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Jeff Kassouf
The NWSL will feature two expansion teams in 2026, both of which will kick off their home games at NFL stadiums starting in March.
Boston Legacy FC is set to host its first home game on the opening weekend, facing an opponent to be determined on Saturday, March 14, at Gillette Stadium, which serves as the home field for the NFL’s New England Patriots. This venue has a capacity of over 65,000 and will serve as the team’s temporary home throughout the 2026 season.
Meanwhile, Denver Summit FC announced that it will launch its 2026 home season on Saturday, March 28, at Empower Field at Mile High, home to the NFL’s Denver Broncos, which has a seating capacity of 76,000.
Currently, the NWSL attendance record stands at 40,091, set earlier this year by Bay FC during a special event at Oracle Park, the home of the MLB’s San Francisco Giants.
Denver has already secured over 15,000 season ticket deposits for this upcoming season.
Summit FC is in the process of constructing a temporary stadium for the 2026 season and plans to build a permanent venue by 2028. This new stadium, with a capacity of 14,500, will be only the second in NWSL history built specifically for a team, following the Kansas City Current’s play at CPKC Stadium in Missouri, which opened in 2024.
After its inaugural year at Gillette Stadium, Boston will transition to White Stadium in Franklin Park for the 2027 season. The renovation of White Stadium is a collaborative effort with the City of Boston, and Boston Public Schools will occupy the venue as the main tenant. The project faced delays, partly due to local community opposition, but was initially slated for completion by spring 2026.
With the additions of Boston and Denver, the NWSL will expand to 16 teams in 2026, growing from 10 teams in 2021.