The path to Brazil goes through Texas for the U.S. women's national team and other Concacaf nations dreaming of a place at the 2027 Women's World Cup.
The confederation announced on Tuesday, April 21 that its 2026 W Championship will take place in Mansfield, Texas and Houston. Every match until the final and third-place game on Dec. 5 at Houston's Shell Energy Stadium will take place at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium.
The tournament returns to the U.S. after the last edition took place in Nuveo Leon, utilizing the stadiums of both Monterrey-area Liga MX clubs.
This time around, the tournament will begin with an eight-team knockout stage. The winners of those four matches will qualify directly for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. The losers go into a play-in — which will also take place in Mansfield — for the right to take part in FIFA's intercontinental playoff. The winners of those mini-tournaments will go to the World Cup. That means the pressure will be on in the first match. A win means the planning for Brazil begins. A defeat means the road is much longer.
The tournament is seeded based on FIFA ranking, meaning the world No. 2 U.S. meets El Salvador. That game is schedule to be the opening match on Nov. 27. Jamaica and Costa Rica also play for a spot in the World Cup that day. The next day, Mexico meets Haiti and Canada plays Panama.
The tournament also serves as Concacaf qualification for the 2028 Olympics. With the games taking place in Los Angeles, the U.S. already is qualified as the host nation. That means an American win in the quarterfinals would put the other three semifinalists through to the Olympics, too.
“This competition represents an incredible opportunity for our region’s top women’s national teams to compete at the highest level and secure coveted berths in global tournaments," Concacaf president Victor Montagliani said in a statement.
"We have already seen outstanding competition throughout the qualifiers, and I look forward to crowning a champion on Dec. 5 in Houston, a moment that will celebrate the continued rise of women’s football in Concacaf."
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Tim Ream of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Folarin Balogun of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.United States National Team Stars UniformUS Soccer Stars kitUS Soccer Stripes kitUS Soccer Stars KitDiego Luna, Stripes kitTyler Adams, Stars kitUS Soccer Stripes kitUS Soccer Stripes kitUS Soccer Stars kitUS Soccer Stripes kit1 / 15Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.1 / 15Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.2 / 15Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Tim Ream of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.3 / 15Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.4 / 15Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.5 / 15Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Folarin Balogun of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.6 / 15Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026United States National Team Stars Uniform7 / 15Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026US Soccer Stars kit8 / 15Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026US Soccer Stripes kit9 / 15Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026US Soccer Stars Kit10 / 15Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026Diego Luna, Stripes kit11 / 15Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026Tyler Adams, Stars kit12 / 15Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026US Soccer Stripes kit13 / 15Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026US Soccer Stripes kit14 / 15Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026US Soccer Stars kit15 / 15Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026US Soccer Stripes kit2026 Concacaf W Championship bracket2026 Concacaf W Championship scheduleThere are still two international dates on the calendar before the must-win matches kick off in November, but the margin for error becomes much smaller in the W Championship. The first games kick off Nov. 27 and Nov. 28 with semifinals being played Dec. 1. The final and third-place game will be played on Dec. 5.
Winners will be able to prepare for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, which kicks off June 24 and concludes July 25.
QF1: United States (1) vs El Salvador (8) - Nov. 27, Texas Health Mansfield Stadium
QF2: Canada (2) vs Panama (7) - Nov. 28, Texas Health Mansfield Stadium
QF3: Mexico (3) vs Haiti (6) - Nov. 28, Texas Health Mansfield Stadium
QF4: Jamaica (4) vs Costa Rica (5) - Nov. 27, Texas Health Mansfield Stadium
PI1: Loser QF1 vs. Loser QF4 - Dec. 2, Texas Health Mansfield Stadium
PI2: Loser QF2 vs. Loser QF3 - Dec. 2, Texas Health Mansfield Stadium
SF1: Winner QF1 vs. Winner QF4 - Dec. 1, Texas Health Mansfield Stadium
SF2: Winner QF2 vs. Winner QF3 - Dec. 1, Texas Health Mansfield Stadium
Loser SF1 vs. Loser SF2 - Dec. 5, Shell Energy Stadium
Winner SF1 vs. Winner SF2 - Dec. 5, Shell Energy Stadium