FIFA awards USA first Women's Club World Cup, to be played 5-30 January 2028

The decision

FIFA announced on Thursday, 22 October 2026 that the United States will host the first edition of the Women's Club World Cup, scheduled for 5 to 30 January 2028. The choice followed a FIFA Council decision of 15 October and a later meeting of a council committee. FIFA cited the country's experience in organising its tournaments, the quality of its infrastructure and services, and the interest of stakeholders in women's football there. Reports said Qatar had also been interested, and The Guardian had reported earlier in the week that the Gulf state was in talks with FIFA over a bid. FIFA's statement did not describe the bidding process for other candidates. Sport Interia linked the decision to a deal between FIFA president Gianni Infantino and US President Donald Trump, and called it the third world championship the United States will have hosted in three years, after the 2025 men's Club World Cup and the 2026 men's World Cup.

The 19-team field

The tournament will feature 19 teams from all six confederations. Qualification depends on results in each confederation's top continental club competition over four seasons, those ending in 2024 to 2027. The Champions League winners of those years qualify automatically, which SRF named as Arsenal (2025) and FC Barcelona (2024 and 2026). Europe receives six places in total, Asia, Africa, North America and South America three each, and Oceania one. Five clubs have already qualified: Gotham FC of the USA, Club America Femenil of Mexico, Naegohyang Women's FC of North Korea, Corinthians of São Paulo and Wuhan Jiangda WFC of China. SRF noted that no Swiss club will take part. Interia reported that 16 teams had originally been planned before the field was set at 19.

Money and the calendar

The Women's World Cup in Brazil, held from 24 June to 25 July 2027, will operate under a newly approved financial model. The preparation payment to each participating nation rises to 2.5 million US dollars, the same level as at the 2026 men's World Cup, according to SRF. RP Online reported that the women players will receive the same services the men had at the 2026 tournament. The dates of the Champions Cup, which brings together the best club teams from each confederation to contest the intercontinental title, were also changed to 26 to 31 January in Miami, with the two semifinals on separate days. ANSA added that the men's Under-20 World Cup will run from 17 September to 9 October 2027 in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

Qatar and the men's calendar

According to reports, Qatar had also sought the women's tournament, and it instead receives the final three men's Intercontinental Cup matches. RP Online gave the window as 9 to 16 December 2026, with the derby of the Americas on 9 December, the Challenger Cup on 12 December and the final on 16 December. The Challenger Cup decides the opponent in the final, where Paris Saint-Germain already has a place as the defending holder. By contrast, the women's competition stays in the United States alone.