NWSL Playoffs 2026 Schedule: Decision Day Nov. 1, Quarterfinals Nov. 6-8, Final Nov. 21

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) regular season ends on Decision Day, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, with all eight matches at 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), and the NWSL Championship is Saturday, Nov. 21, at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. The dates come from the league’s 2026 playoffs page and an ESPN press release dated Oct. 26, 2026.

The league has confirmed only part of the schedule. This page dates every round from Decision Day to the final, marks what is still open, and ends with a one-page tracker to fill in once the bracket is set.

NWSL playoffs 2026 dates and times

Times below are the ones the NWSL and ESPN have published, with Pacific Time (PT) added; the Nov. 1 PT time is our conversion.

Round	Date	Time	Where to watch
Decision Day, all eight matches	Sun., Nov. 1	5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT)	ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+
Quarterfinal: San Diego Wave FC	Fri., Nov. 6	10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT)	Prime Video
Quarterfinal: Gotham FC hosts	Sun., Nov. 8	Not yet announced	ABC, ESPN Deportes, ESPN App
Remaining quarterfinals	Weekend of Nov. 6	Not yet announced	Not yet announced
Semifinals	Weekend of Nov. 13	Not yet announced	Not yet announced
NWSL Championship	Sat., Nov. 21	Not yet announced	Not yet announced

Source: NWSL 2026 Playoffs page and ESPN Press Room, checked Oct. 30, 2026. The NWSL says further ticket and broadcast information for the semifinals will be announced. Mark the weekends on the November 2026 printable calendar or the printable weekly calendar.

What time is NWSL Decision Day 2026?

ESPN says the full slate of Decision Day matchups kicks off at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 1. U.S. clocks fall back at 2 a.m. that morning, so 5 p.m. ET is Eastern Standard Time. That is 4 p.m. Central, 3 p.m. Mountain and 2 p.m. Pacific.

ESPN will show Gotham FC against Utah Royals FC on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. The other seven matches stream on ESPN+. If you are planning the rest of that Sunday, the soccer on TV this weekend guide and sports on TV on Nov. 1 list the other games.

What is still undecided on Decision Day?

With one matchday left, seven teams have clinched a playoff spot, U.S. Soccer said on Oct. 26. It also said Decision Day will determine whether Gotham FC or San Diego Wave FC secures the Supporters’ Shield. The full seeding and the quarterfinal matchups are not official until the matches are played, so this page does not list them.

How does the NWSL playoff format work?

The NWSL says the top eight teams qualify, seeded 1 to 8 by regular-season standings. The quarterfinals pair Seed 1 against Seed 8, Seed 2 against Seed 7, Seed 3 against Seed 6 and Seed 4 against Seed 5.

The higher-seeded team hosts the match in both the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, unless venue availability prevents it. The winners of the two semifinal games meet in the NWSL Championship, presented by Google Pixel, on Nov. 21 at Audi Field.

Where was last year’s NWSL Championship?

In 2025, the final was played on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif. Gotham FC beat the Washington Spirit 1-0, and Rose Lavelle scored in the 80th minute, according to Gotham FC, The Equalizer and the Associated Press. The 2026 final moves to Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

For another league’s postseason on the same calendar, see the Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup playoffs 2026 schedule.

Is there a printable NWSL playoffs schedule?

Yes. The one-page sheet dates Decision Day, both announced quarterfinals, the quarterfinal and semifinal weekends and the Nov. 21 final, with the note “time to be announced” where the league has not set one. Use the notes area to fill in matchups and kickoff times as the NWSL announces them.