Manchester City Women will begin their Women's Super League title defence at home to newly-promoted Birmingham City on Sunday, September 6. The fixture was confirmed as part of the full 2026/27 schedule released by Sky Sports, which will broadcast the match live with a 2:30pm kick-off.
Gareth Taylor's side finished the 2025 campaign as champions, topping the table with 55 points from 22 games. They recorded 18 wins, one draw, and three losses, scoring 62 goals and conceding just 19 for a dominant +43 goal difference. That form saw them finish four points clear of runners-up Arsenal.
When are Manchester City's first three fixtures?
Manchester City Women's opening assignment is against Birmingham City at the Academy Stadium on September 6. Their first away trip follows a week later on September 13, when they travel to face Aston Villa. The champions then host Liverpool in a Friday night fixture on September 18, a match that will also be shown live on television.
Fans can track the team's progress throughout the campaign on our dedicated fixtures page. The full season runs until the final weekend of May 22/23, with a winter break scheduled from December 21 to January 3.
What is new for the 2026/27 WSL season?
The upcoming Women's Super League season features a significant structural change. The competition expands from 12 to 14 teams, welcoming three promoted sides: Birmingham City, Crystal Palace, and Charlton Athletic. Relegation remains, with the bottom team dropping automatically and the 13th-placed side entering a play-off against the WSL 2 runners-up on May 29/30.
Broadcast coverage is also vastly increased. Sky Sports announced it will show 163 WSL matches live this season, covering 90% of all games. Selected matches will also be available on the Sky Sports WSL YouTube channel, and free highlights from every game will be on the Sky Sports website and app.
Which other key matches are in the opening rounds?
The 2026/27 season curtain-raiser is on Friday, September 4, featuring London City Lionesses against Manchester United. The Lionesses made a major summer signing in two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas. Sunday, September 6, is a packed day with five live games, including Arsenal's trip to Brighton and Tottenham hosting West Ham.
Other early season highlights include Chelsea hosting Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, September 5. Manchester United face a tough start with Chelsea on September 13 and Arsenal on September 19. The first Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton is set for September 27, the same day Arsenal host Chelsea. You can see how all the teams stack up on our standings page.
How does the expanded TV deal affect fans?
The new broadcasting agreement means fans will have unprecedented access to WSL football. Sky Sports' commitment to showing 163 live matches represents a major increase. Their overall football coverage for 2026/27 includes over 1,500 live matches across various competitions, including 215 exclusively live Premier League fixtures.
For Manchester City Women supporters, this guarantees extensive coverage of their team's title defence. The increased visibility supports the league's growing profile. The club's strong statistical foundation from last season, including their impressive goal difference and points total, sets a high standard as they prepare for the new campaign. Follow all the key player data on our stats section.
