The 2026 FIFA World Cup is rapidly approaching, and its impact across soccer leagues in the United States is already shifting plans for domestic seasons. Major League Soccer long announced plans to pause its 2026 season during the entirety of the World Cup, and MLS commissioner Don Garber, MLS owners, and executives have tabled a shift in MLS schedules to align with the international calendar for now.
But with the majority of the 2026 World Cup set to take place across the United States, with select cities in Canada and Mexico, it will take plenty of moving parts to ensure the tournament is a success. Enter the National Women’s Soccer League. While the NWSL doesn’t own many of its facilities, it does have some in the upcoming World Cup markets set to host teams and matches in 2026. Does that mean some NWSL clubs could be displaced?
During the Associated Press Sports Editors commissioner meetings, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman discussed some of the challenges and opportunities ahead of the tournament next summer.
How does a men’s World Cup affect women’s soccer?
As the World Cup approaches, the NWSL is actively evaluating how to leverage the global spotlight to amplify its own presence. While the…
