Wolf Competitions Stadium to host Subway Players Cup League Phase

The Blues will welcome top-flight sides Manchester United and Birmingham City to South Shields FC in the competition, as well as hosting local rivals Newcastle United.

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Durham will face Manchester United in the competition for the third time, having beaten the Red Devils on penalties the last time the two sides faced off in this tournament. United will bring their squad packed with international talent – including Lionesses Ella Toone and Jess Park – to the North East.

Birmingham City visit the North East having been promoted to the top flight last season, and the game will see Lily Crosthwaite return to her former club.

And the Blues round off their home fixtures in the competition against Newcastle United, renewing the North East rivalry.

Home fixtures will take place as follows:

Durham vs Manchester United – Wednesday 30th September – 7pm kick-off – Wolf Competitions Stadium
Durham vs Birmingham City – Wednesday 21st October – 7pm kick-off – Wolf Competitions Stadium
Durham vs Newcastle United – Sunday 1st November – 12pm kick-off – Wolf Competitions Stadium

NEW FORMAT

The Subway Players Cup will be split into two stages for 2026/27 – the League Phase and Knockout Phase.

The League Phase will be played primarily during the UEFA Women’s Champions League match rounds and will replace the previous group phase.

All 23 participating teams will compete together in a single, unified league table, where each club plays three home and three away fixtures against teams in their regionalised section.

In total, there will be 69 fixtures in the League Phase, with these played between September and December, with three points for a win. For any game tied after 90 minutes, a penalty shoot- out will take place where the winner receives two points, and the loser is awarded one point.

Following the conclusion of those games, the teams that occupy the top eight positions in the league standings will progress to the Knockout Phase. This will take place from January through to March, with the quarter finals across January 13 and 14, 2027, in the following structure:

1st Place v 8th Place (QF1)
2nd Place v 7th Place (QF2)
3rd Place v 6th Place (QF3)
4th Place v 5th Place (QF4)

The winners of those fixtures will then meet in the semi-finals on February 10 and 11, with the higher-ranked team from the league phase earning home advantage as follows: