The FIFA Women’s Champions Cup explained – and Arsenal’s route to winning it
The inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup takes place this week, with Arsenal competing for silverware in London.
As UEFA Women’s Champions League holders, the Gunners have qualified for the tournament, which begins on Wednesday 28 January and ends on Sunday 1 February.
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This new global competition brings together champions from each of the six continental confederations, as FIFA continues its efforts to develop elite women’s club football. Four teams remain as the tournament reaches its final stages.
What is the Women’s Champions Cup?
The final phase of the Women’s Champions Cup brings together four teams and takes place over two days in London: two semi-finals on Wednesday January 28 at Brentford Stadium and Sunday February 1 for the final at the Emirates, where Arsenal plays all of its championship matches at home.
The competition is expected to take place every year, except in years when the newly announced Women’s Club World Cup will take place, starting in 2028.
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The tournament follows a similar format to the old Men’s Club World Cup, featuring champions from UEFA, CAF, AFC, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and OFC.
Arsenal’s journey to the trophy
Arsenal will represent Europe after making history by lifting the UEFA Women’s Champions League trophy last season, beating Barcelona in Lisbon.
They will face the Moroccan team AS FAR, winner of the CAF Women’s Champions League, in the semi-final.
The second semi-final will see Copa Libertadores champions Brazilian giants Corinthians take on Americans Gotham FC. Gotham earned their spot after winning the inaugural CONCACAF W Champions Cup in May.
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Auckland United FC and Wuhan Jiangda WFC were eliminated earlier in the competition. The first round saw them face off, with the Chinese team coming out on top. The second round featured AS FAR, who eliminated Wuhan Jiangda to play a semi-final against Arsenal.
If Arsenal were to win their semi-final, they would face a final against Corinthians or Gotham FC, at Emirates Stadium, their home ground.
Match schedule and venues
Both semi-finals will be played at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford on Wednesday January 28:
Gotham FC vs Corinthians – 12:30 GMT
Arsenal v AS FAR – 6:00 p.m. GMT
The final and third place play-offs will take place at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday 1 February:
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Play-off for third place – 2:45 p.m. GMT
Prize money and future tournaments
The total prize pool for the tournament stands at $2.3 million (approximately £1.7 million), surpassing the amount awarded to the winners of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
The next editions of the Women’s Champions Cup are scheduled for 2027 and 2029, with 2028 seeing the introduction of the Women’s Club World Cup.
FIFA expects the Champions Cup to take place every year, outside of Club World Cup years.