As part of its rehaul of the FIFA Club World Cup tournament, FIFA has decided to hold the women’s tournament January and February 2026.
The Women’s Club World Cup will now be held every four years within the same timeframe and will involve 16 of the best women’s club teams in Europe, North America and South America.
The competition will commence during the halfway point of the European football calendar and just before the start of the US National Women’s Soccer League, which begins in March.
FIFA finalised plans for the Women’s Club World Cup at a 37 member council meeting held in Bangkok yesterday (15 May).
The plans coincide with the revamped men’s edition of the tournament. The Men’s Club World Cup’s new format will begin in 2025 and be contested between 32 teams in the US between 15 June and 13 July.
FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, stated that the new Women’s Club World Cup would be “crucial” for the growth of the women’s game.
He stated: “To this date, we don’t have a global club competition for women. Yet we are asking clubs to form women’s clubs all over the world. We need to give players an opportunity to perform as well on the global stage and to develop themselves in all the continents of the world.
“For this reason (we want) to have a 16-team FIFA Women’s Club World Cup in January/February 2026.
“The simple fact of having it is definitely going to boost club football, women’s club football, all over the world to an unprecedented level because the best players from wherever they come in the world will play in this competition and can showcase their talent.”
Whilst FIFA is still yet to sell the media and broadcasting rights for both the Men’s and Women’s Club World Cup tournaments, it has been heavily rumoured that Apple is leading the race to acquire.
A report from the New York Times in April revealed that the tech giant’s Apple TV – which holds exclusive rights for the MLS – is in pole position.
Apple TV has displayed significant interest in the US soccer market with the arrival of MLS to its platform. With the Men’s Club World Cup being held in the US, the country will look to bolster marketing plans ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to be hosted in the US, as well as Canada and Mexico.
