The Football Association has given the go-ahead to a contentious plan that will see four Women's Super League academy teams competing in the third tier of the women's football pyramid starting with the 2027-28 season, following approval from the governing body's board.
The decision forms part of a broader set of reforms to the Women's National League that the FA says are intended to raise standards throughout the league system and improve pathways for emerging talent. According to the FA, statistics reveal that young English players currently receive substantially fewer minutes of competitive action compared to their peers in other major European leagues.
Under the new structure, the third tier will be divided into two regional groups, with two of the four academy sides expected to be placed in a northern division and the other two in a southern division. These academy teams will not be eligible for promotion, distinguishing them from the standard clubs they compete against. The criteria used to determine which four WSL academies will take part are still being finalized and are expected to be established over the next several months. The FA has also indicated that the new model will be reviewed annually to assess its effects on the league.
Beyond the introduction of academy sides, the reform package includes several other significant changes. For the first time, clubs in the Women's National League will receive central funding from the FA. The reforms will also establish official WNL club academies and adjust rules governing player loans, with the aim of encouraging professional-tier clubs to loan more players down to sides competing in the third and fourth tiers of the pyramid.
Sue Day, the FA's director of women's football, defended the changes as a necessary step for the women's game at a pivotal moment. "The women's game has reached an important moment in its development, and these changes are about ensuring it continues to thrive for decades to come," she said. "We need to take proactive action now to address some of the key challenges we're facing. 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."
Day went on to stress the wider implications of the reforms for the national team's future. "Getting that balance right is essential to the long-term success of the national team, which in turn fuels the growth and visibility of the game at every level," she said, while also acknowledging the distinct character of the competition the changes will affect. "The FA Women's National League sits at the heart of the women's football pyramid and has a unique identity that we value enormously."
The plan has proven divisive among stakeholders in the women's football community, given that it introduces non-promotable academy sides into a competitive structure traditionally reserved for standalone clubs fighting for advancement through the pyramid. Nonetheless, the FA maintains that the combination of funding support, academy development, and revised loan arrangements will collectively strengthen the National League and provide a clearer route for young players to gain valuable senior-level experience.
With the changes not set to take effect until the 2027-28 season, there remains considerable time for further details to be worked out, including the specific selection criteria for the four participating academy sides and how the annual review process will operate in practice.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football and BBC Sport Football.