The inaugural Women's Club World Cup will be staged in January 2028 in the United States, FIFA said on Thursday, although host cities have not been confirmed. The 19-team event will run from January 5-30, 2028. Multiple reports had previously suggested Los Angeles and San Diego were being considered as host cities, but a FIFA spokesperson declined to confirm specific cities that will host games.
FIFA also approved the distribution of $2.5 million in preparation money to each participating member association at the 2027 Women's World Cup, the same amount granted to teams for the 2026 Men's World Cup. That is an increase from $960,000 per team for the 2023 Women's World Cup. FIFA said 2027 Women's World Cup players "will enjoy the same service levels as their male counterparts in 2026," and that surplus money would have a "specific amount ring-fenced for players." In 2023, every player was guaranteed a minimum of $30,000 from FIFA for their participation.
The U.S. has hosted a run of major events, including the expanded Men's Club World Cup in 2025 and the 2026 World Cup earlier this year. The country will also co-host the 2031 Women's World Cup, an uncontested bid expected to be formally approved by FIFA next month. Miami will host the scaled-down FIFA Women's Champions Cup in January, as FIFA previously announced.
Seven teams have already qualified for the 2028 tournament: Arsenal (England), Club América (Mexico), Barcelona (Spain), Gotham FC (United States), Naegohyang Women's FC (North Korea), SC Corinthians (Brazil) and Wuhan Jiangda WFC (China). FIFA confirmed that the AFC, CAF, Concacaf and CONMEBOL will each have three clubs, the OFC will have one, and UEFA will be granted six spots. FIFA chief women's football officer Dame Sarai Bareman said the United States' recent excellence in staging top FIFA tournaments and its strong interest in women's football made it "the standout option."
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing