2026 NWSL Playoffs Schedule: Dates, Bracket, TV Channels, How to Watch
The 2026 NWSL Playoffs begin Friday, November 6, with eight teams competing for the league championship. The postseason opens with four quarterfinal matches before the semifinals on November 14 and 15. The NWSL Championship is scheduled for Saturday, November 22, in Washington, D.C.
Defending champion Gotham FC enters the playoffs after winning its first NWSL Shield. The team will face Seattle Reign in Sunday's quarterfinals as it looks to defend its championship and become the first club to win consecutive NWSL titles since the North Carolina Courage in 2018 and 2019.
Other major contenders include San Diego Wave, Kansas City Current, Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns. The quarterfinal schedule also features Utah Royals' postseason debut.
2026 NWSL Playoffs Schedule, Dates, Kickoff times, Venues
All kickoff times below are Eastern Time (ET).
The eight-team postseason begins with four quarterfinal matches. The winners advance to the semifinals, with the championship match set for November 22.
NWSL Quarterfinals Schedule 2026
Friday, November 6
San Diego Wave vs. Utah Royals, 10:00 p.m. ET, Prime Video
Saturday, November 7
Kansas City Current vs. Angel City FC, 12:00 p.m. ET, CBS and Paramount+
Sunday, November 8
Gotham FC vs. Seattle Reign, 12:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns, 3:00 p.m. ET, ABC
NWSL Semifinals Schedule 2026
The semifinals are scheduled for the weekend of November 14 and 15. The four quarterfinal winners will advance.
Gotham FC or Seattle Reign vs. Kansas City Current or Angel City FC, time TBA
San Diego Wave or Utah Royals vs. Washington Spirit or Portland Thorns, time TBA
The exact dates, kickoff times and broadcast details for the semifinal matches are yet to be announced.
2026 NWSL Championship Final
The 2026 NWSL Championship will take place on Saturday, November 22, at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Date: Saturday, November 22
Match: Teams TBD
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Streaming: Paramount+
Location: Washington, D.C.
The two semifinal winners will meet for the NWSL title.
Teams to Watch in the 2026 NWSL Playoffs
Gotham FC
Gotham FC enters the postseason as the defending champion and the 2026 NWSL Shield winner. The club will face Seattle Reign in the quarterfinals and aims to become the first team since North Carolina Courage to win consecutive championships.
San Diego Wave
San Diego Wave pushed Gotham in the Shield race until the final day of the regular season. The team begins its playoff campaign against Utah Royals on Friday.
Kansas City Current
Kansas City Current will host Angel City FC in a highly anticipated quarterfinal matchup. Angel City enters the postseason after a strong late-season run.
Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns
The Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns meet in Sunday's quarterfinals. Both clubs have previously won the NWSL Championship, making this one of the weekend's major matchups.
Utah Royals
Utah Royals will make their postseason debut against San Diego Wave on November 6. The team faces a difficult opening test against one of the league's strongest contenders.
How to Watch the 2026 NWSL Playoffs
Fans in the United States can watch the quarterfinals across Prime Video, CBS and ABC.
Prime Video: San Diego Wave vs. Utah Royals
CBS and Paramount+: Kansas City Current vs. Angel City FC
ABC: Both Sunday quarterfinal matches
CBS and Paramount+: NWSL Championship final
Semifinal broadcast information will be announced later.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the 2026 NWSL Playoffs start?
The 2026 NWSL Playoffs begin Friday, November 6, with San Diego Wave facing Utah Royals at 10:00 p.m. ET.
When are the NWSL quarterfinals?
The quarterfinals take place November 6, 7 and 8, 2026.
When are the 2026 NWSL semifinals?
The semifinals are scheduled for the weekend of November 14 and 15. Exact match dates and kickoff times are TBA.
When is the 2026 NWSL Championship?
The 2026 NWSL Championship is scheduled for Saturday, November 22, at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Where will the NWSL Championship take place?
The 2026 championship will take place in Washington, D.C.
How many teams qualify for the NWSL Playoffs?
Eight teams qualify for the NWSL postseason and compete in the quarterfinals.
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