The first-ever Women’s Club World Cup is set to take place in January and February of 2026, according to FIFA. This tournament, which will feature 16 teams, will be held every four years and the inaugural edition will take place in a host country yet to be disclosed. The decision was made during a meeting of the FIFA Council in Bangkok, Thailand.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has long expressed his desire to organize a global competition in women’s football, and this announcement marks the realization of that goal. Discussions about the tournament have been ongoing for over a decade, with FIFA aiming 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. Additionally, 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.
Player welfare has become a hot topic with upcoming major competitions such as the Women’s World Cup scheduled for 2027 and a 16-team Olympic competition at the Los Angeles Games in 2028. To address this concern, 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
