London set to host first-ever Women’s Champions Cup in February
FIFA has expanded its competitive portfolio by taking the first-ever Women’s Champions Cup to London.
The competition will be held at the Gtech Community Stadium, home of Brentford FC, for the semi-finals and at the Emirates (referred to as the Arsenal Stadium for the contest) for the third-place play-off and the final.
What is the Women’s Champions Cup?
The inaugural annual tournament features teams from all over the world, competing to be the best premier women’s club team.
Held between October 2025 and February 2026, the competition aims to showcase the best talent while strengthening the visibility of women's football.
Approved by the FIFA Council in March 2025, the tournament will be staged in years when the Women’s Club World Cup is not scheduled. The competition serves as a prelude to the Club World Cup, with four teams securing qualification for the 2028 tournament
Which teams are involved?
As of the writing of this article, the early qualifying rounds have been completed, involving the champions of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, OFC Women’s Champions League, and CAF leagues.
Following Moroccan side AS FAR´s win over Wuhan Jiangda WFC on the 14th of December, the line-up of continental champions advancing to the knockout stages was confirmed:
AS FAR qualified by winning the CAF Women´s Champions League in Egypt.
SC Corinthians became the latest team to qualify after defeating Deportivo Cali in the final of the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores Femenina.
Gotham FC qualified by winning the inaugural Concacaf Women’s Champions Cup in May 2025.
Arsenal, the only Women´s Super League (WSL) and European club left in the competition, will participate following their historic Champions League run in the same month.
In summary, the fixtures that will take place in London for this tournament are:
Gotham FC vs. SC Corinthians: Gtech Community Stadium, 28th January 2026 (KO time TBC).
Arsenal FC vs. ASFAR: Gtech Community Stadium, 28th January 2026 (KO time TBC).
What will the format look like?
The competition will consist of six teams, each one presenting one of FIFA's international confederations (UEFA, AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC):
AFC: Australia and Asia
UEFA: Europe
OFC: Oceania
CONMEBOL: South America
CAF: Africa
CONCACAF: North and Central America and the Caribbean
Round 1: The champions of the AFC Champions League (Wuhan Jiangda) host the champions of the OFC Champions League (Auckland City).
Round 2: The winner from Round One (Wuhan Jiangda) will face the Champions from the CAF Women's Champions League (ASFAR).
Round 3: The winner from Round Two (ASFAR) advances to play the Champions of the UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL).
The Champions of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup face the Champions of the Copa Libertadores Femenina.
Semi-finals: The winners will play in the final.
Third place: The losers of the semi-final match will face each other. These matches will be hosted at a neutral venue.
Playoffs: These matches are set to be scheduled on the 1st of February 2026 at 15:45 PM (KO) according to FIFA´s website.
Seedings for the 2027 competition will be based on results from this tournament.
What does this mean for London?
This tournament offers more than just a competition.
With the Champions Cup headed to London in its later stages, this marks a moment for the game, setting the capital as the main hub for women’s sport. The Chief Football Officer, Jill Ellis told FIFA's website that hosting this tournament is pivotal to investment in the women’s game:
“London has emerged as a global hotspot for women’s football. The unwavering passion of the fans, the substantial investment in the sport and the remarkable success of England’s Lionesses have fostered an environment in which the women’s game is thriving more than ever before.
Hosting the final phase of the Women’s Champions Cup in this vibrant city is a testament to its exceptional standing in the world of women’s football.”
The boost in attendances in the Barclays Women’s Super League, international matches and global broadcasting has increased the visibility and profile of women’s sport. Recent seasons have seen record crowds, growing attendances, and with more fixtures hosted at main stadiums, domestic interest in the women’s game continues to rise.
With the Champions Cup now underway, this offers an opportunity for women's sport, bridging the gap between continental competitions and the Club World Cup, giving non-European champions significant global exposure.
The Gtech Community Stadium hosting the later stages of the tournament offers supporters a chance to experience something new at a familiar venue, following its role during the UEFA Women’s European Championship in 2022. Jon Varney, Brentford FC's Chief Executive Officer spoke about the advantages of being a host stadium for the Champions Cup on the football club:
“We hope that by bringing more international women’s matches to Brentford, we can help inspire future generations of players, as we continue to support the growth of the game both in our community and beyond.
The finals will bring together the most exciting women´s sport, culture and stars from across the globe to London for the first time. It´s a milestone for women´s football, built on our club's commitment to representation, opportunity and the next generation of players and fans.”
Tournament outcome and wider impact
With London hosting the decisive stages of the competition, the city provides the setting for a defining moment in women’s club football. Two iconic stadiums form the backdrop to a tournament that brings together leading clubs and international audiences, elevating the global profile of the women’s game.
For many teams, the competition offers rare opportunities to test themselves against top opposition from other confederations in a high-stakes environment. Beyond the immediate results, the tournament carries broader significance, helping to shape future pathways and momentum for the evolving international club calendar.
As the inaugural edition reaches its conclusion, the Women’s Champions Cup represents not just a new trophy, but the beginning of a new era for women’s club football worldwide.
Key information
Tournament dates: 8 October 2025 – 1 February 2026.
Tickets are priced between £5 and £60. Entry for a single semi-final match starts from £5 for juniors and from £13 for adults across different seat categories.
Entries for the final and third-place play-off are priced from £10 for juniors up to £60 for adults in the highest category of seats.
Fans are encouraged to book early via the FIFA website to secure their place.