FA approves four WSL academy sides to join third tier from 2027-28

Four Women’s Super League academy teams will join the Women’s National League, the third tier of the women’s pyramid, from the 2027-28 season after the Football Association’s board approved the controversial proposal.

The change forms part of what the FA described as a package of reforms to the Women’s National League "designed to strengthen the women’s football pyramid, raise standards across the league, and improve the development pathway for young players". The FA said data showed that young English players were getting significantly fewer competitive minutes than their counterparts across Europe’s leading leagues. The governing body also said WNL clubs would receive central funding for the first time and that changes to the loan market would encourage clubs from the top two divisions to loan players to clubs in the third and fourth tiers.

"For the game to continue moving forward, the FA Women’s National League must evolve alongside the professional game, and we need to create more opportunities for talented young English players to develop in senior football," said Sue Day, director of women’s football at the FA.

The FA said the WSL academy teams will not be eligible for promotion. The organisation added that the academies will be chosen against criteria to be developed in the coming months.

With the third tier split into two geographical regions, it is expected that two academies will be placed in the northern division and two in the southern.

The four WSL academy sides will enter the third tier from the 2027-28 season.