What are the key dates for the women's football season?

ByJonty ColmanBBC Sport journalistThe 2026-27 women's football season is under way, with the qualifying rounds of the Champions League already ongoing, as well as the Women's Africa Cup of Nations.Later this month, the preliminary rounds of the FA Cup begin before the league campaigns of the Women's Super League and Women's Super League 2 start in early September.The Subway Players Cup, also known as the League Cup, also gets under way in September, with the full rounds of the FA Cup starting at the end of October.There will also be five international breaks during the season ahead of the 2027 Women's World Cup, which takes place across June and July in Brazil.Get in touchWhat are the key Women's Super League and Women's Super League 2 dates?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Manchester City won the Women's Super League and Women's FA Cup during the 2025-26 seasonWomen's Super LeagueFriday, 4 September, 2026 – First game of the seasonMonday, 21 December 2026 to Saturday, 3 January, 2027 – Winter breakSaturday, 22 May, 2027 – Last game of regular seasonSaturday, 29 or Sunday, 30 May, 2027 – Promotion/relegation play-offWomen's Super League 2Friday, 4 September, 2026 – First game of the seasonMonday, 21 December 2026 to Saturday, 3 January, 2027 – Winter breakSaturday, 8/Sunday, 9 May, 2027 – Last game of regular seasonSaturday, 22 or Sunday, 23, 2027 – Play-off pre-qualifying matchSaturday, 29 or Sunday, 30 May, 2027 – Promotion/relegation play-offWhen is the FA Cup and Subway Players Cup?Women's FA CupSunday, 23 August, 2026 – Preliminary roundSunday, 6 September, 2026 – First qualifying roundSunday, 20 September, 2026 – Second qualifying roundSunday, 4 October, 2026 – Third qualifying roundSunday, 25 October, 2026 – First roundSunday, 15 November, 2026 – Second roundSunday, 13 December, 2026 – Third roundSunday, 17 January, 2027 – Fourth roundSunday, 21 February, 2027 – Fifth roundSunday, 21 March, 2027 – Quarter-finalsSunday, 11 April, 2027 – Semi-finalsSunday, 15 May, 2027 – FinalSubway Players CupWednesday, 23 September, 2026 – League phase fixturesWednesday, 30 September, 2026 – League phase fixturesSaturday, 17 and Sunday, 18 October, 2026 – League phase fixtures (for WSL2 sides only)Wednesday, 21 October, 2026 – League phase fixturesWednesday, 28 October, 2026 – League phase fixturesSaturday, 31 October and Sunday, 1 November – League phase fixtures (for WSL2 sides only)Wednesday, 11 November, 2026 – League phase fixturesWednesday, 18 November, 2026 – League phase fixturesSunday, 22 November, 2026 – League phase fixtures (for WSL2 sides only)Wednesday, 16 December, 2026 – League phase fixturesWednesday, 13/Thursday, 14 January, 2027 – Quarter-finalsWednesday, 10/Thursday, 11 February, 2027 – Semi-finalsSaturday, 13 or Sunday, 14 March, 2027 - FinalWhen is the Champions League?Wednesday, 26 August, 2026 – Third qualifying round first legsWednesday, 2 September, 2026 – Third qualifying round second legsFriday, 4 September, 2026 – League phase drawTuesday, 22 and Wednesday, 23 September, 2026 – League phase matchday oneWednesday, 30 September and Thursday, 1 October, 2026 – League phase matchday twoWednesday, 28 and Thursday, 29 October, 2026 – League phase matchday threeTuesday, 10 and Wednesday, 11 November, 2026 – League phase matchday fourWednesday, 18 and Thursday, 19 November, 2026 – League phase matchday fiveWednesday, 16 December, 2026 – League phase matchday sixWednesday, 3 and Thursday, 4 February, 2027 – Knockout phase play-offs first legsWednesday, 10 and Thursday, 11 February, 2027 – Knockout phase play-offs second legsTuesday, 23 and Wednesday, 24 March, 2027 – Quarter-final first legsWednesday, 30 and Thursday, 31 March, 2027 – Quarter-final second legsSaturday, 1 and Sunday, 2 May, 2027 – Semi-final first legsSaturday, 8 and Sunday, 9 May, 2027 – Semi-final second legsFriday, 28, Saturday, 29 or Sunday, 30 May, 2027 - FinalWomen's international breaks and tournamentsSunday, 24 July to Sunday, 16 August, 2026 – Africa Cup of NationsMonday, 5 to Tuesday, 13 October, 2026 – October international breakTuesday, 24 November to Saturday, 5 December, 2026 – November/December international breakTuesday, 23 February to Saturday, 6 March, 2027 – February/March international breakTuesday, 13 to Saturday, 24 April, 2027 – April international breakMonday, 7 to Tuesday, 15 June, 2027 – June international breakThursday, 24 June to Sunday, 27 July, 2027 – Women's World CupThis article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.More questions answered...