MIAMI — Concacaf W clubs will have a chance to test themselves on the global scene with FIFA’s introduction of two new women’s competitions: the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup and the FIFA Women’s Club World Cup.
Women’s clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean will have the opportunity to qualify for these new FIFA competitions via the Concacaf W Champions Cup, the region’s premier women’s club competition.
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The FIFA Council approved the two new competitions at its meeting last Wednesday. The FIFA Women’s Champions Cup will be played annually beginning with its first edition in 2026, except for the years when the quadrennial FIFA Women’s Club World Cup is played, which plays its inaugural edition in 2028.
FIFA Women’s Champions Cup
Kicking off in January 2026, the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup will consist of six matches featuring the champions of all six confederations.
The 2024/25 Concacaf W Champions Cup winners, to be determined on May 24, will qualify for the inaugural edition of the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup. The preliminary stage will feature two knockout rounds. The AFC champions will host the OFC champions in Round 1, with the winners visiting the CAF champions in Round 2.
The Final Four will be played at a neutral venue between January 28 and February 1, 2026. The Concacaf champions will face the CONMEBOL champions, while the winners of Round 2 will meet the UEFA champions. The winners of the semi-finals will contest the final, with the losing semifinalists competing for third place.
The results of the 2026 edition will determine the seeding for the 2027 edition, which will be held from January 27 to 31. The seeding for the 2029 edition, to be played from January 24 to 28, will be subject to further consultation.
FIFA Women’s Club World Cup
Coming in January-February 2028, the inaugural FIFA Women’s Club World Cup will feature 19 teams.
The tournament will begin with a play-in stage in which six clubs, one from each confederation, will compete. The three winners will advance to the group stage, joining 13 other clubs that advanced directly.
Concacaf, along with AFC, CAF, and CONMEBOL will each have two direct slots to the group stage, while UEFA will have five berths. The group stage will feature four groups of four, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the knockout stage.
All matches – from the play-in stage to the final – will be held at a neutral venue to be determined by FIFA. The seedings for the 2032 edition will be decided at a later date, taking into account the results and performances of clubs in all competitions played in previous years.
