10 Biggest Questions Ahead Of Ted Lasso Season 4 Finale

Published Oct 2, 2026, 2:00 PM EDT

Arielle Port started as a TV producer, developing content for Netflix (Firefly Lane, Brazen) and Hallmark (The Santa Stakeout, A Christmas Treasure) before transitioning into entertainment journalism. Her love of story went from interest to lifelong passion while at The University of Pennsylvania, where she fell in with a student-run web series, Classless TV, and it was a gateway drug. Arielle Port has been a Writer for Screen Rant since August 2024. She lives in Los Angeles with her boyfriend and more importantly, her cat, Boseman.

Ted Lasso season 3 wrapped things up fairly neatly, but planted the seed of a new idea: a women’s soccer team. Three years later, Ted Lasso season 4 took the idea and ran with it, entirely abandoning the men’s team to focus on the new Lady Greyhound characters.

The season took a while to get its footing, taking three episodes to assemble the coaching staff, including new assistant coach Alice Chilton, and players themselves. But once it got the ball rolling, it felt like the Ted Lasso fans remembered.

Tracey Ullman’s Zelda Southport has been a divisive new character, an eccentric entrepreneur advising Rebecca on her new venture. Zelda’s bad intentions were communicated so clearly that it seemed like it might be a red herring, but she is confirmed to be trying to buy the majority stake in Richmond by hook or by crook. However, Mae Green’s tragic passing in season 4, episode 9 could throw a wrench in Zelda’s machinations. Of course, losing the owner of the neighborhood pub opens up a whole new set of questions.

Who has been purchasing the shares is answered, but there are many more questions Ted Lasso needs to address in the season 4 finale. From unfinished character arcs to the very future of the team, there is a lot to resolve before the end of the season.

Could Zelda Really Have A Majority Ownership Of Richmond?

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This is perhaps the most important, but also the most unclear, question heading into the finale. Someone has been aggressively buying up Richmond shares, and Zelda was the obvious wolf in sheep’s clothing. In some ways, it’s satisfying to know that such a polarizing character was building toward something, but whether she can actually oust Rebecca is less clear.

In the Ted Lasso season 3 finale, Rebecca gives fans a literal stake in the team by selling 49% of Richmond, while retaining the controlling 51%. However, some of the language surrounding Richmond’s ownership this season has been vague and confusing, suggesting that someone could potentially gain more than 50% by acquiring the Milk sisters’ 2% stake.

The math doesn’t quite seem to line up between seasons. Hopefully the season 4 finale will clarify exactly who owns what, and whether Zelda really has a path to control Richmond.

What Is Zelda Planning For Richmond?

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Assuming Zelda can gain control of the Richmond football club by buying enough shares or triggering a vote of no confidence in Rebecca, the bigger question is why she wants control in the first place. The worst-case scenario is that she intends to disband the women’s team, especially since she has argued from the beginning that women’s football is not economically viable.

The team’s recent promotion could make that more difficult, but Zelda clearly would not have embedded herself within Richmond and made these moves without a larger plan to radically shake things up. Throughout the season, she has repeatedly emphasized that she is not like Keeley, who approaches Richmond with a creative and emotional belief in what the club can become.

Zelda is a “doer,” not a “dreamer.” The finale will have to reveal what she actually wants.

The Milk sisters’ 2% stake was a turning point in the penultimate episode, but even more shares suddenly became available after another shocking development: Mae Green, owner of the pub that has been Ted’s home away from home since season 1, unexpectedly dies.

We don’t know exactly how many Richmond shares Mae owns, but she has intimated that her stake is substantial. Mae was one of Richmond’s biggest supporters and was especially proud of the Lady Greyhounds. There were no clear clues about who she would leave them to, but she was particularly close to Ted and his son.

She would presumably want her shares to stay with someone who understands what the club means to its community. It would make sense if Mae left her shares to someone she trusted to preserve the spirit of the Richmond Way. Mae’s tragic passing could ultimately be the key to preventing Zelda from taking control of Richmond.

What Will Happen To Mae’s Pub, The Crown & Anchor?

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There are no obvious hints about who Mae might leave or sell it to, but one Reddit theory suggests it could be Ted himself. Ted has struggled to find his rhythm as the head coach of the Lady Greyhounds, and the season has repeatedly foreshadowed the possibility that he could step down so Alice Chilton can take over.

If Ted does leave the coaching role, however, that doesn’t necessarily mean he has to leave Richmond behind. Instead of using his listening and advising skills on the pitch, Ted could bring them behind the bar, taking over the Crown & Anchor and continuing to serve as a sounding board for the people around him.

