The international window was a busy one for Angel City Football Club.
Ten players departed for various international national team commitments and now the club is ready to resume the NWSL regular season and the task of locking down a playoff spot.
Angel City returns to play in sixth place on 43 points, but just three points behind the fourth-place Utah Royals.
“To make the playoffs was the goal of this team this season,” ACFC midfielder Ary Borges said. “We are doing a really good job in the last games, we’ve proved how this team can be fighting with really good teams and I think after the summer break, we are one of the best teams in the league in getting points, getting points at home or away.
“We’re breaking (club) records in points, goals … so i think this team is getting better and we’re looking forward to the high level and I think in this moment we’re in a good spot to make the playoffs.”
The 2026 Angel City team is one for the club record books. The team without a permanent head coach has set club records for wins (12), points (43) and goals scored (45), just to name a few. The previous club record for points was 31 set in 2023, the only time Angel City qualified for the playoffs.
After Saturday’s road game against Denver Summit, Angel City will play its final two games at home – Oct. 24 against Bay FC at BMO Stadium and Nov. 1 against Boston Legacy FC at Dignity Health Sports Park. Denver is the only one of the three still in contention for a playoff spot, which could give Angel City an easier road to the postseason.
Angel City went into the summer break with just 13 points. They’ve recorded 30 points in 16 games since restarting.
“We started with three straight wins in the summer, we won against San Diego, which I think was when they were top of the league, so I saw some of the confidence starting quite early,” interim coach Leif Smerud said. “But then we lost to Louisville in a game where we didn’t do as well … the confidence and belief will naturally come when you have results and we had a few days in a row where I think it was actually building our confidence because we played some really good teams in that period, Kansas (City away), Washington and New York (Gotham FC) at home, and we did well.
“I think the confidence part has been growing, but at the same time, it’s been there to a certain extent the whole way.”
The first meeting with Denver Summit on Sept. 11 ended in a 3-3 draw. Denver took advantage of a couple of Angel City miscues and built a 3-1 lead just after the hour mark. Angel City regrouped to secure a draw on goals by Prisca Chilufya and Ally Sentnor.
Denver is in 10th place with 38 points, four behind eighth-place North Carolina.
ANGEL CITY FC at DENVER SUMMIT FC
When: 5:45 p.m. Saturday
Where: Centennial Stadium; Centennial, Colorado
How to watch: ION