FIFA unveils timelines for inaugural Women's Club World Cup, introduces Women's Champions Cup as new competition

The inaugural FIFA Women's Club World Cup has been delayed until 2028, while the Women's Champions Cup will begin play in 2026

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  FIFA has announced that the inaugural Women's Club World Cup has been moved to 2028. Originally slated for January 2026, the competition has been postponed two years.

  In addition, they announced the introduction of the FIFA Women's Champions Cup - a tournament in which the club champions from all six confederations will meet to crown a champion.

  The news was approved by the FIFA Council at a meeting on Wednesday.

  The inaugural edition of the quadrennial FIFA Women’s Club World Cup will take place in January-February 2028. Six clubs representing the AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA will take part in the play-in stage of the tournament while the three winners will advance to the Group Stage and join 13 other clubs.

  The AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, and CONMEBOL will each have two direct slots, while UEFA will have five berths. The Group Stage is set to feature four groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage of the competition. All matches in the tournament will be held at a neutral venue to be determined by FIFA.

• WHAT FIFA SAID

  "Women’s football has reached new heights at national-team level, and now it’s time for global competitions that showcase the best clubs from around the world. These FIFA competitions will stimulate growth, inspire athletes, create new rivalries, engage more fans and crown heroes from all over the world," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement. "The FIFA Women’s Club World Cup will be a defining moment in the growth of women’s club football, giving the world’s top clubs the platform they deserve to compete against the best and put the women’s club game in the global spotlight.

  "Following extensive consultation with key stakeholders, the inaugural edition will take place in 2028 and will feature a total of 19 clubs, allowing for a competitive and an inclusive format based on the sporting merit accumulated at global level through the new FIFA Women’s Champions Cup in the previous two years."

  Jill Ellis, FIFA's Chief Football Officer and the only two-time winning FIFA Women's World Cup head coach added: "These are more than just new tournaments - these are drivers for the future of our sport that will raise standards, provide invaluable opportunities for growth and local development, and generate new revenue - all on a global scale. We thank the confederations, clubs, leagues, players, and all stakeholders for their open dialogue and support, as well as the FIFA Council for taking the final decision to give women's club football an unprecedented global stage on a truly historic day that will redefine the women's game."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  For the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, six continental club champions from the full season preceding the tournament will come together to compete for a new trophy between the best teams around the world. The tournament will be held every non-FIFA Women's Club World Cup year.

  The preliminary stage of the 2026 competitive will feature two knockout rounds, with dates to be determined. The AFC champions will host the OFC Champions in Round 1, with the victor heading to take on the CAF champions in Round 2. The Round 2 winners will then progress to a final four to be played between January 2026 and February 2026, at a neutral venue to be determined by FIFA.

  The semifinalists in Round 2 will take on the UEFA champions, while the CONCACAF champions will take on the CONMEBOL champions. The winners will advance to the final, while the runners-up will compete for third place.

  Seeding for the 2027 edition will be determined by the results of the 2026 edition. The 2027 edition will be held Jan. 27 through Jan. 31, while seeding for the 2029 Champions Cup will be subject to further consultation.

  Women's 2026 Champions Cup qualification timeline will be as follows:

  • AFC Women’s Champions League: May 24, 2025
  • CAF Women’s Champions League: Nov. 23, 2025
  • CONCACAF W Champions Cup: May 24, 2025
  • CONMEBOL Libertadores Femenina: Oct. 18, 2025
  • OFC Women’s Champions League: May 17, 2025
  • UEFA Women’s Champions League: May 24, 2025
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  WHAT NEXT?

  The inaugural 2026 Women's Champions Cup kicks off next January. This summer, the UEFA Women's EURO competition, the OFC Women's Nations Cup, the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and the CONMEBOL Copa America Femenina will all take place.