NATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE

National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is the highest league of women's soccer/football in the United States

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Founded: 2012

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2024 Regular season: 16 March – 3 November

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Teams: 14

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2024 Expansion teams: Bay FC and Utah Royals (the latter returns)

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Rounds: 26

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2024 Playoff season: 9 November - 23 November 

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Season start: The season is scheduled to begin with the 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup, a Supercup match between the reigning playoff champion (NJ/NY Gotham FC) and NWSL Shield winner San Diego Wave FC, on March 15, 2024. The regular season will begin the following day. The league will pause for a month between July 8 and August 18 for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

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Format: The top eight teams in the final standings at the end of the NWSL season qualify for the playoffs and the quarter-finals.

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Relegation / Promotion: No relegation / promotion as NWSL is a franchise league 

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Current champions 2023: NJ/NY Gotham FC (1st title)

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Current NWSL Shield* 2023: San Diego Wave FC (1st shield)

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Top Scorer 2023: Sophia Smith (11 goals)

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Most championships: Portland Thorns FC (3 titles)

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Most NWSL Shields*: OL Reign and North Carolina Courage (3 shields each)

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*Annual award given to the team with the best regular season record

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Official site >>

 

FIFA U-17 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2024

The 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will be held in the Dominican Republic from October 16 to November 3, 2024. This tournament represents an exciting moment for youth women’s football, featuring 16 teams from across the globe competing to claim the coveted title. 

 

Host Nation

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The Dominican Republic, hosting its first FIFA event, will aim to make an impact both on and off the pitch, celebrating the development of football in the Caribbean.

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Participating Teams

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The tournament will consist of 16 national teams from various FIFA confederations. These teams have qualified through continental competitions and include:

1. Dominican Republic (Host)

2. Japan 

3. South Korea

4. North Korea

5. Kenya

6. Nigeria

7. Zambia

8. United States

9. Mexico

10. Brazil

11. Colombia

12. Ecuador

13. New Zealand

14. England

15. Poland

16. Spain

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Venues

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The matches will take place across two stadiums in two major cities:

• Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez (Santo Domingo) 

• Estadio Cibao FC (Santiago)

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Tournament Structure

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The tournament starts with a group stage, where the 16 teams are divided into four groups (A, B, C, D) with four teams each. Every team plays the others in its group once, and the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage.

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Group Stage Fixtures

 

All times are local, AST (UTC−4)

 

Group A: Dominican Republic, Ecuador, New Zealand, Nigeria

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16 October 2024

• New Zealand vs Nigeria 16:00

  • Estadio Cibao FC, Santiago de los Caballeros

• Dominican Republic vs Ecuador 19:00

  • Estadio Cibao FC, Santiago de los Caballeros

 

19 October 2024

• Nigeria vs Ecuador 16:00

  • Estadio Cibao FC, Santiago de los Caballeros

• Dominican Republic vs New Zealand 19:00

  • Estadio Cibao FC, Santiago de los Caballeros

 

22 October 2024

• Nigeria vs Dominican Republic 19:00

  • Estadio Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo

• Ecuador vs New Zealand 19:00

  • Estadio Cibao FC, Santiago de los Caballerosaz

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Group B: Spain, United States, South Korea, Colombia

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16 October 2024

• Spain v United States 16:00

  • Estadio Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo

• South Korea v Colombia 19:00

  • Estadio Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo

 

19 October 2024

• Spain vs South Korea 16:00

  • Estadio Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo

• Colombia vs United States 19:00

  • Estadio Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo

 

22 October 2024

• United States vs South Korea 16:00

  • Estadio Cibao FC, Santiago de los Caballeros

• Colombia vs Spain 16:00

  • Estadio Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo

 

Group C: North Korea, Mexico, Kenya, England

 

17 October 2024

• North Korea vs Mexico 16:00

  • Estadio Cibao FC, Santiago de los Caballeros

• Kenya vs England 19:00

  • Estadio Cibao FC, Santiago de los Caballeros

 

20 October 2024

• North Korea vs Kenya 16:00

  • Estadio Cibao FC, Santiago de los Caballeros

• England vs Mexico 19:00

  • Estadio Cibao FC, Santiago de los Caballeros

 

