FIFA has announced that the first-ever Women’s Club World Cup will be held in January and February of 2026. This tournament, which will feature 16 teams, will occur every four years and take place in a host country that has yet to be disclosed. The decision was made during a meeting of the FIFA Council in Bangkok, Thailand.
The idea of a global competition for women’s football has been under discussion for over a decade. FIFA president Gianni Infantino expressed his desire to organize such an event back in 2019. While it is not yet clear how teams will qualify for the new Club World Cup, FIFA aims to ensure representation from all regions of the world while acknowledging that the best teams typically come from Europe, North America, and South America.
The current champions in women’s football include Barcelona as the European champions, NJ/NY Gotham FC as the NWSL champions, and Corinthians as the Copa Libertadores Femenina holders. In addition to this news, a new international match calendar for women’s football has been approved for the years 2026-2029. This calendar will reduce the number of international windows from six to five to allow players more rest and reduce travel disruptions to domestic leagues.
As player welfare becomes increasingly important, especially with a Women’s World Cup scheduled for 2027 and a 16-team Olympic competition at the Los Angeles Games in 2028, FIFA has announced a smaller additional tournament to be held in non-Club World Cup years. Infantino emphasized that these changes are aimed at taking the women’s game to the next level, improving competitiveness, and protecting the well-being of players. The early agreement on this calendar is expected to be beneficial for planning purposes moving forward.
