da supremo： NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has high expectations for growth in the NWSL – and American soccer – leading up to the 2026 Men's FIFA World Cup.
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NWSL expecting 'explosive' growthBuildup to 2026 World Cup resultCommissioner Berman speaks on upcoming campaignWHAT HAPPENED?
Speaking to reporters at the Financial Times' Business of Football summit in London, commissioner Berman revealed that she is expecting 'explosive' growth over the next two years. With the 2026 Men's World Cup on the horizon, and it being co-hosted in the USA, the opportunities for development are endless. The USA and Mexico also have a co-host bid on the table for the 2027 Women's World Cup, leaving Berman beaming over the possibilities.
AdvertisementUSA Today Sports WHAT NWSL COMMISSIONER JESSICA BERMAN SAID
"We know that in the U.S., the next four to six years, there is going to be an explosive growth, with or without the intentional investment we're making. … With the World Cup coming in 2026 and the possibility the Women's World Cup will come in 2027, there is an incredible amount of interest.
"There's this age-old question: When is America going to start paying attention to this global sport? Well, it's happened. They are paying attention, they love this sport, and we have this halo effect of the U.S. women's national team and their incredible success
"[Soccer] is one of the few sports where when you ask 100% [of the] people in the U.S. to close their eyes and imagine 'greatness, soccer and America' they think of women."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Berman described the NWSL's 'superpower' as it's independence from men's clubs around American soccer – which is not the case in European soccer. Their freedom as a sporting league – and each respective club's ability to navigate on their own – gives them an edge as a powerhouse women's soccer league, as well.
Notably, the NWSL is starting to attract major overseas talent – with Racheal Kundananji joining expansion side Bay FC for a world-record fee, Barcelona Femeni's highly-successful coach Jonatan Giraldez signing a pre-contract agreement to join the Washington Spirit this summer and Chelsea superstar Jessie Fleming opting for a stateside switch to Portland Thorns.
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR NWSL?
The 2024 season is set to get underway on March 15 with the NWSL Challenge Cup between last season's regular season champions, San Diego Wave, and the NWSL Cup holder's – Gotham FC. After the Bats and the Wave clash, the regular season will begin on Saturday, March 16 when the Kansas City Current take on the Portland Thorns.