Women’s Club World Cup to debut in January 2028, FIFA confirms

FIFA(Fédération Internationale de Football Association) has confirmed that the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup will be held from January 5 to 30, 2028, marking a major step in the global growth of the women’s game. The tournament will bring together the world’s leading club teams for the first time under a unified FIFA competition.

While the host nation is yet to be announced, FIFA indicated the event is likely to be staged in a country with a warm climate, given the January window. The dates were approved at a meeting of FIFA’s council in Doha, Qatar.

The Women’s Club World Cup will feature 16 teams, mirroring FIFA’s expanded vision for club competitions after the introduction of the revamped men’s Club World Cup earlier this year. The format will include four groups of four teams, with the top sides advancing to a knockout stage starting from the quarterfinals.The teams have not been decided yet.

In addition, a six-team “play-in” phase will be held before the main tournament, with three teams progressing to complete the 16-team lineup.

Europe will have the strongest representation, with five guaranteed places in the tournament. Asia, Africa, Concacaf and South America will each be allotted two spots. The six-team play-in round will feature one representative from each confederation, including Oceania.

The January scheduling means the competition will overlap with domestic league seasons in Europe, including England’s Women’s Super League. However, it will not clash with the UEFA Women’s Champions League, which pauses during January. The timing also fits well with the calendar of the United States’ National Women’s Soccer League, which is in its offseason at that time.

FIFA said the new tournament is aimed at raising the profile and competitiveness of women’s club football worldwide.India is not likely to be represented in the inaugural 2028 edition.