FIFA Approves First Women's Club World Cup to Take Place in the United States
The inaugural tournament is scheduled for early 2028 and will feature 19 club teams from around the globe.
FIFA has officially approved the creation of the first-ever Women's Club World Cup, with the United States set to host the inaugural tournament in early 2028. Following the expanded format introduced for the men's competition, the governing body is bringing a similar global framework to women's club football. The tournament will run from January 5 to January 30, 2028, converging teams from various continental championships to determine a global club champion.
The decision to award the hosting rights to the United States was driven by the country's extensive experience in organizing major tournaments, established infrastructure, and strong stakeholder interest. FIFA stated that the timing in early 2028 was specifically chosen to avoid scheduling conflicts with the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the anticipated Copa America events.
For its inaugural edition, the Women's Club World Cup will feature 19 club teams, guaranteeing representation from all six global confederations. Continental champions crowned between 2024 and 2027 will earn direct access, while additional slots for UEFA and other confederations will be determined using sporting merit and club ranking methodologies. Seven clubs have already been confirmed by FIFA, though discussions remain ongoing regarding African participants from the CAF Women's Champions League.
The competition structure will ultimately filter down to 16 teams for the main tournament proper. This will include 13 direct qualifiers and six play-in qualifiers. UEFA is slated to receive five direct qualifiers and one play-in spot, while the AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, and CONMEBOL will each have two direct qualifiers and one play-in qualifier, with the OFC receiving one play-in qualifier. The format will likely consist of a group stage featuring four groups of four teams, followed by an eight-team knockout stage.
While tournament specifics such as prize money and the exact scheduling of play-in matches are yet to be finalized, the announcement marks a significant milestone for women's professional soccer. Because the tournament window falls during the offseason for the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), European domestic leagues will need to adjust their calendars to accommodate participating players.
In a separate development involving soccer's governing body, FIFA president Gianni Infantino presented a controversial FIFA Peace Prize to President Donald Trump in December 2025 ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States. A FIFA committee recently announced that this inaugural award will be investigated as part of a broader review of decisions made during Infantino's tenure.