It would make Ted Lasso more of a modern Cheers, an ensemble show where everyone knows everyone. Ted would still be connected to the Greyhounds, just in a more unofficial capacity through his relationships with Rebecca, Roy, Keeley, and Leslie.

What’s The Deal With Ted’s Head Coach Chair?

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Almost every time Ted sits down in his head coach chair, it seems to push back. There are two competing theories about what the strange running gag could mean. One is that it’s simply a low-stakes ongoing prank, possibly orchestrated by Beard or Roy just to mess with Ted.

However, given how often characters have commented on it, there may be something more metaphorical at play. The chair doesn’t feel right because, on some level, it isn’t really Ted’s chair. Instead, it could be meant for someone else, specifically Alice Chilton.

The recurring gag may be foreshadowing Ted eventually stepping down as head coach and Alice taking over, turning what initially seems like a silly joke into a surprisingly literal symbol of Ted’s uncertain future at Richmond. Whether he becomes assistant coach, owner of Mae’s pub, or something else, he doesn’t seem likely to end the season as head coach.

What Is Next For Coach Beard?

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Poor Coach Beard has had a tough season. He has been reunited with his best friend, but Jane’s play has painted him in an increasingly unflattering light and is only getting a bigger spotlight on the West End.

His attempts to put himself out there romantically have also left him feeling old and out of step, culminating in something of a midlife crisis involving contact lenses, hair dye, and earrings. Hopefully, all of this is building toward something meaningful.

Right now it feels like it's somewhere in the middle, rather than approaching the climax, of a surprisingly sad arc for a character who has always worked best with a little more mystery. Beard has traditionally been most compelling when the show gives audiences glimpses into his strange inner world without explaining everything.

What Is Roy’s Future With Richmond?

Rebecca explicitly points out that Roy’s contract with Richmond has not been finalized. Given that he and Keeley are about to become parents, that detail feels significant.

As the men’s team has remained almost entirely off-screen this season, there is also a natural story and production reason for Brett Goldstein's Roy Kent to step away from coaching and embrace the home life that has been such an important part of his arc. After all, Roy has already proven himself as a great uncle.

His surprisingly sweet, calm approach to helping Keeley through the game to keep her blood pressure in check suggests he is ready for fatherhood. After not knowing who he is outside of being a footballer in earlier seasons, Roy could be ready to dive into a life without the sport at all.

What Does Keeley’s Pregnancy Mean For Her And Roy?

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It wouldn’t be surprising if Keeley and Roy end the season with a wedding. The entire season has felt like a drawn-out effort to prevent them from becoming an obvious endgame, only to suddenly put their relationship on fast-forward. Now that they are expecting a baby, the finale could bring their romantic arc to its natural conclusion.

Keeley has also expressed concerns about how well things are going in her career and with the Lady Greyhounds, making it increasingly difficult for her to step away from work. That could be another reason Roy becomes the stay-at-home parent. A wedding would be a fitting final step for a couple that has taken the long way to get there, and a Jamie Tartt appearance would be icing on the cake.

Will Gemma Jay Be Able To Play For The Lady Greyhounds?

Gemma Jay suffered a serious injury and then pushed herself to return before she was truly ready, only to fall again almost immediately. Hopefully, this is ultimately a moment of trust between Gemma and Alice rather than a permanent setback.

It would also be underwhelming to build Gemma up as such an important young player only for her story to end with a permanent injury. The Lady Greyhounds have spent the season proving that their strength comes from supporting one another, so Gemma’s recovery could become another opportunity for the team to demonstrate that philosophy.

The finale will likely be more about who owns the team than the players themselves, given Zelda’s scheming and Leslie’s digging. Gemma’s recovery might have to wait until the anticipated but not yet confirmed Ted Lasso season 5.

Is There Something Shady About Matthijs?

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Keeley’s romantic woes have been wrapped up in a pink, sparkly bow, but Rebecca casually mentioning that things are going well with Matthijs raises a few questions. Presumably, he and his daughter have moved to London, but something still doesn’t quite sit right about the conflict between his version of events and his daughter’s.

He was so upset that Rebecca spoke to his daughter about it. If the storyline is simply meant to show how difficult it can be to navigate co-parenting after a divorce, Matthijs is being made to look awfully suspicious.

Question 1 of 3

There may be a perfectly reasonable explanation for the inconsistencies, but the show has spent enough time emphasizing Rebecca’s instincts that it would be strange to ignore them now. The Ted Lasso season 4 finale has a lot at stake for Rebecca, literally.

• 

  Ted Lasso

• 

  Rebecca Welton

Ted Lasso is an American football coach who moves to England, hired to manage a struggling soccer team despite having no experience. With cynical players and a doubtful town, Ted has to convince everyone he's fit for the job.