FIFA Announces Inaugural Women's Club World Cup to Debut in January 2026
FIFA has officially set the stage for the much-anticipated debut of the Women's Club World Cup, scheduling the tournament to kick off in January and February of 2026.
The inaugural edition is slated to feature 16 teams, though specific qualification criteria and host locations remain undisclosed by FIFA's ruling council.
Notable European powerhouses Barcelona and Lyon, with a combined total of 10 Champions League titles since 2011, are poised to clash in the upcoming final on May 25 in Bilbao, Spain.
In parallel, FIFA is gearing up for the launch of the men's Club World Cup, set to premiere in June-July next year in the United States. The qualification pathway for the men's tournament involves winning or consistently excelling in continental championships spanning 2020 to 2024. The inaugural men's edition will include 12 European teams and six from South America.
Since the election of FIFA President Gianni Infantino in 2016, the development of women's soccer has been a focal point, with the introduction of a global women's club tournament forming a pivotal part of this strategy.
The Women's Club World Cup is scheduled to be held every four years, mirroring the cadence of its male counterpart. In intervening years, FIFA proposes to organize an "additional FIFA women's club competition," akin to the men's format.
Further enhancing the global football landscape, FIFA plans to launch an annual "Intercontinental Cup" in December, featuring solely the champions of the six men's continental competitions, such as Europe's Champions League.
