The Football Association has approved a proposal allowing Women's Super League (WSL) academy teams to compete in tier three of the football pyramid starting in the 2027-28 season. This decision aims to enhance the women's football structure and improve the development pathway for young players, despite opposition from a majority of Women's National League clubs.
The reform includes the introduction of central funding for WNL clubs and changes to the loan market, which are intended to provide more competitive opportunities for young English players. The FA plans to develop criteria for selecting the four academy teams involved and will review the model annually to assess its impact.