23 October 2024

• England vs North Korea 19:00

  • Estadio Cibao FC, Santiago de los Caballeros

• Mexico vs Kenya 19:00

  • Estadio Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo
     

Group D: Japan, Poland, Brazil, Zambia

 

17 October 2024

• Japan vs Poland 16:00

  • Estadio Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo

• Brazil vs Zambia 19:00

  • Estadio Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo

 

20 October 2024

• Japan vs Brazil 16:00

  • Estadio Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo

• Zambia vs Poland 19:00

  • Estadio Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo

 

23 October 2024

• Zambia vs Japan 16:00

  • Estadio Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo

• Poland vs Brazil 16:00

  • Estadio Cibao FC, Santiago de los Caballeros

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Knockout Stage

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After the group stage, the tournament progresses to the knockout stage, which includes the quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place match, and the final.

 

Quarter-finals: The top two teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals, which will be held on October 30-31, 2024. The matchups will be determined by the rankings in each group (e.g., 1st from Group A vs. 2nd from Group B).

 

Semi-finals: Winners from the quarter-finals will move on to the semi-finals, which are scheduled for November 2, 2024.

 

Third-place Match and Final: The third-place match will also take place on November 3, 2024, followed by the final later that day to determine the 2024 U-17 Women's World Cup champion.

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Official site >>

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UEFA WOMEN'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

A total of teams from various associations will compete in the 2024/25 UEFA Women’s Champions League, marking the final season under its current format. The first-round draw included many clubs, with more teams entering in later stages and some directly joining the group stage. Among the notable participants are Barcelona, Arsenal, Frankfurt, Lyon, and Wolfsburg. Several teams will make their debut, including Crvena zvezda, Galatasaray, and Hammarby.

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When do teams enter?

• The entry list is based on UEFA’s association club rankings from the 2022/23 season.

• The title holders and champions of the top three ranked associations (France, Germany, Spain) automatically enter the group stage. Since Barcelona are both the title holders and the Spanish champions, the champions of the fourth-ranked association, England, also join the group stage. This brings Chelsea alongside Barcelona, Lyon, and Bayern München in the group stage.

• The champions of other associations join through the champions path. Teams from the associations ranked fifth to seventh (Italy, Sweden, Czechia) start in round 2, while the champions of lower-ranked associations, starting from eighth and excluding Russia, begin in round 1.

• Runners-up from the top six ranked associations (France, Germany, Spain, England, Italy, Sweden) join in round 2 of the league path.

• Third-placed teams from these six associations, as well as the runners-up from the next highest-ranked ten associations (Czechia, Denmark, Portugal, Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Austria, Ukraine, Iceland, Belarus), enter in round 1 of the league path.

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Key Contenders for the Group Stage:

Direct entrants to group stage:

• Barcelona (holders)

• Lyon

• Bayern München

• Chelsea

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Champions Path – Seven teams will qualify for the group stage:

Enter in Round 2:

• Slavia Praha

• Roma

• Hammarby

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Enter in Round 1:

• Benfica

• St. Pölten

• BIIK-Shymkent

• Twente

• Vllaznia

• Vålerenga

• Vorskla Poltava

• Apollon LFC

• Anderlecht

• Valur

• SFK 2000 Sarajevo

• Ferencváros

• Servette FCF

• Mura

• Gintra

• Dinamo-BSUPC

• PAOK

• Breznica

• Racing FC Union Luxembourg

• Mitrovica

• KuPS Kuopio

• Osijek

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Unseeded in Pot 2:

• Birkirkara

• RFS

• Tallinna FC Flora

• Qiryat Gat

• Celtic

• Agarista CSF Anenii Noi 2020

• Lanchkhuti

• NSA Sofia

• KÍ Klaksvík

• Nordsjælland

• Spartak Myjava

• Peamount United

• Glentoran

• Ljuboten

• Crvena zvezda

• Cardiff City

• Pogoń Szczecin

• Farul Constanta

• Galatasaray

• Pyunik

• Neftçi

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League Path – Five teams will qualify for the group stage:

