What is the Women’s Champions Cup? Teams involved in new FIFA competition and how new format works
FIFA has continued to expand its competitions on offer, across both men’s and women’s football, to give fans more and more to consume.
While the football governing body expanded the Club World Cup to 32 participants, dragging it out to once every four years instead of annually, a similar step has been taken on the women’s side.
The expansion and explosion of women’s football has seen FIFA create a separate competition to crown a global club champion across the entirety of world football.
The Sporting News details where this competition came from, how it works, and who will be involved for the inaugural edition of the Women’s Champions Cup.
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What is the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup?
FIFA created the Women’s Champions Cup to bring together continental title winners from around the world to face off in a seven-team tournament.
Much like the old format of the Club World Cup on the men’s side, the seven club champions from the latest continental tournaments are brought together to square off in a bracket-style competition.
Contestants from the three biggest confederations in women’s football (UEFA, CONCACAF, and CONMEBOL) enter in the semifinals, whereas the other four participants play earlier rounds to determine the fourth semifinalist.
The first edition of the competition is taking place in 2026, with the semifinals and final held in London.
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When is the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup?
The Women’s Champions Cup will be held annually, with the inagural edition concluding in London between January 28 and February 1, 2026.
The earlier rounds will be played during prior international windows, with the first round in October of the previous year and the second round in December.
2026 Women’s Champions Cup
Participants
| Club | Confederation | Nation | Qualified Via | Enter In |
| Arsenal | UEFA | England | 1st place, 2024/25 Women’s Champions League | Semifinals |
| Gotham FC | CONCACAF | USA | 1st place, 2024/25 CONCACAF W Champions Cup | Semifinals |
| Corinthians | CONMEBOL | Brazil | 1st place, 2025 Copa Libertadores Femenina | Semifinals |
| AS FAR | CAF | Morocco | 1st place, 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League | 2nd Round |
| Wuhan Jiangda | AFC | China | 1st place, 2024/25 AFC Women’s Champions League | 1st Round |
| Auckland United | OFC | New Zealand | 1st place, 2025 OFC Women’s Champions League | 1st Round |
Bracket and schedule
1st Round
| Date | Time (local) | Match | Location |
| Oct. 8, 2025 | 4 p.m. | Wuhan Jiangda 1-0 Auckland United | Wuhan Five Rings Sports Center (Wuhan, China) |
2nd Round
| Date | Time (local) | Match | Location |
| Dec. 14, 2025 | 7 p.m. | ASFAR 2-1 Wuhan Jiangda (a.e.t.) | Berrechid Municipal Stadium (Berrechid, Morocco) |
Semifinals
| Date | Time (local) | Match | Location |
| Jan. 28, 2026 | 12:30 p.m. | Gotham FC 0-1 Corinthians | Brentford Community Stadium (London, England) |
| Jan. 28, 2026 | 6 p.m. | Arsenal vs. AS FAR | Brentford Community Stadium (London, England) |
Third place match
| Date | Time (local) | Match | Location |
| Feb. 1, 2026 | 2:45 p.m. | Gotham FC vs. TBD | Emirates Stadium (London, England) |
Final
| Date | Time (local) | Match | Location |
| Feb. 1, 2026 | 2:45 p.m. | TBD vs. Corinthians | Emirates Stadium (London, England) |
