FIFA has officially scheduled the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup tournament to take place in January and February 2026. The tournament is set to feature 16 teams, although FIFA’s ruling council has not detailed the qualification process or designated venues.
European powerhouses Barcelona and Lyon, with a combined total of 10 Champions League titles since 2011, are poised to face off in the upcoming final on May 25 in Bilbao, Spain.
In contrast, the men’s Club World Cup, a 32-team event, is slated to debut in June-July the following year in the United States. Teams will earn qualification through victories or consistent performance in continental championships spanning 2020 to 2024. The inaugural men’s edition will include 12 European teams and six from South America.
The initiative to establish a global club tournament for women aligns with FIFA’s strategic vision for advancing women’s soccer since the election of current president Gianni Infantino in 2016.
Scheduled to occur every four years, similar to its male counterpart, the Women’s Club World Cup will be complemented by an “additional FIFA women’s club competition” in intervening years, mirroring the structure of the men’s tournaments.
Furthermore, FIFA intends to introduce an annual “Intercontinental Cup” in December, featuring the champions from the six men’s continental competitions, including Europe’s Champions League.
