The FIFA Women’s Champions Cup explained – and Arsenal’s route to winning it | OneFootball

The inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup takes place this week, with Arsenal competing for silverware in London.

As UEFA Women’s Champions League holders, the Gunners have qualified for the tournament, which begins on Wednesday 28 January and concludes on Sunday 1 February.

This new global competition brings together the champions from each of the six continental confederations, as FIFA continues its push to expand elite women’s club football. Four teams remain as the tournament reaches its final stages.

What is the Women’s Champions Cup?

The final phase of the Women’s Champions Cup features four teams and is staged across two matchdays in London – two semi-finals on Wednesday 28 January at Brentford’s stadium and Sunday 1 February for the final at the Emirates, where Arsenal play all their home league games.

The competition is set to run annually, except in years when the newly announced Women’s Club World Cup takes place, starting in 2028.

The tournament follows a similar format to the former men’s Club World Cup, featuring champions from UEFA, CAF, AFC, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and OFC.

Arsenal’s route to the trophy

Arsenal will represent Europe after making history by lifting the UEFA Women’s Champions League trophy last season, beating Barcelona in Lisbon.

They face Moroccan side AS FAR, winners of the CAF Women’s Champions League, in the semi-finals.

The second semi-final sees Brazilian giants Corinthians, champions of the Copa Libertadores, take on Gotham FC of the United States. Gotham earned their place after winning the inaugural CONCACAF W Champions Cup in May.

Auckland United FC and Wuhan Jiangda WFC were eliminated earlier in the competition. Round one saw them face off against each other, with the Chinese team coming out on top. The second round introduced AS FAR, who knocked out Wuhan Jiangda to tee up a semi-final against Arsenal.

If Arsenal were to win their semi-final, they would face a final against either Corinthians or Gotham FC, at Emirates Stadium, their home ground.

Match schedule and venues

Both semi-finals will be played at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium on Wednesday 28 January:

The final and third-place play-off will take place at Emirates Stadium on Sunday 1 February:

Prize money and future tournaments

The total prize money for the tournament stands at USD 2.3 million (approximately £1.7 million), exceeding the amount awarded to winners of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Future editions of the Women’s Champions Cup are scheduled for 2027 and 2029, with 2028 seeing the introduction of the Women’s Club World Cup.

FIFA expect the Champions Cup to take place every year apart from Club World Cup years.