The 2026 FIFA Women's Champions Cup was the first edition of FIFA Women's Champions Cup organised by FIFA. The tournament featured the champion clubs from each of the six continental confederations, playing each other in a single-elimination bracket, to determine the world's premier women's club team.[2][3] The winners received US$2.3 million, the biggest-ever single award in women's club football.[4]
 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country | Stage 2: England |
| Dates | 8 October 2025 – 1 February 2026 |
| Teams | 6 (from 6 confederations) |
| Venues | 4 (in 3 host cities) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Arsenal (1st title) |
| Runners-up |  Corinthians |
| Third place |  Gotham FC |
| Fourth place |  AS FAR |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 6 |
| Goals scored | 20 (3.33 per match) |
| Attendance | 81,491 (13,582 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) | Alessia Russo (Arsenal) Olivia Smith (Arsenal) Gabi Zanotti (Corinthians) 2 goals each |
| Best player | Frida Maanum (Arsenal)[1] |
| Best goalkeeper | Anneke Borbe (Arsenal)[1] |
2027 → | |
Stage 1 matches were played in the home stadium of a team involved in each match, and stage 2 was played in London, England.[5][6]
Format
editThe competition involved six teams, each representing one of FIFA's continental confederations, playing in a single-leg, single-elimination format.[7] The format was similar to the format of the men's FIFA Club World Cup until 2023:
- Stage 1
- Round 1: The champions of the AFC Women's Champions League hosted the champions of the OFC Women's Champions League.
- Round 2: The champions of the CAF Women's Champions League hosted the winner from Round 1.
- Stage 2 (centralised location)
- Semi-finals: The Round 2 winners advanced to play the champions of the UEFA Women's Champions League, while the champions of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup faced the champions of the Copa Libertadores Femenina.
- Final and third place play-off: The semi-final winners contested the final, and the losers played in the third place play-off.
Prize money
editQualified teams
edit.svg)
| Team | Confederation | Qualification | Qualified date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering in the semi-finals | |||
| Gotham FC |
CONCACAF | Winners of the 2024–25 CONCACAF W Champions Cup | 24 May 2025 |
| Corinthians |
CONMEBOL | Winners of the 2025 Copa Libertadores Femenina | 18 October 2025 |
| Arsenal |
UEFA | Winners of the 2024–25 UEFA Women's Champions League | 24 May 2025 |
| Entering in the second round | |||
| AS FAR |
CAF | Winners of the 2025 CAF Women's Champions League | 21 November 2025 |
| Entering in the first round | |||
 Wuhan Jiangda |
AFC | Winners of the 2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League | 24 May 2025 |
 Auckland United |
OFC | Winners of the 2025 OFC Women's Champions League | 17 May 2025 |
Venues
editOn 2 October 2025, London was appointed by the FIFA Council as the host of stage 2.[9] Gotham FC had also offered to host in New York. London's selection was reportedly due to Arsenal's busy league schedule around the time of the matches.[10][11][12]
| China |
Morocco |
England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wuhan | Berrechid | London | |
| Wuhan Five Rings Sports Center | Berrechid Municipal Stadium | Brentford Community Stadium | Emirates Stadium |
| Capacity: 30,000 | Capacity: 5,000 | Capacity: 17,250 | Capacity: 60,704 |
 |
 |
 | |
Matches
edit| Round 1 | Round 2 | Semi-finals | Final | |||||||||||||||
| 28 January – London | ||||||||||||||||||
| Arsenal | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 December – Berrechid | ||||||||||||||||||
| AS FAR | 0 | 1 February – London | ||||||||||||||||
| AS FAR (a.e.t.) | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 October – Wuhan | Arsenal (a.e.t.) | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Wuhan Jiangda | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Wuhan Jiangda | 1 | 28 January – London | Corinthians | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Auckland United | 0 | Gotham FC | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| Corinthians | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Match for third place | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 February – London | ||||||||||||||||||
| AS FAR | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Gotham FC | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
Round 1
editRound 2
edit| AS FAR | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Wuhan Jiangda |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Wang Shuang  29' |
Semi-finals
editMatch for third place
editFinal
edit| Arsenal | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Corinthians |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Goalscorers
