EXPANSION: DISTRICT ELITE FC

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA EXPANSION STRENGTHENS COMPETITION IN REGION FOR 2026 

OKLAHOMA CITY (11/13/2025) — The Women’s Premier Soccer League announced today further expansion of WPSL play in and around the District of Columbia for 2026 with the addition of District Elite FC. The announcement makes District Elite FC the second expansion side for the upcoming season.  

“This launches a new chapter of women’s soccer in Washington D.C., where players have the opportunity to elevate their game, whether that means earning college scholarships or pursuing professional careers, all through the exposure the WPSL provides,” Joao Brusamolin, District Elite FC executive director, said. 

Founded in 2012 with the mission of providing competitive soccer in a healthy, inclusive, and supportive environment, District Elite FC’s youth program is home to more than 300 boys and girls in Washington D.C. 

“Community support is the only way the club can launch this project, and, as always, they are very involved and supportive,” Brusamolin, a former professional player in Ireland and his native Brazil, said. “Beyond player development, our mission is to build a strong sense of community, giving back to the game and create experiences that will inspire the next generation of players to not only compete at the highest level, but also make a positive impact on the broader soccer community.”

With the launch of its WPSL side in 2026, the club continues to lay the foundation for a complete development pathway, offering academy and local players opportunities to reach the highest levels of the game, including college and professional soccer. District Elite FC will now compete at the pre-professional level on both the women’s and men’s sides, having launched its men’s program in the NPSL last year, making District Elite FC the only club in Washington D.C. to compete in both leagues. 

Joining Brusamolin in leading the club in its WPSL debut are Gabriel Torres, and Flavio Koiffman. Torres, a current professional player, will focus on player recruitment while Koiffman, a native Brazilian, serves as director of operations and general manager.  

District Elite FC enters one of the most competitive regions in the WPSL. Conference and division alignment will be announced at the WPSL Annual General Meeting January 30-31. The 28^th WPSL season kicks off in mid-May, culminating with the WPSL Championships in July. The 2026 WPSL schedule will be announced in March. 

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For more information on District Elite FC, visit www.districeelitefc.org, or follow on Instagram and X.

For more information on the WPSL, visit www.wpslsoccer.com.

About the Women’s Premier Soccer League 

The WPSL completed its 27th season in 2025 remaining  the most tenured women’s league in North America. The WPSL continues to operate as the largest women’s soccer league in the world. An all-time high of 150 teams competed in the 2025 WPSL Season. Team rosters feature elite collegiate, post-collegiate, international, and standout prep student-athletes. Many of the United States’ most accomplished women’s national team players have played in the WPSL since its inception in 1998, including household names such as Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Abby Wambach, and Brandi Chastain.