The Bay Area will watch championship soccer in November, even if its local women’s soccer team does not make the playoffs.
PayPal Park in San Jose will be the site of the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League championship on Nov. 22, Bay FC announced in a Friday press release.
The league’s commissioner explained why.
Related Articles
Bay FC edges Portland 1-0 as Alyssa Malonson scores first career goal
Bay FC returns from two-week break for Saturday home game against Portland
Two Marin women announce plans to open the county’s first women’s sports bar
Bay FC settles for 2-2 draw after Houston scores in final minutes
Commissioner attends Bay FC’s win over Angel City, addresses decision to keep playing last week after Savy King collapsed
“We’re thrilled to bring the NWSL Championship back to the West Coast and to a region with as rich a history in women’s soccer as the Bay Area,” NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said in the release. “This community’s passion for the game, combined with the excitement surrounding one of our newest teams in Bay FC, makes it the perfect setting to celebrate the league’s top talent and crown our next champion.”
The stadium, built in 2015, seats 18,000 fans and is the home site for both Bay FC and Earthquakes. It has repeatedly shown that it can handle large events.
The stadium has previously hosted multiple international and domestic competitions, World Cup qualifiers and the 2016 MLS All-Star Game.
This is not the only high-stakes soccer game PayPal Park will host in 2025.
The South Bay stadium will also host matches in this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, which includes the United States’ matchup with Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday.
“This is another huge win for San Jose and our soccer community,” San Jose mayor Matt Mahan said in the press release. “We are thrilled to be selected, and we are absolutely ready to host the NWSL championship game at PayPal Park. San Jose has a rich history of hosting premier sporting events, including five NCAA Women’s College Cups and the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which highlights our city’s strong passion for soccer.”
There is a faint chance that fans will be cheering for the hometown team during that championship match.
Bay FC is currently in the eighth and final postseason spot in the season standings with 15 points.
The team has struggled with consistency as it deals with an ongoing league investigation into coach Albertin Montoya’s conduct following anonymous complaints by players on last season’s team.
Bay FC plays its next game tonight against the Orlando Pride.