DI Women’s Soccer Championship Schedule to Change Starting 2026

Change in Championship Dates for Women’s Soccer

The NCAA Division I Sports Oversight Committee has announced a significant alteration to the championship date formula for women’s soccer, starting in the 2026 season. The newly approved schedule dictates that the Women’s College Cup will take place during the second full weekend of December, aligning it with the Men’s College Cup for that year.

This decision comes in light of recently enacted legislation aimed at extending the playing season by an additional two weeks. The intention behind this extension is to provide student-athletes with more rest and to minimize interruptions to their academic commitments.

Cary, North Carolina, designated as the host city for both the 2026 and 2027 Men’s and Women’s College Cups, will facilitate both championship events on the same weekends in these years.

Implementation of Video Review for Preliminary Rounds

In a related update, the Sports Oversight Committee has approved a measure requiring all hosts of preliminary rounds to implement video review starting with the 2025 Division I Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships. This initiative aims to keep pace with advancing technology and the ongoing development of officiating standards.

Under this new guideline, video review will be available for all rounds of the championship, extending its current application, which is presently limited to national semifinals and finals.