Angel City Football Club Clinches NWSL Playoff Spot for First Time Since 2023

LOS ANGELES (Oct. 23, 2026) — Angel City Football Club (ACFC) has officially clinched a spot in the 2026 NWSL Playoffs, marking the club’s first postseason appearance since 2023. Fueled by record-setting performances, emerging young talent, and a late-season surge, Angel City is headed back to the playoffs with another milestone still within reach - a home playoff match at BMO Stadium. Currently sitting in fifth place on the NWSL table, ACFC would need to rank fourth in order to host a quarterfinal at home.

“Clinching playoffs is a strong indicator of the progress the team has made throughout this season,” said ACFC Sporting Director Mark Parsons. “We are very proud of the players and all of our staff for reaching this milestone. We are in a good run of form at a great time, and this team is hungry for more. We can't wait to keep this going for our fans and for the city of LA."

“I couldn't be more proud of the team under Mark Parsons’ leadership, but also this organization as a whole,” said ACFC CEO Amy Taylor. “Our community continues to come through for us, and we expect it will be a loud and rowdy one tomorrow night at BMO Stadium. This is the youngest club in the league and we are surprising people this year. Angel City has been the comeback kid in 2026 and the future is bright. Volemos!"

With its postseason spot secured, ACFC will host Northern California rival Bay FC tomorrow, Saturday, October 24, at BMO Stadium before closing the regular season against Boston Legacy FC on Sunday, November 1, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. With home-field advantage in play, Angel City enters the final stretch with a chance to make more club history. Fans can secure tickets to a potential home playoff match by signing up at www.angelcity.com/playoffs.

Angel City’s return to the playoffs follows an eight-match unbeaten run, including six wins and two draws. Most recently, ACFC rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Denver Summit FC 3–2 on October 17, moving into fifth place in the NWSL standings with 46 points and 48 goals, both club single-season records. Goals from Sveindís Jónsdóttir, Taylor Suarez, and Ally Sentnor completed the comeback in the club’s final regular-season road match.

The playoff spot adds to a campaign that has rewritten Angel City’s record books. Maiara Niehues and Jónsdóttir share the team lead with nine goals each, the most scored by an Angel City player in a single regular season. Niehues set the new mark with a 1-0 stoppage-time goal against the Washington Spirit on September 26, and Jónsdóttir matched it with a goal in Denver.

In goal, Angelina Anderson has recorded nine shutouts this season, setting both a personal best and a club single-season record. Her performances have anchored a defensive effort that has helped turn close matches into critical points throughout Angel City’s playoff push.

The club’s young players have also delivered in pivotal moments. Suarez made league history against Seattle Reign FC on September 15, scoring just 21 seconds after entering the match to set the NWSL record for the fastest goal by an in-game substitute. She continued that momentum with her fourth goal in a five-match span against Denver, while defender Evelyn Shores secured the record for most assists in a single season at eight.

Angel City’s September performances earned league-wide recognition, with Anderson, Sarah Gorden, Shores, Sentnor and Niehues being named to the NWSL Best XI of the Month.