edit| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alessia Russo |
Arsenal |
2 |
 Olivia Smith |
Arsenal | ||
| Gabi Zanotti |
Corinthians | ||
| 4 |  Stina Blackstenius |
Arsenal |
1 |
 Mariona Caldentey |
Arsenal | ||
 Caitlin Foord |
Arsenal | ||
| Khyah Harper |
Gotham FC | ||
| Jiang Chenjing |
Wuhan Jiangda | ||
 Frida Maanum |
Arsenal | ||
| Savannah McCaskill |
Gotham FC | ||
| Sanaâ Mssoudy |
AS FAR | ||
| Midge Purce |
Gotham FC | ||
| Hajar Saïd |
AS FAR | ||
| Jaedyn Shaw |
Gotham FC | ||
| Victória |
Corinthians | ||
| Wang Shuang |
Wuhan Jiangda | ||
| Lotte Wubben-Moy |
Arsenal |
Broadcasters
editFIFA+ provided free streaming coverage worldwide of stage 1.[17][18] DAZN and FIFA+ provided free streaming coverage worldwide for stage 2, apart from in the following territories (mainly the home markets of the semi-finalists):[19][20][21][22]
| Territory | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Brazil | CazéTV |
| China | CCTV |
| Ireland | Sky Sports |
| United Kingdom | |
| Morocco | SNRT |
| United States | CBS Sports Golazo Network (third place match and final only)[23] |
Reception
editSince its creation was approved and its dates confirmed in March 2025, the brand new tournament faced many challenges in organisation and in gaining public and commercial interest.[24] A lack of media interest led to broadcasters for stage 2 only confirmed two weeks before it began.[11][25] While London was announced as host in October 2025, the announcement of the venues came only on 12 December.[26] FIFA also struggled with arranging commercial partnerships, only securing sponsorships days before the semi-finals.[24] Among them is presenting partner Kynisca, which is a multi-club ownership organisation. The partnership raised concerns over conflict of interest given the possibility of one of its clubs participating in future editions.[15][27] 25,031 people attended the final, around 11,000 fewer than Arsenal's average attendance for the season up to that day. In Brazil, over one million people watched CazéTV's broadcast of the final.[28] The semi-finals had poor attendance, partly owing to their unusual kick-off times.[29]
Concerns were raised over the fairness of the competition. Despite the initial announcement of the competition having stage 2 to be played at a neutral venue, the final was held in Arsenal's home ground. Arsenal were in the middle of their domestic season and could train at their own facilities.[15][29] Some other teams were in their preseason and had to manage disruptions to transfer window activity and logistical issues over player availability.[30][31] To prepare for the competition, Gotham FC, in their preseason, held a three-week training camp in Spain out of pocket. This meant rearranging their usual NWSL season preparations to protect player welfare. Ultimately, Gotham FC lost their semi-final and their prize money could not offset their preparation expenses.[32] For Arsenal, the timing of the competition was inconvenient in a congested calendar and raised concerns over player workload.[33] AS FAR and Corinthians had visa issues resulting in some players arriving in London later than the rest of the teams.[33][34] Ahead of the final, Arsenal academy players were spotted watching Corinthians train at the Hive. The incident was reported by Corinthians to FIFA.[35]
See also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 "Extra-time Foord strike wins Arsenal Women's Champions Cup". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ↑ "FIFA Council approves unprecedented prize money pot for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ and takes key decisions on women's competitions". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 5 March 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
- ↑ "FIFA Women's Champions Cup 2026: Everything you need to know". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 18 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
- 1 2 Rindl, Joe (23 January 2026). "Women's Champions Cup winners to receive record £1.7m". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ↑ Smith, Emma (2 October 2025). "London to host inaugural Women's Champions Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ↑ "Arsenal and Brentford stadiums to stage decisive showdown of inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 12 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
- ↑ "Timelines and formats of landmark FIFA Women's Club Competitions confirmed". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 5 March 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
