What is the revamped FIFA…

The inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup arrives in London this Wednesday as four clubs vie for the championship. This competition, which commenced in October, includes the top six teams from each continental confederation. The format for this final tournament consists of two semifinals, a third-place playoff, and the championship match.

Featuring a range of playing styles and exceptional talent, the event guarantees high-stakes excitement with the prospect of significant silverware as well as the largest single prize-money payout ever offered in women’s football. Here’s what you need to know.

What is the Women’s Champions Cup?

Each FIFA confederation has organized its own version of the UEFA Champions League, many initiating their first club tournaments due to the absence of a historical counterpart like UEFA.

Upon the announcement of the competition last year, FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated: “Women’s football has achieved remarkable heights at the national team level, and it is now time for global competitions that spotlight the best clubs worldwide.”

Is this different from the Women’s Club World Cup?

Yes, the Club World Cup, encompassing 16 teams, is a distinct event. You can think of the Champions Cup as its smaller sibling.

The Club World Cup was initially planned for 2026, but due to organizational challenges, FIFA has decided to postpone it until 2028. In light of this, and with the 2027 World Cup taking place in Brazil next year, FIFA opted to introduce the six-team Champions Cup.

The Club World Cup, immersed in controversy regarding its potential Qatar hosting and scheduling issues, is set for January 5-30, 2028, which will directly affect at least five Women’s Super League (WSL) matchdays—a scenario the league considers could be “catastrophic.”

Which teams are participating, and which have been eliminated?

The clubs competing in London include England’s Arsenal (UEFA), NWSL representative Gotham FC (CONCACAF), Brazilian side Corinthians (CONMEBOL), and Morocco’s ASFAR (CAF).

New Zealand’s Auckland United FC (Oceania) and China’s Wuhan Jiangda WFC (AFC) have already been eliminated. Wuhan won against Auckland in the first round but lost to ASFAR in the next stage, while the remaining three teams advanced directly to the semifinals.

Gotham FC will face Corinthians in the first semifinal at 12:30 p.m. GMT (7:30 p.m. ET) on Wednesday, Jan. 26, followed by Arsenal battling ASFAR at 6 p.m. GMT (1 p.m. ET).

The victorious teams will compete for the championship on February 1 at 6 p.m. GMT (1 p.m. ET), with a third-place playoff scheduled earlier at 2:45 p.m. GMT (9:45 a.m. ET).

How did the teams qualify?

Arsenal, having won the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the second time—ending an 18-year title drought—will represent Europe.

From North America, Gotham FC clinched their place by winning the 2025 NWSL Championship, which qualified them for the inaugural CONCACAF Women’s Champions Cup. They finished second in their group, moved past the semifinals, and claimed victory against Tigres in the final with a narrow 1-0 scoreline.

ASFAR will represent Africa, having secured every Moroccan domestic title since 2015 and the Moroccan Throne Cup since 2013. The African Women’s Champions League, initiated by CAF in 2021, saw ASFAR win the title in both 2022 and 2025, making them the only team to achieve this milestone twice in five years.

Corinthians, the champions from CONMEBOL, won the Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino and capped off their success with a third consecutive Copa Libertadores victory in a thrilling penalty shootout against Deportivo Cali.

Meanwhile, Auckland United FC prevailed in the OFC Champions League, while Wuhan Jiangda captured the first AFC Champions League title for Asia.

Where will the games take place, and why now?

Initially, the Champions Cup was meant to occur on the west coast of the United States. However, due to a packed schedule for Arsenal—who have critical WSL games surrounding the tournament—the nine-hour journey, potential jet lag, and inadequate preparation time led the club to request a relocation closer to home.

Gotham FC is currently in their offseason, following a calendar from March to November, and has spent the past month in Europe, competing against various teams to build momentum and maintain fitness.

FIFA agreed to relocate the tournament to England, with Wednesday’s semifinals taking place at GTech Community Stadium, home of Brentford FC in west London. The finals are set to be held at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal’s home ground, eliminating any neutral venue advantage and granting significant home-field leverage to the Champions League holders.

What is the prize money structure?

Auckland United and Wuhan Jiangda received $100,000 for their participation.

The two teams eliminated in the semifinals will earn $200,000 each.

The runner-up will secure $1 million, while the champion will take home $2.3 million.