In what was initially seen as a significant step forward for the global promotion of women’s soccer, FIFA President <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/gianni-infantino/">Gianni Infantino</a> announced the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup, set to be held in January-February 2026. However, with less than a year remaining before the scheduled kickoff, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/fifa/">FIFA</a> is reportedly preparing to make a controversial decision regarding the competition.



During its May 2024 meeting in Bangkok, the FIFA Council confirmed plans for a 16-team tournament to be held every four years, set to take place during the European domestic season, between the Women’s Champions League group stages and knockout rounds. Infantino expressed his enthusiasm for the tournament at the time:



“To this date, we don’t have a global club competition for women. Yet we are asking (men’s) clubs to form women’s clubs all over the world… For this reason, (we want) to have a 16-team FIFA Women’s Club World Cup in January/February 2026,” Infantino stated. However, with no host nation announced and critical logistical details still unresolved, FIFA is now expected to delay the tournament.



According to The Athletic, FIFA is expected to postpone next year’s Women’s Club World Cup due to the lack of a confirmed host nation, tournament format, and qualification criteria. Nearly ten months after its announcement, the tournament remains without a clear structure, which has also hindered the securing of commercial and broadcast deals.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/03/03224030/FC-Barcelona-Women-Champions-League-1200x675-1200x675.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-557901" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></div></figure>



While FIFA has yet to release an official statement, reports indicate that the decision is expected to be formalized during the next FIFA Council meeting on Wednesday.



<h2>What’s next for the Women’s Club World Cup?</h2>



With the 16-team format postponed, FIFA is reportedly considering a smaller-scale Women’s Club World Cup in 2025, featuring four to six teams. This would mirror the Men’s Intercontinental Cup model, including clubs from different federations worldwide.



As for the original 16-team tournament, FIFA is expected to delay its launch by at least 12 months. Officials believe that postponing the event and holding a smaller competition in the meantime will create the necessary time and space for stakeholders to properly structure and commercialize the tournament before its full-scale debut.

FIFA reportedly to make controversial decision on the 2026 Women’s Club World Cup

FIFA reportedly to make controversial decision on the 2026 Women’s Club World Cup - World Soccer Talk

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FIFA officially announced a Women’s Club World Cup will happen for the first time in early 2026. The decision was made regarding the tournament at an annual meeting on Wednesday. The FIFA Council gathered ahead of the 74th FIFA Congress in Thailand to discuss a wide range of topics. 



A majority of the meetings, however, surrounded the future of women’s soccer. As a result, FIFA confirmed the 2026-2029 women’s international calendar. A significant piece of this new schedule will include the Women’s Club World Cup. 



The men’s version of the competition was initially introduced back in 2000. Interest in the club tournament has not exactly met FIFA’s expectations. Consequently, the sport’s governing body has recently opted to drastically increase the men’s Club World Cup to include 32 total teams. The newly reformatted competition will debut in the United States in 2025.



<h2>Women’s Club World Cup to only take place every 4 years</h2>



The upcoming Women’s Club World Cup will follow the new suit of the men’s competition and happen every four years. Starting in 2026, the Women’s Club World Cup will also only happen once every four years. Plans are also in place to only allow 16 teams to feature in the women’s tournament.



The 2026 Women’s Club World Cup will feature the best teams from across the globe. UEFA, however, currently has a stronghold on the women’s club rankings. In fact, 22 European teams recently cracked the top 25 <a href="https://iffhs.com/posts/3303" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coefficient ratings</a> by the International Federation of Football History &amp; Statistics (IFFHS). Nevertheless, clubs from South America, North America and Africa all featured in the top 70 of the rankings.



Along with officially scheduling the new tournament, FIFA members made alterations to the women’s calendar. The governing body has reduced the number of annual international windows from six to five. The decision, according to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, will help give players ample rest.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/16042221/Barcelona-UWCL-1200x670-1200x670.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-506912" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></div></figure>



“The Women’s International Match Calendar and the subsequent amendments to our regulations represent an important milestone in our pledge to take the women’s game to the next level by enhancing competitiveness across the world, particularly in those regions where women’s football is less developed and protecting the well-being of the players,” <a href="https://inside.fifa.com/about-fifa/organisation/fifa-council/media-releases/fifa-council-approves-womens-international-match-calendar-2026-2029" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stated</a> Infantino.



<h2>Players union unhappy with certain decisions by FIFA</h2>



The five women’s international windows will now take place in February-March, April, May-June, October, and November-December. The governing body has avoided scheduling international women’s matches in July and September. Players and coaches previously criticized putting games in these windows.



