Gotham FC set to face Washington Spirit in NWSL debut at Citi Field
Defending NWSL champions Gotham FC will compete at Citi Field, the home of MLB’s New York Mets, on July 15 against the Washington Spirit in a rematch of the 2025 NWSL Championship.
This match, scheduled to be broadcast nationally on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET, was announced on Tuesday and is referred to as “The Queens Classic.”
The encounter will mark the NWSL’s inaugural game at Citi Field and is part of a rising trend of significant annual events held at MLB and NFL stadiums.
“This summer will be transformative for soccer in our area, and we are thrilled to showcase women’s sports and our elite athletes at Gotham FC when a global spotlight shines on New York,” stated Gotham FC chief business officer Ryan Dillon.
“It will be a groundbreaking summer for soccer, and this event guarantees our involvement.”
Gotham triumphed over Washington 1-0 in the final held in November.
Midfielder Rose Lavelle netted the decisive goal late in the second half. The rematch on July 15 will occur just four days prior to the 2026 Men’s World Cup final, which will take place in the New York metropolitan area at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The World Cup has compelled Gotham, which typically plays its home matches at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, to adapt its scheduling due to constraints and limitations imposed by the FIFA event.
Three days following the match at Citi Field—and one day before the 2026 World Cup final—Gotham will host Seattle Reign FC at the 5,000-seat Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island in New York City, with the game being televised nationally on ABC.
The NWSL will suspend regular-season play in June to accommodate the commencement of the 2026 World Cup. Several NWSL teams will be displaced from their home stadiums or training facilities due to the tournament.
The league will resume play on July 3 during the World Cup knockout stage.
NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman expressed last week her belief that fans enthusiastic about the 2026 World Cup will discover the NWSL, although the league’s strategy for attracting and retaining those fans remains uncertain.
Berman noted that scheduling games during the World Cup knockout stage was a deliberate choice for “discoverability.”
She also highlighted “tentpole events” as methods to engage fans.
“Our primary focus for the 2026 season is to ensure that our games and our product are presented to those who appreciate women’s soccer—regardless of whether they are fans of men’s or women’s sports,” Berman stated last week from the NWSL’s new offices in Manhattan.
“Recognizing that the NWSL is the premier league globally, if you enjoy the finest soccer in the world, you will appreciate the NWSL.”
The July 15 match at Citi Field represents the third consecutive year in which the NWSL has held a regular-season game in an MLB venue. Each of the prior instances set a league attendance record.
In 2024, Chicago Stars FC hosted Bay FC at Wrigley Field, attracting an announced crowd of 35,038 fans.
Last year, Bay FC faced the Washington Spirit at Oracle Park in San Francisco, drawing an announced sellout crowd of 40,091.
Citi Field has a capacity of approximately 42,000.
The baseball venue in Queens has previously hosted other soccer events, including a recent friendly match between Colombia and Australia in November.
The NWSL attendance record is anticipated to be surpassed on March 28 when expansion team Denver Summit FC hosts the Spirit at Empower Field, home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos.
Over 50,000 tickets have already been sold for this game, marking the Summit’s first home match.
