NWSL semi-final scheduling crisis: Washington Spirit keep Audi Field; Gotham move to Icahn

The Washington Spirit will play their NWSL semi-final at Audi Field after the club reached a deal to avoid playing a playoff game at Northwest Stadium, home of the NFL’s Washington Commanders. Top-seeded Gotham FC, meanwhile, will play their game at the 5,000-seat Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island in New York City because of poor pitch quality at Sports Illustrated Stadium, their usual home.

The Spirit will play their semi-final against the Utah Royals on 14 November (Saturday) at noon, while Gotham FC will host the Kansas City Current on Sunday at 3pm.

The NWSL has had to maneuver through significant venue-availability conflicts in the past few days, balancing two sought-after national television broadcast windows with issues at the stadiums of the semi-finalists with home field advantage.