The first NWSL game played in New York City will pit Gotham FC against the visiting Washington Spirit in a rematch of the league’s 2025 championship fixture, the teams announced Tuesday.
ESPN will televise “The Queens Classic” live from Citi Field, the home ballpark of the New York Mets, on July 15 at 8 p.m. ET.
Three days later, Gotham is scheduled to host Seattle Reign FC at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island on the bank of the Harlem River.
Gotham is relocating from Sports Illustrated Stadium, its home pitch in Harrison, N.J., for the matches in deference to the men’s FIFA World Cup final, scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in nearby East Rutherford, N.J.
“This summer will be transformational for soccer in our region, and we’re really excited to put women’s sports and our world-class athletes at Gotham FC front and center when a global spotlight is on New York,” Gotham FC chief business officer Ryan Dillon said in a news release.
“It will be a history-making summer of soccer, and this event ensures that we are a part of that.”
Gotham won its second NWSL championship in three seasons last November with a 1-0 victory over Washington in San Jose.
Midfielder Rose Lavelle broke a scoreless deadlock in the 80th minute to topple a powerhouse side led by Trinity Rodman, who became the world’s highest-paid female athlete in January when she signed a three-year contract with the Spirit worth more than $2 million annually.
Citi Field will be the third MLB stadium in as many years to host an NWSL match, joining Wrigley Field and Oracle Park. Last year’s Spirit-Bay FC game in San Francisco raised the league attendance record to 40,091, slightly under Citi Field’s 41,800-seat capacity.
“The District vs. Empire rivalry belongs on a big stage, and Citi Field delivers,” Spirit CEO Kim Stone said. “This is one of the most electric matchups in the NWSL, and our fans bring an intensity that demands to be seen. Playing in New York City just days before the World Cup final is a moment we’re not taking lightly.”
Washington opened the new NWSL season with a 1-0 loss to the Portland Thorns on Friday. Gotham blanked the expansion Boston Legacy 1-0 on Saturday.
The NWSL schedule pauses for all of June, but it will resume July 3 and overlap with the men’s World Cup knockout stage.
“Our specific focus for the 2026 season is to make sure that our games are in front of, and our product is in front of, people who love women’s soccer — agnostic to whether it is men or women,” commissioner Jessica Berman told ESPN last week.
“The NWSL is the best league in the world, and so if you love the best soccer in the world, you will love the NWSL.”
–Field Level Media
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