United States to stage inaugural Women's Club World Cup in January 2028
Fifa has confirmed the United States will host the inaugural Women's Club World Cup in January 2028. Arsenal are one of seven clubs already named for the 19-team tournament.
The competition is scheduled to run from 5-30 January 2028 and is intended to mirror the revamped men's Club World Cup, taking place every four years. The United States staged the men's Club World Cup in 2025 and co-hosted the men's World Cup this summer with Mexico and Canada. The country is also set to co-host the Women's World Cup with Costa Rica, Jamaica and Mexico in 2031.
Seven clubs have been confirmed as participants: Arsenal, Barcelona, Gotham, Club America, Corinthians, Naegohyang and Wuhan Jiangda. These teams form part of a 19-team field, with a further 12 clubs to be determined at a later date. It is the second mid-season women's competition to be introduced by Fifa in recent years, following the Champions Cup. The Champions Cup took place for the first time in February and was won by Arsenal.
Six more European clubs will be selected to represent Uefa. There will be three clubs apiece for AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), Concacaf (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) and Conmebol (South America), and one from OFC (Oceania). "Ultimately, the United States' recent excellence in staging top Fifa tournaments, combined with the significant interest in women's football there plus its elite sporting infrastructure, made the country the standout option," said Fifa's chief women's football officer Sarai Bareman.
"These seven clubs, and a dozen more, will come together to show the strength and depth of women's club football to a global audience," added Bareman. "They will have the opportunity to tell their story, expand their fanbase and represent their club on the world stage. They have thoroughly earned this opportunity to be part of history in the United States."
Earlier this year, the Women's Super League described the scheduling of the Club World Cup as potentially "catastrophic". The remaining 12 places in the 19-team tournament will be determined at a later date.