Enter in Round 2:

• Paris Saint-Germain

• Wolfsburg

• Real Madrid

• Manchester City

• Juventus

• Häcken

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Enter in Round 1:

• Arsenal

• Atlético de Madrid

• Paris FC

• Sparta Praha

• Eintracht Frankfurt

• Ajax

• Brøndby

• FC Minsk

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Unseeded in Pot 2:

• Breidablik

• Fiorentina

• Rosenborg

• Sporting CP

• Linköping

• Rangers

• First Vienna

• Kolos Kovalivka

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All of these teams will compete at various stages based on their rankings, performances, and national association standings from previous seasons.

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Official site >>

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FA WOMEN'S LEAGUE CUP

The annual cup tournament in England for clubs from Women's Super League and Women's Championship

Known as the FA Women's Continental League Cup for sponsorship reasons

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Sponsor: Continental

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Nick name: Conti Cup

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Founded: 2011

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Most successful club: Arsenal (7 titles)

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UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2025 QUALIFYING

The UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying competition will determine the 15 teams joining host Switzerland in the final tournament. It comprises a league stage and final tournament play-offs, following the conclusion of the 2023–24 Women's Nations League in April 2024.

 

Teams are split into three leagues:

1. A (16 teams)

2. B (16 teams)

3. C (19 teams)

Each team's position is based on the previous UEFA Women's Nations League results.

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LEAGUE A (incl. ranking)

1 Netherlands

2 Spain

3 France

4 Germany

5 Italy

6 Denmark

7 England

8 Austria

9 Norway

10 Belgium

11 Sweden

12 Iceland

13 Finland

14 Czech Republic

15 Republic of Ireland

16 Poland

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LEAGUE B (incl. ranking)

17 Switzerland

18 Scotland

19 Portugal

20 Wales

21 Hungary

22 Serbia

23 Bosnia and Herzegovina

24 Croatia

25 Turkey

26 Slovakia

27 Northern Ireland

28 Ukraine

29 Azerbaijan

30 Israel

31 Malta

32 Kosovo

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LEAGUE C (incl. ranking)​

33 Belarus

34 Slovenia

35 Greece

36 Romania

37 Albania

38 Lithuania

39 Latvia

40 Montenegro

41 Bulgaria

42 Estonia

43 Cyprus

44 North Macedonia

45 Andorra

46 Kazakhstan

47 Luxembourg

48 Georgia

49 Moldova

50 Faroe Islands

51 Armenia

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Matches are played over six matchdays, with teams competing in groups of four or three.

 

The primary goals are Euro 2025 qualification and positioning for the 2025–26 UEFA Women's Nations League. The top two teams in each League A group qualify directly for Euro 2025, while the remaining spots are decided through play-offs in October to December 2024.

 

Promotion and relegation occur before the 2025–26 UEFA Women's Nations League but don't affect Euro 2025 play-offs. Teams are promoted or relegated based on league performance.

 

All 55 UEFA national teams could submit entries by March 23, 2023. However, Russia was barred due to a suspension, while Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, and San Marino didn't participate. Teams were divided into leagues based on overall rankings and promotion/relegation matches.

 

The schedule includes the qualifying group stage from April to July 2024 and play-offs in October and December 2024.

 

PLAY-OFFS

The UEFA Women’s European Qualifiers play-off ties have been set to determine the final seven teams that will join the already qualified squads for the 2025 Women’s EURO in Switzerland. The play-offs will take place over two rounds: the first from October 23-29, 2024, and the second from November 27-December 3, 2024. These matches will decide the last seven spots for the tournament, with teams like Norway, Sweden, and Belgium among the contenders. 

 

In the first play-off round, teams are divided into two paths. Path 1 involves third- and fourth-placed teams from League A facing off against League C's top teams. Meanwhile, in Path 2, League B’s top finishers compete against other high-ranking teams from the league. Notably, Norway and Sweden, both former champions, are vying for a spot

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UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2025 DRAW

The draw for the final tournament will be held on December 16, 2024, with the competition itself scheduled for July 2-27, 2025.

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Official site >>