July 4 – The NWSL has delivered its verdict on the 2026 men’s World Cup: if you can’t beat them, take a holiday. The league announced Wednesday it will shut down for the entire month of June when football’s biggest circus rolls into town, predominantly across the United States.
It’s a curious capitulation from a league that’s spent years fighting for recognition and relevance. The message seems clear – when the men come calling, women’s soccer steps aside.
“With seven of the league’s 16 markets hosting World Cup programming, the NWSL is proactively adjusting its scheduling framework to accommodate expected stadium demands,” came the predictably sanitised politically safe statement.
The league tried to dress this up as strategic thinking, claiming it “remains focused on preserving competitive integrity and delivering a successful season while continuing to explore innovative scheduling and operational solutions to navigate the unique challenges of this landmark global event.”
Corporate speak for “we’re taking a month off because we have to.”
NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman had previously told ESPN the league wouldn’t shut down for the entire men’s World Cup. Plans, it seems, have changed. “Part of the challenge we have is to figure out the literal logistics of how we run our business with the backdrop of the men’s World Cup in so many of our markets, and that’s the process we are going through right now,” Berman told ESPN in April.
The irony isn’t lost that the United States will also host the 2031 women’s World Cup. Though it does beg the question of whether the MLS will shut down for the month that the WWC comes through their market.
This represents a shift in philosophy for the NWSL. Historically, the league has played through women’s World Cups despite losing key players to international duty. But recent precedent suggests a new approach – they took a month off for last year’s Olympics.
The reshuffled calendar reads like a logistical nightmare disguised as innovation. The 2026 season will kick off February 20 with the Challenge Cup, marking the league’s earliest start since its 2013 inception. The regular season begins March 13, with each of the expanded 16 teams playing a balanced 30-match schedule.
The Championship final on November 21 sits just three days before a FIFA international window featuring the Concacaf W Championship – a tournament doubling as 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympic qualifying. Four Concacaf nations will qualify directly, with the majority of the U.S. women’s national team roster playing in the NWSL.
Los Angeles hosting the 2028 Olympics means the US automatically qualifies as host, adding another layer to an already complex puzzle.
The NWSL’s decision feels like pragmatic surrender dressed up as strategic planning. They’re expanding to 16 teams, launching earlier than ever, and playing more games – yet they’re still stepping aside when the men’s tournament comes to town.
It’s a reminder that for all the progress women’s soccer has made, the old hierarchies die hard. When push comes to shove, the beautiful game still has its pecking order firmly established.
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