Arsenal fixtures set as City start WSL defence vs Birmingham
Defending champions Manchester City open their 2026-27 Women's Super League title defence at home to promoted Birmingham City on the season's first Sunday, while Arsenal fixtures begin with a return trip to Brighton & Hove Albion, where a May draw sealed City's title. The full WSL calendar and TV schedule are now out.
Key Takeaways
- Manchester City host newly promoted Birmingham City to begin their WSL title defence on the opening Sunday.
- Arsenal fixtures start at Brighton, then ramp up with United, Chelsea and City after Palace in matchweek two.
- BBC One opens its 25-match slate with Chelsea vs Aston Villa on Saturday, 5 September (12:30 BST).
- Sky Sports adds Friday evening and Sunday 6 p.m. BST slots after fan consultation.
- The WSL expands to 14 teams, with London City hosting Manchester United on Friday, 4 September (19:00 BST).
When do Manchester City start their WSL title defence?
According to the announced 2026-27 Women's Super League fixtures, champions Manchester City begin at home against Birmingham City on the season's first Sunday. Birmingham return to the top flight after four years in the second tier, alongside fellow promoted sides Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace.
BBC Sport analysis notes City avoid their closest rivals until October, giving them a chance to build an early lead. Their first meeting with Arsenal is scheduled for 4 October at the Etihad Stadium, with a trip to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 14 November — a match listed for live BBC coverage.
How do the Arsenal fixtures look after the WSL draw?
Fans tracking Arsenal fixtures will see the Gunners open with a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion, the same venue where a 1-1 draw in May helped confirm Manchester City as 2025-26 champions. Arsenal are chasing a first league title since 2019.
After facing Crystal Palace in matchweek two, Arsenal then meet Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City in successive weeks — a demanding early stretch noted by ESPN. Chelsea host Arsenal on 27 September before that Etihad clash a week later.
Where can you watch the opening WSL weekend?
Broadcast windows are more varied than last season. The BBC will show 25 matches, starting with eight-time champions Chelsea against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 5 September (12:30 BST) live on BBC One. Chelsea will play all home league games at the main stadium this year.
Sky Sports reintroduces a Friday evening kick-off and a Sunday 6 p.m. BST slot, while keeping Saturday and Sunday lunchtime windows. The BBC retains its 12:30 Saturday and Sunday 2:30 p.m. slots. For more kick-off and channel alerts, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
The campaign opens Friday, 4 September when London City Lionesses host Manchester United (19:00 BST), with two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas set for her WSL debut. Full fixture details are available via BBC Sport.
The 14-team season runs until the weekend of 22–23 May 2027, with two relegation places: 14th goes down automatically and 13th faces a play-off against the WSL 2 runner-up.