The five-minute read for dedicated-ish fans of women’s football.

This week: things got real. WSL Fantasy went live, and the 2027 World Cup schedule landed. Plus a kit drop… for pets.

– Jo, founder of Twentytwo

🌎 The 2027 World Cup schedule is out. FIFA has confirmed all 64 fixtures for Brazil next summer, running 24 June to 25 July, with Rio's Maracanã hosting both the opening match and the final. Most of the automatic qualification spots are filled; the autumn play-offs decide the remaining places before the groups are drawn later this year. For now, it's dates for the diary. Get the full match schedule here.

🎟️ England's World Cup play-off tickets go on general sale this Thursday. Sarina Wiegman's side face Greece over two legs in the first round of the play-offs — away in Crete on Friday 9 October, then home at Leicester's King Power Stadium on Tuesday 13 October, the first-ever meeting between the two sides in women's senior football. England+ members have had first access; general sale opens Thursday 27 August. Ticket info

→ WSL's 'big two': Arsenal and Chelsea now out-earn the rest of the league combined – The numbers behind the gap: soaring wages, mounting losses, and why the "big four" was always a myth. – via The Guardian

→ Why are there so few African players in the WSL? – A look at why just four Africans play in the league despite a standout Wafcon: visa rules, NWSL clubs outspending WSL sides, and scouting budgets pointed at Europe. – via BBC

WSL Football has launched their new Fantasy game for the 2026-27 season. It's free to play in the WSL Football app, but how does it work, and what do we think?

First up, the basics. Pick 15 players on a £100m budget and name a captain each week for double points. Scoring goes beyond goals and assists: tackles, interceptions and key passes all earn points, so a defensive midfielder who never scores can still be worth a place. You get two free transfers a week, and the three best performers in every match bank bonus points.

A few things are different. For anyone who's played fantasy before, it's worth knowing:

Why play? It's a low-effort way to get to know players and clubs across both tiers you might not have paid much attention to before.

Our verdict: 3/5. Feels built with casual fans in mind, and the OPTA deal behind it forces better, consistent data across both leagues for the first time. There are a few launch niggles still being ironed out, and seasoned players may find the stripped-back chips frustrating, but the foundations are good.

👉 Join our league here or use code: HDIPDWX1

Play online, or download the app for iOS or Android

→ Arsenal: Vivienne Lia has joined Eintracht Frankfurt permanently. The 19-year-old winger came through the academy from age 14 but managed only two senior appearances, and heads to the Frauen Bundesliga after loan spells at Nottingham Forest and Hammarby last season.

→ Manchester City: Aemu Oyama leaves permanently for HB Køge. Part of last season's WSL and FA Cup double-winning squad, the Japanese midfielder found first-team minutes hard to come by.

→ Leicester: Poppy Pritchard joins WSL2 Leicester on a permanent deal from City, having spent much of her time there out on loan. Leicester are rebuilding for a promotion push after last season's relegation.

→ Al-Qadsiah: Esther González is off to Saudi Arabia. The Spain forward and 2023 World Cup winner left Gotham FC by mutual agreement in July, citing family matters back in Spain after she and her partner had a baby in January, so a move to the Saudi Women's Premier League a few weeks later has raised a fair few eyebrows.

→ PSG: Jackie Groenen has extended her contract to 2029. The Dutch midfielder has been in Paris since 2022 and has settled into a deeper role in recent seasons.

Aston Villa have dropped their away shirt, and while it sticks to adidas's away template, the gas-lamp detailing on the body (a nod to the club's 1874 founding) does just enough to give it an identity. Not blowing us away, but nothing to hate either. Available now

adidas is coming for your pooch. They've launched a Clubs pet collection so your cats and dogs aren't left out of matchdays, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United all included. It's cute, but the £110 pet carrier is pushing it a bit. Dress your furball here

Crossbar × Big Kick Energy Fantasy football launch night
Crossbar and the Big Kick Energy podcast are teaming up for a free evening to launch the new WSL and WSL2 Fantasy game — what it is, how it works, tips and stats, and both teams revealing their final picks (and why).
Thursday 3 September, 7pm · Crossbar, 22–23 Upper North Street, Brighton BN1 3FG
More info

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