Women’s League Cup: Competition to adopt the UEFA Champions League format

The spokesman said plans are being finalized with clubs and commercial partners, and will be presented to the Football Association within the next four weeks.

The changes come amid an increasingly crowded women’s domestic calendar.

This season the Women’s Champions League expanded from 16 to 18 clubs in the league stage, with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United participating – the first time three WSL teams have reached this point.

Arsenal and Manchester United will play in the knockout qualifiers – a new round of matches introduced this season – after finishing fifth and sixth respectively in the league.

The number of domestic league matches is also set to rise next year after the WSL expands from 12 to 14 teams.

WSL organizers have confirmed that teams playing in the Champions League will not qualify for the domestic minor cup even if they fail to advance through the qualifying rounds.

BBC Sport also understands that the league stage will remain regional, as is currently the case, to help clubs with travel time and costs.

Sponsorship of the competition is also uncertain. The deal with current sponsors Subway expires this summer, although they have the option of a one-year contract extension.