Inaugural WSL play-offs explained: Leicester face Charlton to decide relegation
This Saturday, May 23, a Women’s Super League decider is taking place at Charlton Athletic’s stadium, The Valley. The 12:30pm BST (7:30am EST) kick-off between this year’s last-placed team in the WSL, Leicester City, and the WSL2 third-place finishers, Charlton, will determine a place in next season’s (2026-27) expanded 14-team WSL. Charlton are hoping to join Crystal Palace and Birmingham City, who have already confirmed their automatic promotion from WSL2.
What is this year’s format for promot
This Saturday, May 23, a Women’s Super League decider is taking place at Charlton Athletic’s stadium, The Valley. The 12:30pm BST (7:30am EST) kick-off between this year’s last-placed team in the WSL, Leicester City, and the WSL2 third-place finishers, Charlton, will determine a place in next season’s (2026-27) expanded 14-team WSL. Charlton are hoping to join Crystal Palace and Birmingham City, who have already confirmed their automatic promotion from WSL2.
What is this year’s format for promotion and relegation? This season, the top two in WSL2, the English second tier, were automatically promoted to the WSL. This resulted in Birmingham City being promoted as champions and Crystal Palace in second.
No top-tier side was automatically relegated, with Leicester given the opportunity to retain WSL status in their play-off against Charlton. It is a one-off match, not a home-and-away tie, played at the WSL2 club’s home ground, in this case, Charlton’s The Valley. In England’s third-tier competitions, the winners of the Women’s National League North, Burnley, and Women’s National League South, Watford, secured automatic promotion to the 12-team WSL2 to replace Crystal Palace and Birmingham.