Football May 03, 2026

WSL2: Crystal Palace and Birmingham promoted to the WSL while Charlton will feature in play-off

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
WSL2: Crystal Palace and Birmingham promoted to the WSL while Charlton will feature in play-off

Crystal Palace and Birmingham have been promoted to the WSL, while Charlton will feature in the first promotion/relegation play-off for a place in England's top league.

Charlton were on 42 points at the top of the WSL2 table heading into the final weekend, while Palace and Birmingham were on 41 points. The Blues were ahead on goal difference in second, with the top two teams securing their place in England's top league.

In what turned out to be a shootout for automatic promotion, Charlton and Birmingham played each other at The Valley, while across south London, Crystal Palace took on bottom-side Portsmouth.

Wilma Leidhammar scored twice to see Birmingham to the WSL2 title with 44 points. The Eagles thrashed bottom side Portsmouth 6-1 at home, finishing with the same points but four behind on goal difference.

Charlton will now face the WSL's bottom side - currently Leicester - in a play-off on May 23 at 12.30pm, set to be played at The Valley. It will be a one-legged match and shown live on Your Site.

It is the first time two teams have been automatically promoted from the WSL2 as the WSL expands to 14 teams from the start of next season. This will be completed by the play-off winner.

From the 2026/27 season, there will be one automatic promotion spot in the WSL2, while the bottom side in the WSL will be relegated.

Then, the second-place WSL2 team and the 13th-place WSL team - second from bottom - will compete in a play-off for a place in the top league.

Tags:

football news

Share this article

Related Posts

Ipswich Town 3-0 QPR: Tractor Boys promoted back to Premier League from Championship at first time of asking

Ipswich Town 3-0 QPR: Tractor Boys promoted back to Premier League from Championship at first time of asking

Ipswich have been promoted to the Premier League after a 3-0 win over QPR.A draw would have been enough if Millwall failed to beat Oxford and Middlesb...

Sam Kerr breaks more Chelsea history as Man City put themselves on brink of Women's Super League title

Sam Kerr breaks more Chelsea history as Man City put themselves on brink of Women's Super League title

Your Site columnist analyses the big talking points from the latest Women's Super League matches, bringing you closer to the key stories at the heart...

Sheffield Wednesday: Championship clubs unhappy after points deduction waived with EFL set to review insolvency policies

Sheffield Wednesday: Championship clubs unhappy after points deduction waived with EFL set to review insolvency policies

The EFL is expected to review its insolvency policies following the takeover at Sheffield Wednesday amid anger from some clubs that the Owls avoided a...

Ref Watch LIVE! Benjamin Sesko's goal for Man Utd against Liverpool and more analysed by former referee Dermot Gallagher

Ref Watch LIVE! Benjamin Sesko's goal for Man Utd against Liverpool and more analysed by former referee Dermot Gallagher

'Man Utd interested in West Ham's Fernandes'Manchester United are interested in signing West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, acco...

Premier League relegation battle 2025/26: Odds, table, fixtures and predictions

Premier League relegation battle 2025/26: Odds, table, fixtures and predictions

West Ham's chances of relegation to the Championship have doubled in the space of 48 hours after a swing weekend in the battle for the final survival...

Liverpool: Jamie Carragher is worried for where Arne Slot's side are heading as Reds boss fumes at decisions

Liverpool: Jamie Carragher is worried for where Arne Slot's side are heading as Reds boss fumes at decisions

Jamie Carragher is worried about where Liverpool are heading under Arne Slot, questioning what the identity of his team is, while the Reds' boss said...