Gotham FC, Kansas City Current Renew Playoff Rivalry in NWSL Semifinals

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Nov. 13, 2026) – Gotham FC hosts the Kansas City Current on Sunday in the semifinals of the 2026 NWSL Playoffs, a highly anticipated postseason rematch one year after Gotham FC’s historic upset of Kansas City in the 2025 quarterfinals.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island in Manhattan, with ABC and ESPN Deportes carrying the national broadcast.

No. 1 seed Gotham FC advanced to its fourth consecutive semifinal with a 1-0 victory over Seattle Reign FC last Sunday at Sports Illustrated Stadium. An early Seattle own goal proved decisive as Gotham FC secured its third consecutive playoff shutout and extended its postseason winning streak to four matches.

The Current, the No. 4 seed, advanced following a 1-0 extra-time victory over Angel City FC on Saturday. Kansas City enters the semifinal seeking its first NWSL Championship after reaching the postseason for the fourth time in club history. The Current and Gotham FC split their two regular season meetings in 2026, with each club winning at home.

Sunday's match marks the second consecutive postseason meeting between Gotham FC and Kansas City. In the 2025 NWSL Quarterfinals, eighth-seeded Gotham FC stunned the top-seeded Current at CPKC Stadium behind a dramatic extra-time winner from former Gotham FC forward Katie Lampson, becoming the first No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in NWSL playoff history. The victory sparked Gotham FC's run to its second NWSL Championship in three seasons, both titles coming as the lowest seed in the playoff bracket.

Gotham FC has continued to build on that result in 2026, earning two more victories over Kansas City across all competitions. In June, Gotham FC defeated the Current 2-0 to capture its first NWSL Challenge Cup behind goals from Esther González and Jordynn Dudley. Gotham FC followed with a 2-1 comeback victory at Sports Illustrated Stadium in August, with Midge Purce and Sam Kerr scoring to secure the club's first regular season win over Kansas City. Gotham FC enters Sunday's match holding a 3-7-5 all-time record against the Current across all competitions.

The semifinal will be Gotham FC's first at home in club history, with the reigning champions seeking a return to the NWSL Championship and an opportunity to capture their third league title in four seasons.

The winner of Sunday's match will advance to the 2026 NWSL Championship on Nov. 21 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

Key Points:

• Gotham FC is two victories away from becoming the first club in NWSL history to complete the league treble, having already won the NWSL Challenge Cup and Shield in 2026.
• Gotham FC's 2025 quarterfinal victory over Kansas City featured the latest game-winning goal in NWSL playoff history, scored by Katie Lampson at 120:26.
• Gotham FC has scored in nine consecutive playoff matches, the longest streak in NWSL history.
• Gotham FC has won eight matches by a 1-0 scoreline this season, including Sunday's quarterfinal victory over Seattle.
• Midfielders Rose Lavelle and Denise O'Sullivan each made their 10th career playoff start against Seattle, becoming the 14th and 15th players in NWSL history to reach the milestone.