site located in a warm-weather market currently outside the league's existing footprint.

Historical Scheduling Shifts and Postseason Dates

Prior to this announcement, the earliest official match in NWSL history was a Challenge Cup fixture held on March 7, 2025, between the Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit. The 2027 calendar concludes with a Decision Day on Oct. 31, followed by an eight-team playoff bracket. The season will culminate in the NWSL Championship on Nov. 20. Carlin Hudson, NWSL vice president of strategy, confirmed the league intends to release the full 2027 schedule in December to maintain standard lead times for clubs and supporters.

The February start provides only two additional weekends of competition before a FIFA international window runs from Feb. 23 through March 6. League officials must navigate venue availability and weather concerns in cold-weather markets such as Boston, New Jersey, Denver, and Utah. The NWSL Board of Governors previously considered a permanent move to a fall-to-spring calendar but abandoned that proposal following pushback from the NWSL Players Association regarding winter playing conditions. The league is now committed to its current calendar structure through at least 2030.

Venue Challenges and Broadcast Commitments

NWSL media rights agreements, which include partners like ESPN, require the league to secure 26 open weekends per year. The 2027 kickoff aligns with Super Bowl week, specifically falling on the same Thursday as the NFL Honors primetime awards ceremony. While the Super Bowl will air on ESPN for the first time on Feb. 14, the NWSL has not yet finalized specific promotional tie-ins for its opening night in Los Angeles.

Scheduling complexities are heightened by Major League Soccer’s transition to a fall-to-spring model in 2027. Because many NWSL teams operate as secondary tenants in MLS venues, the league must coordinate with MLS as it plans both a 2027 spring "sprint season" and a 2027-28 full season. Hudson noted that while some dates may remain subject to change, the league is working collaboratively with clubs, venues, and MLS stakeholders to map out the footprint early. Looking toward 2028, the NWSL plans to expand to 18 teams and potentially increase the schedule to 34 games per club.