Former England international Toni Duggan will conduct the 2025-26 Subway Women’s League Cup group stage draw live on BBC Radio 5Live Breakfast from approximately 8:30am on Thursday, 31st July.
The group stage draw arrangements for the 2025-26 Subway Women’s League Cup have been finalised.
As the opening domestic silverware of each campaign, Chelsea currently hold the trophy after defeating Manchester City at Derby’s Pride Park in March. The competition enters its 15th season with 21 teams from the Barclays WSL and Barclays WSL2 participating in the group stage, divided between northern and southern sections.
Northern Section Teams
The northern draw will feature eight teams with the following ball numbers:
- Liverpool
- Durham
- Nottingham Forest
- Manchester City
- Sunderland
- Everton
- Newcastle United
- Sheffield United
The initial four numbers drawn will form Group A, whilst the remaining four will constitute Group B1.
Southern Section Teams
Jay Sadler’s Portsmouth side will feature in the southern section alongside 12 other teams:
- Leicester City
- Pompey
- Tottenham Hotspur
- London City Lionesses
- Aston Villa
- Charlton Athletic
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- Ipswich Town
- Birmingham City
- West Ham United
- Southampton
- Bristol City
- Crystal Palace
The first five numbers selected will be allocated to Group C, followed by four numbers for Group D, with the final four forming Group E.
Match Schedule
Group stage fixtures will take place across the following dates:
- 24th/25th September
- 8th/9th October (Group C matches exclusively)
- 18th/19th October
- 12th/13th November (Group C matches exclusively)
- 22nd/23rd November
Each group winner will advance to the quarter-finals on 20th/21st December, with semi-finals scheduled for 21st/22nd January. The final will be held on the weekend of 15th/16th March, with specific details including venue, date and kick-off time to be announced.
Arsenal and Chelsea will join the competition directly at the quarter-final stage due to their UEFA Women’s Champions League commitments. Should Manchester United be eliminated from the Champions League and fail to qualify for the UEFA Women’s Europa League, they will enter at the group stage, requiring an additional draw to determine placement in either Group A or Group B.
