FIFA has confirmed that the United States will host the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup in January 2028, marking a major step in the expansion of women’s football and its global club competitions.
The tournament will run from January 5 to 30, 2028, and feature 19 clubs representing all six continental confederations. The decision was approved by FIFA’s Bureau of the Council on October 22, with the governing body pointing to the United States’ experience hosting major football tournaments, established sporting infrastructure and growing interest in the women’s game.
The competition will be staged every four years, creating a new global platform for leading women’s clubs to compete beyond their respective continental tournaments.
Seven teams have already secured qualification: Arsenal, Barcelona, Club América Femenil, Gotham FC, Naegohyang Women’s FC, Corinthians and Wuhan Jiangda. Their places were earned through continental success during the qualifying period covering seasons ending between 2024 and 2027.
FIFA Chief Women’s Football Officer Dame Sarai Bareman said the United States emerged as the preferred host following an assessment of potential locations. The country’s recent experience organising major international competitions and its infrastructure were important considerations in the decision.
The United States hosted the expanded men’s Club World Cup in 2025 and played a central role in staging the 2026 men’s World Cup. FIFA believes that experience will help establish a strong foundation for the first edition of the women’s competition.
Bareman said the objective was to create a tournament that would set a high standard for women’s club football and provide participating teams with an opportunity to reach new audiences, expand their fan bases and strengthen their international profiles.
The 19-team format is designed to provide broad geographical representation while maintaining a competitive qualification process. Europe will receive six places, while Asia, Africa, North America, Central America and the Caribbean, and South America will each have three representatives. Oceania will receive one place.
With 12 places still available, the remaining qualification picture will become clearer as continental competitions conclude over the next two years. FIFA has indicated that sporting performance will be central to the allocation process, with the aim of rewarding clubs that have demonstrated sustained success.
Arsenal and Barcelona are among the early qualifiers, giving European football two prominent representatives in the tournament. The inclusion of clubs from North America, South America, Asia and other regions is also expected to showcase the different styles and development pathways shaping the women’s game.
Alongside the hosting announcement, FIFA approved a financial package intended to improve support for teams and players participating in the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Each participating national association will receive $2.5 million in preparation funding before December 2026. The amount brings the preparation allocation in line with that provided to participating associations at the 2026 men’s World Cup.
FIFA also confirmed that players at the 2027 tournament will receive the same service levels as their male counterparts did in 2026. Any surplus generated by the competition will be distributed to participating national associations, with a designated portion reserved for players.
Further details concerning minimum guaranteed player payments, club benefits and financial distributions connected to the qualification pathway are expected to be discussed at FIFA’s Council meeting in December.
The measures form part of FIFA’s wider effort to strengthen the commercial and professional foundations of women’s football. Better financial support for national teams, improved player conditions and increased exposure for elite clubs could help narrow some of the longstanding gaps between the men’s and women’s games.
For clubs, the 2028 Women’s Club World Cup will offer an opportunity to compete for a new global title and reach supporters outside their domestic and continental markets. For FIFA, the challenge will be to turn the tournament’s launch into a sustainable competition that delivers meaningful sporting and financial benefits.
With the United States confirmed as host and the first seven teams already qualified, preparations for the historic tournament are now moving forward. The remaining places will be decided through the qualification framework, as clubs across the world pursue a chance to participate in the first edition of the competition.
