Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United begin their 2026/27 Women’s Super League campaigns with a London derby at BetWright Stadium on Sunday.
Both clubs have reshaped their squads over the summer. Tottenham have added more attacking and midfield quality after finishing fifth last season, while Rita Guarino enters her first full campaign as West Ham head coach with a squad increasingly built around her ideas.
The corresponding fixture also opened last season, when Tottenham edged a close contest. This time, both teams arrive with several new players capable of having an immediate influence.
Tottenham vs West Ham match information
| Competition | Barclays Women’s Super League |
| Date | Sunday 6 September 2026 |
| Kick-off (UK) | 12:00pm BST |
| Kick-off (Central Europe) | 1:00pm CEST |
| Venue | BetWright Stadium |
| TV channel (UK) | Sky Sports+ |
| Matchweek | 1 |
How to watch Tottenham vs West Ham
Tottenham against West Ham will be shown live on Sky Sports+ in the UK, with kick-off scheduled for 12:00pm BST on Sunday.
The match begins at 1:00pm CEST for viewers in Central Europe. Check out the Barclays WSL YouTube if you are outside of the UK. W-Sport could also be an option.
Broadcast arrangements outside the UK vary by territory, so supporters should check their local Women’s Super League broadcaster.
Tottenham team news
Tottenham begin the season without Jess Naz, Maite Oroz and Clare Hunt, who remain longer-term absentees. Naz and Oroz have returned to small parts of training as they continue their rehabilitation from ACL injuries, while Hunt is still recovering from a knee problem.
There is better news surrounding summer signing Alice Sombath. The France defender has been training with Tottenham and could be involved on Sunday, although Martin Ho has stressed that the club has been carefully managing her fitness following previous injury problems.
Sombath did not feature in any of Tottenham’s four preseason matches, making a place in the starting XI less likely at this stage. Hanna Wijk, meanwhile, returned from the MCL injury she suffered in April and picked up minutes in Tottenham’s final two friendlies. Everyone else was available heading into the final medical checks before the game.
Which Tottenham summer signings could start?
Ho has plenty of new options to consider. Victoria Pelova gives Tottenham additional technical quality in midfield following her move across north London, while Caitlin Dijkstra strengthens the defence.
Further forward, Tottenham have added Kirsty Hanson and Shekiera Martinez, two players who already have experience scoring in the WSL.
Martinez is particularly interesting against her former club. Ho has highlighted her pace, finishing and ability to attack space, and the forward found the net during Tottenham’s final preseason victory against Bristol City.
Norway international Signe Gaupset also scored in the 5-0 win, adding to the competition for attacking places. Tottenham ended preseason with four very different results: wins over Birmingham City, Granada and Bristol City alongside a narrow defeat to Real Madrid.
That gives Ho considerably more attacking options as Spurs attempt to build on last season’s fifth-place finish.
Predicted Tottenham lineup
Kop; Morris, Dijkstra, Koga, Nildén; Summanen, Pelova; Gaupset, Holdt, Hanson; Tandberg.
Sombath could make the matchday squad, but predicting her to start immediately would be a risk given the careful management of her fitness throughout preseason.
Martinez is another strong contender in attack and could replace either Hanson or Gaupset depending on the structure Ho chooses.
West Ham team news
West Ham travel across London without Ffion Morgan, who Guarino has confirmed will not be available for Sunday’s match. Otherwise, the biggest question surrounds how quickly West Ham’s substantial collection of summer signings can come together.
The Hammers have added experience throughout the squad. Constance Picaud has arrived in goal, while Laia Codina, Nadine Riesen and Estelle Cascarino strengthen the defensive options.
In midfield, Katie Zelem has made her stay permanent after initially joining on loan last season. Zelem is also the new West Ham United captain. The Hammers also added more options in attack through Kelly Gago and Ebony Salmon.
And their final major piece of summer business arrived only two days before the opening fixture.
Could Saki Kumagai feature immediately?
West Ham completed the signing of Saki Kumagai from London City Lionesses on Friday, with the Japan international agreeing a one-year contract.
The 35-year-old brings considerable experience and can operate either in midfield or defence. Whether Guarino puts her straight into the starting XI is another matter.
Kumagai has had almost no preparation time with her new teammates, so it would be reasonable for West Ham to introduce her from the bench rather than immediately changing the structure they worked on during preseason.
Her arrival nevertheless gives Guarino another experienced option in an area where West Ham already have Zelem and Oona Siren.
Predicted West Ham lineup
Picaud; Riesen, Codina, Cascarino; Wandeler, Zelem, Siren, Asseyi; Gago, Salmon, Ueki.
West Ham’s exact shape is difficult to predict because Guarino has the personnel to alter the defensive structure.
Kumagai could also come into consideration immediately, although her late arrival makes a place on the bench more likely in this prediction.
Two squads that look very different from last season
This fixture also opened the WSL season last year. Tottenham won that meeting through a Bethany England penalty, but the 1-0 scoreline did not tell the full story. West Ham created more attempts than Spurs and were competitive despite leaving without a point.
Their seasons subsequently went in very different directions. Tottenham eventually finished fifth, having spent part of the campaign competing around the top positions.
West Ham endured a difficult opening period before improving after Guarino’s arrival. Sunday therefore offers an early indication of whether both clubs have addressed the issues that prevented them from progressing further.
Ho believes consistency is the next step for Tottenham if they want to move closer to the league’s leading clubs. For West Ham, this is Guarino’s first opportunity to show what her team can look like after having a full preseason and transfer window to shape the squad.
Tottenham’s attack against West Ham’s new defensive structure
One of the most interesting parts of the game should be Tottenham’s attacking options against a considerably changed West Ham defence. Ho expects West Ham to be physically strong and well organised without the ball.
Codina gives Guarino a defender comfortable building possession from deeper areas, while Riesen and Cascarino add further options around her. Picaud also begins the season as a new presence in goal.
Tottenham will attempt to test that structure with more variety than they had last season. Gaupset can offer creativity around the final third, Pelova can help Spurs progress possession through midfield and Hanson provides another direct attacking threat.
Martinez could be particularly dangerous if the game begins to open up. Her pace gives Tottenham an option to attack space behind West Ham’s defensive line, either from the start or later from the bench.
West Ham have more attacking options of their own
West Ham’s recruitment has not only focused on defence. Gago arrives after scoring ten goals in 30 appearances for Everton and gives Guarino another physical presence through the middle.
Salmon adds pace and league experience, while Viviane Asseyi and Riko Ueki remain established attacking options. That depth could allow West Ham to vary their approach more than last season.
Tottenham will therefore have to manage more than one central threat, particularly if West Ham can turn defensive situations into quick attacks.
What to expect from Tottenham vs West Ham
There is good reason to expect another close game between these teams. Tottenham should look to take control through midfield and use the technical quality of Pelova and their attacking players to create opportunities around West Ham’s defensive block.
West Ham may be more comfortable allowing Spurs periods of possession before looking for opportunities to attack through Gago, Salmon, Ueki and Asseyi.
Set pieces could also be important given the physical profiles available to both teams. The biggest unknown is how quickly the new players combine. Both squads have changed considerably, and opening weekend provides very little competitive evidence about exactly how those combinations will work.
But Tottenham have the advantage of continuity under Ho, while Guarino has now had her first full preseason to implement her ideas at West Ham.
Tottenham vs West Ham prediction
There is not much between these teams on paper. Tottenham’s preseason suggests Ho has more attacking options available than last season, and home advantage should help them.
West Ham, however, have added substantial WSL and international experience and should be more difficult to break down if their new defensive unit settles quickly. A tight London derby looks likely.
Prediction: Tottenham 2-1 West Ham
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