The key facts

  • The first FIFA Women's Club World Cup will be held in the US from January 5 to 30, 2028 — 19 clubs from six confederations.
  • Seven clubs have already qualified: Arsenal, Barcelona, América, Gotham, Naegohyang, Corinthians and Wuhan Jiangda.
  • The tournament was originally planned for 2026 but was moved to take place after the 2027 World Cup and before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

FIFA picks the US as host of the debut tournament

FIFA announced on Thursday that the first-ever Women's Club World Cup will be held in the United States from January 5 to 30, 2028. The tournament will feature 19 clubs from six continental confederations. According to FIFA, the US was chosen for its experience in hosting major tournaments, developed sports infrastructure and high interest in women's football in the country. This year, the US also hosted the men's World Cup as one of the hosts.

Quotes and slot allocation

“Ultimately, the US's recent experience in hosting top FIFA tournaments, significant interest in women's football and elite sports infrastructure made the country the obvious choice,” said FIFA's Chief Football Officer for Women's Football, Sarai Bareman. Slot allocation: Europe (UEFA) — six clubs; Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), North and Central America with the Caribbean (CONCACAF) and South America (CONMEBOL) — three each; Oceania (OFC) — one.

Qualified clubs and qualification format

The first seven participants have already been determined: Arsenal (England), Barcelona (Spain), América (Mexico), Gotham (USA), Naegohyang (North Korea), Corinthians (Brazil) and Wuhan Jiangda (China). The remaining 12 spots will be decided through continental competitions, with priority given to champions from 2024–2027. Bareman noted that the clubs will “get the opportunity to tell their story, grow their fan base and present their club on the world stage.”

Tournament rescheduling and its significance

The debut tournament was originally planned for 2026, but FIFA moved it by two years so that it would occupy a separate window after the 2027 Women's World Cup and before the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The organization called the creation of the tournament “an important milestone in the professionalization and global expansion of women's club football,” giving elite clubs a true world stage once every four years.