Gotham FC has already secured a league title and a confederation trophy, and now, according to coach Juan Carlos Amorós, the team’s sights are set on an intercontinental championship.
This week, the 2025 NWSL champions are competing for the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup in England, starting with a semifinal match against Brazil’s Corinthians on Wednesday.
“Their desire to win is extraordinary. It’s just part of who they are,” Amorós said about Gotham. “After winning one competition, they’re already focused on the next.”
In the late semifinal at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, UEFA Champions League victors Arsenal will face Morocco’s ASFAR. The championship and third-place match are scheduled for Sunday at Emirates Stadium, with the winner receiving $2.3 million and the runner-up taking home $1 million.
Gotham’s remarkable journey to the NWSL championship came as they emerged as the eighth seed in the playoffs, defeating the top-seeded Kansas City Current and reigning champions Orlando Pride before sealing the championship with a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit.
Gotham earned its spot in this inaugural FIFA event by winning the first Concacaf Champions Cup, clinching the title with a 1-0 win against Mexico’s Tigres last May.
“We want to be here: in the semifinals, in the finals, and fighting for another trophy. That’s the standard we uphold at Gotham,” said defender Mandy Freeman during preseason training in Spain. “We aim not only to be the first to win these competitions but to establish a legacy and consistently compete for championships.”
The NWSL regular season kicks off on March 13, with Gotham opening their season on March 14 at home against expansion team Boston Legacy FC.
The six-team Women’s Champions Cup has been established as an intercontinental championship for women’s club teams, building on the momentum of regional club competitions, particularly the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
This new competition reflects the global growth of women’s soccer, as evidenced by record attendance and viewership at the 2025 Women’s European Championship in Switzerland. At the club level, Barcelona‘s victory over Real Madrid in the 2022 Champions League final attracted a record crowd of over 91,000.
However, the launch of the new tournament faced challenges, as a global broadcast partner for the final stage was only announced two weeks ago when DAZN agreed to cover the event. Sky Sports will also broadcast the matches in England.
FIFA is set to introduce a 16-team Women’s Club World Cup in 2028, to be held every four years, with the new Champions Cup taking place annually, save for the years when the Club World Cup is held.
The competition will feature one representative from each of the six confederations: UEFA (Europe), Concacaf (North and Central America and the Caribbean), CONMEBOL (South America), CAF (Africa), OFC (Oceania), and AFC (Asia).
Alongside Arsenal’s qualification through the UEFA Champions League and Gotham’s via the Concacaf Champions Cup, Corinthians secured a spot by winning the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores Femenina, and ASFAR qualified through the CAF Champions League.
Two continental champions, Auckland United representing Oceania and Wuhan Chegu Jiangda from Asia, were eliminated in earlier rounds.
UEFA, Concacaf, and CONMEBOL winners will advance directly to the semifinals, while the champions from Africa, Asia, and Oceania will compete in knockout rounds.
The NWSL had expressed interest in hosting, with speculation about a West Coast venue for the final stage; however, Arsenal’s league match against Chelsea on the same day complicated matters, leading to London being selected.
The total prize pool for the six continental champions is $3.9 million, compared to the approximate $1.8 million in prize money awarded to Arsenal for their Women’s Champions League victory last season.
FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström remarked on the prize money, stating it is “a clear statement of the belief in women’s club football and the players, teams, and competitions driving its growth.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.