FIFA have announced that the inaugural edition of the FIFA Women’s Club World Cup will be held in January 2026.
With the extended version of the FIFA Men’s Club World Cup set to take place in June 2025 in the United States, many were left wondering when a similar tournament will be held for women.
But FIFA now confirmed that the decision was taken when the FIFA Council met in advance of the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok, adopting several key decision relating to women’s football – among them the introduction of a Women’s Club World Cup.
“Following the FIFA Council’s decision in December 2022 to approve the strategic principle of introducing a FIFA Women’s Club World Cup™ and subsequent extensive consultation with the confederations and other stakeholders, it was proposed that the inaugural edition of the competition be contested by 16 teams in January-February 2026. The tournament will be held every four years. Further details will follow in due course,” read a FIFA statement.
FIFA also confirmed that an additional FIFA Women’s club competition will take place in the non-CWC years from 2027.
It is yet to be confirmed how many teams from each of FIFA’s confederations will take place, but it is likely that at least one spot will go to CAF, with Mamelodi Sundowns currently the holders of the African Women’s Champions League.
Another major decision that was taken was a change in the Women’s International Match Calendar 2026-2029, which will reduce the number of international windows from six to five to “provide more opportunities for rest and recovery” and also have “less disruption to domestic leagues and reduced travel”.
