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Sam Garcia

By Sam Garcia

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The National Women's Soccer League is reportedly planning to start its 2027 season on Feb. 11 to accommodate the FIFA Women's World Cup. This is a month earlier than the league's typical season opener in March.

The NWSL will have to take seven weeks off during the World Cup from June to July. Therefore, an earlier start would allow the league to fit in a full 30-game schedule.

The league will also have to take Super Bowl XLI into consideration. The NFL game is set to take place on Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium, and Angel City FC is scheduled to host a season opener at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

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"Given the realities of the match calendar in 2027, we tried to think through if we're playing on Super Bowl weekend, how do we try to be a part of the conversation and not separate the sports world, but just aggregate it more around that area?" Carlin Hudson, the NWSL's vice president of strategy, told ESPN.

Sophia Smith of United States celebrates with teammate Trinity Rodman after scoring the team's first goal during the international friendly match between Brazil and United States at Arena Castelão on June 09, 2026 in Fortaleza, Brazil.

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The Offseason Will Also Be the Shortest in League History

Due to the earlier start of the 2027 season, there will be just six weeks between the NWSL Championship and the beginning of preseason in January. This marks the shortest offseason in NWSL history.

Hudson told ESPN the NWSL is still working on finalizing the 2027 schedule and are aiming to release it in December.

In addition to the World Cup, the NWSL will have to incorporate a CBA-mandated off week in June. The league will face similar challenges during the 2028 season when the Summer Olympics comes to Los Angeles.

"It's a great question and one we're still working through with everybody," Hudson said.

"And when I say everybody, I mean our clubs, their venues, MLS. It will be a very collaborative process for the next couple months, and we've already been in it for a few months as well. It's part of why we tried to get ahead of a 2027 schedule footprint early, so we could start mapping it all out. It will certainly be a new process for us."

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