While FIFA applauded its own move, others are more skeptical. According to a report by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/may/15/fifa-criticised-for-lack-of-mandatory-rest-periods-in-new-womens-calendar" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Guardian</a>, player union organization FIFPro previously asked for mandatory rest periods at certain times throughout the new calendar. This request, however, has been denied by FIFA. Instead, the governing body will leave the inclusion of rest periods up to the discretion of each specific confederation and domestic league.



The union also asserts that the Women’s Leagues Forum did not have any say whatsoever in FIFA’s newly updated schedule. The group currently represents top divisions such as the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nwsl-tv-schedule-and-streaming-links/">National Women’s Soccer League</a> and Spain’s Liga F.



FIFA’s continued scheduling changes have come under intense backlash in recent months. Both men’s and women’s players have joined together in the fight to reduce their total number of matches. Players on both sides have even recently <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/this-means-war-players-to-sue-fifa-for-jam-packed-schedules-20231230-WST-480532.html">threatened to sue</a> FIFA regarding an increasingly packed fixture list.



PHOTOS: IMAGO

FIFA introduces Women's Club World Cup as new calendar swells

FIFA has officially announced that a Women's Club World Cup tournament will be organized for the first time in early 2026.

It seems that plans are afoot to establish yet another premier women’s club soccer competition. The likelihood has significantly increased that the world’s leading women’s club teams will participate in a tournament.



For more than ten years, women’s game officials have broached the topic of a world championship. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fifa-boss-says-soccer-will-be-top-sport-in-north-america-20221217-WST-412608.html">Gianni Infantino</a>, president of FIFA, expressed his desire to have one “as soon as possible” as early as 2019.



Then, in December 2022, the FIFA Council approved the inclusion of the Women’s Futsal World Cup and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/womens-soccer-tv-schedule/">Women’s Club World Cup</a>. Additionally, further adjustments to the game’s schedule won’t made until 2025, he disclosed at the time.



<h2>When will Women’s Club World Cup star?</h2>



Now, a fresh source states that FIFA are planning to host the first Women’s Club World Cup in 2026. Their UEFA counterparts voiced objections, serving as the main obstacle in this case.



There was concern among European authorities that the tournament’s frequency might have a negative effect on other events. The Athletic reports that FIFA have tentatively scheduled a date for the inaugural edition of the Women’s Club World Cup.



It will mark the next step in developing the competition. The groups involved have also agreed to hold the competition every two years.



At this point in time, the location and date of the Women’s Club World Cup are unknown. This is because of the 2026 Men’s World Cup which will take place in the US, Mexico, and Canada. The teams that will be competing have also remained undisclosed.



Until last year, the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/club-world-cup-tv-schedule-streaming-links/">Men’s Club World Cup</a> featured one host nation team and one top team from each confederation. But that will all change in 2025 when the tournament structure alters to accommodate 32 teams. Therefore, the women’s tournament format is still up in the air.



The specifics of the Women’s Club World Cup still need some work, but it seems like everyone is on the same page that it will happen. Formal specifics, however, remain limited at this time.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="439" height="574" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/16050405/image-16-439x574.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-484621" sizes="(max-width: 439px) 100vw, 439px"></figure></div><figcaption>The women’s game will have a new competition in 2026</figcaption></figure>



<h2>How will Women’s Club World Cup work?</h2>



For this new event, FIFA must guarantee that all regions will be well-represented. This may be a stretch for the women’s version, in contrast to the recently enlarged men’s tournament, which will include 32 teams.



Consequently, a 16-team system seems to be the best option moving ahead. Also, all six of soccer’s confederations will be represented: Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North and Central America.



The original intention was to hold this competition annually. However, due to UEFA’s objections, the governing body has decided to implement a plan for biannual Women’s Club World Cups beginning in 2026.



In 2026, FIFA will need to figure out a way to schedule it so it doesn’t conflict with the summertime men’s World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.



That being the case, the only acceptable seasons for a Women’s Club World Cup are winter, spring, or fall. In addition, FIFA would have to work out the details with the local leagues in North America and Europe to have the event included to their schedules.



Photo credit: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Inaugural Women’s Club World Cup: FIFA set target date

It seems that are afoot to establish yet another premier women's club soccer competition, an inaugural Women’s Club World Cup.

Inaugural Women’s Club World Cup: FIFA set target date - World Soccer Talk

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