- ↑ "Record-breaking prize money to be awarded to inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup™ winners". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 24 January 2026. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
- ↑ "FIFA Council calls for peace and takes key decisions on football governance". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 2 October 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ Kassouf, Jeff (3 October 2025). "London to host inaugural 2026 FIFA Women's Champions Cup". ESPN. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- 1 2 Hughes, Matt (3 December 2025). "TV rights for new Women's Champions Cup remain unsold in blow to Fifa". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
- ↑ Peterson, Anne (27 January 2026). "London hosts final stage of the 1st Women's Champions Cup". AP News. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
- ↑ "Wuhan Jiangda 1-0 Auckland Utd (8 Oct, 2025) Final Score". ESPN. 8 October 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ "AS FAR 2-1 Wuhan Jiangda (15 Dec, 2025) Final Score". ESPN. 14 December 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Harpur, Charlotte (3 February 2026). "The Champions Cup is here to stay, but FIFA must learn lessons from London teething trouble". The Athletic. The New York Times. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ "Match Report: Arsenal Women FC v. SC Corinthians" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ↑ "Wuhan Chegu Jiangda WFC v Auckland United FC: Live stream, preview, team news and more". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 5 October 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ↑ "ASFAR v Wuhan Chegu Jiangda WFC: Live stream, preview, team news and more". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 12 December 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ↑ "Final stage of inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup™ to reach fans worldwide as top-tier broadcasters and platforms unite behind new era for women's club football". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 19 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ↑ Lloyd-Hughes, Theo (22 January 2026). "How to Watch the FIFA Women's Champions Cup". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ↑ "FIFA Announces Landmark Free-to-View Global Broadcast of Inaugural Women's Champions Cup Final Stage". gsport.co.za. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
- ↑ "Arsenal to meet ASFAR in Women's Champions Cup semi-finals". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 26 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ↑ "CBS Sports to exclusively air FIFA Women's Champions Cup final in the U.S. for free on CBS Sports Golazo Network". Paramount Press Express. Paramount. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- 1 2 Kemp, Jake (20 February 2026). "FIFA's new club competitions struggle with acceptance and commercial appeal". Sportcal. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
- ↑ McCaskill, Steve (16 January 2026). "DAZN and Sky Sports secure last-minute Women's Champions Cup deals". SportsPro. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
- ↑ "Arsenal and Brentford stadiums to stage decisive showdown of inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 12 December 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
- ↑ Garry, Tom (26 January 2026). "Michele Kang's largesse for women's football leaves Fifa open to bias claims". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
- ↑ Bradshaw, Joe (2 February 2026). "'Historic day for women's football' - but was Champions Cup a success?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
- 1 2 Keogh, Emily (2 February 2026). "Champions Cup winners Arsenal become world's best women's club: An accurate title?". ESPN. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
- ↑ Wrack, Suzanne (28 January 2026). "Concerns grow over fairness of Women's Champions Cup timing, location, and Fifa support". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
- ↑ "Arsenal hoist first Women's Champions Cup in thrilling win over Corinthians". Reuters. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Keogh, Emily (29 January 2026). "Champions Cup: Gotham upset, Arsenal showcase women's soccer's inequity". ESPN. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- 1 2 Batte, Kathryn (28 January 2026). "Champions Cup is competition women's football simply does not need". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Twigg, Sonia (1 February 2026). "Arsenal win biggest payday in women's football but Champions Cup a damp squib". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Lloyd-Hughes, Theo (2 February 2026). "Arsenal beat Corinthians to win inaugural Women's Champions Cup and $2.3m in prize money". The Athletic. The New York Times. Retrieved 26 May 2026.