The 2026 soccer season is already heating up, with ESPN set to deliver its most comprehensive coverage yet, featuring an expanded National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) schedule and key European league clashes. Fans can look forward to more action than ever before, as ESPN platforms will broadcast 33 regular-season NWSL matches, nearly doubling the 17 games from the previous year. The season kicks off on ABC on March 14th, with the newly formed Boston Legacy making their debut against the reigning NWSL champion Gotham FC. Every announced NWSL match will be available to stream on the ESPN app in both English and Spanish, ensuring accessibility for a wider audience.
Beyond the NWSL, ESPN’s soccer coverage extends to major European leagues. This weekend features a highly anticipated Madrid derby as Real Madrid, led by Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior, hosts Atlético de Madrid with Julián Álvarez. The clash will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes on Sunday, March 22nd, at 4 p.m. ET.
The NWSL’s expanded coverage is highlighted by a new ESPN Original Series, “NWSL: The Final Third,” which premiered on February 25th. This three-part docuseries offers an in-depth look at the journeys of Angel City FC, Washington Spirit, and Kansas City Current through a pivotal 2025 season. It delves into the rising expectations, increased investment, and the immense pressure to win faced by these clubs and their players.
The series explores compelling narratives within these teams. The Washington Spirit, seeking to build on their 2024 NWSL Championship appearance, are followed as star player Trinity Rodman battles back from injury. Angel City FC faces the challenge of rebuilding its roster after the retirement of legendary players Ali Riley and Christen Press, focusing on emerging talents like Rookie of the Year finalist Riley Tiernan. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Current are showcased for their dominant regular season performance, a testament to talent meeting investment.
In other NWSL news, a significant matchup from the 2025 season, a rematch of the championship game between Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit, will be televised on July 15th from Citi Field, marking the first professional women’s soccer match at the venue.
Looking ahead, the 2026 MLS season is also generating buzz, with discussions around a potential new promotion and relegation system and the league’s evolution into “MLS 3.0.”
Fans can also anticipate continued coverage of European leagues, with the English Women’s Super League (WSL) seeing record-breaking performances, such as Khadija “Bunny” Shaw’s fastest hat-trick in WSL history for Manchester City.
