The 2025-26 Subway Women’s League Cup group stage draw sees Southampton, Brighton and Portsmouth all in the same section.
Newcomers Nottingham Forest will face Everton, Manchester City and Newcastle United, while Ipswich Town’s first entry into the competition will bring them up against Crystal Palace, Leicester City and London City Lionesses.
Group A: Nottingham Forest, Everton, Manchester City, Newcastle United
Group B: Sheffield United, Sunderland, Liverpool, Durham
Group C: Southampton, Brighton & Hove Albion, West Ham United, Charlton Athletic, Portsmouth
Group D: Crystal Palace, Leicester City, Ipswich Town, London City Lionesses
Group E: Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Tottenham Hotspur, Bristol City
The opening group games will be on 24/25 September 2025.
Arsenal and Chelsea have byes to the quarter final stage due to their Champions League duties. Manchester United will also be straight into the last eight unless they fail to qualify for the UEFA Women’s Europa League, in which case a further draw will determine if they will join Group A or Group B.
More from the world of women’s football
Discover the latest issue of Her Goal Magazine, featuring Manchester City's Barclays WSL triumph, a FREE Alessia Russo Lionesses poster, Cloé Lacasse's exclusive diary, Melanie Leupolz, Rikke Sevecke and much more from across the women's game.
Packed with exclusive interviews, player features, posters, quizzes and in-depth stories from across women’s football — including players, clubs and articles just like the one you’re reading here.
Also available from WHSmith, Morrisons, Asda, Waitrose, TG Jones and independent newsagents.