Why the NWSL’s 2026 expansion push should (but won’t) wait – Equalizer Soccer

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman (center) with Boston mayor Michelle Wu (left) and Boston controlling owner Jennifer Epstein (right) at the team’s unveiling in September 2023 (Photo by Billie Weiss/Elevate Communications)

It has been nearly two full years since the National Women’s Soccer League’s Board of Governors approved Boston as a 2026 expansion team, granting the team the longest runway to launch in league history.

That advantage has been completely squandered.

Today, with the calendar days from turning to 2025, Boston’s stadium plan — touted as a revolutionary public-private partnership — remains in legitimate doubt as it faces a lawsuit and rising costs. The idea that the renovated venue will be ready in 15 months feels increasingly ludicrous; construction is yet to begin. The team appears to even be restarting the branding process after “BOS Nation FC” and the “Too Many Balls” campaign was universally panned.

Also today, a final decision still looms for team No. 16, which is supposed to join Boston by kicking off in the 2026 season. A decision on team No. 16 is days — if not hours — away, although that has been the rolling feeling for over a month now. Sources around the league initially expected a decision before Thanksgiving, which tracked with NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman’s previous public comments.

Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver are the final three cities in contention for that other expansion team. Of the four — including Boston — only Cincinnati has its proposed full-time venue already built and operating.

The increasing uncertainty around Boston’s readiness for 2026, and the need for more time to build venues in two of the three other markets begs the question: What’s the rush? Delaying the launch of the league’s next two teams feels highly unlikely, according to several sources with knowledge of the process. It also looks more like the right call with each passing day.