FIFA Announces Women's Club World Cup for 2028

FIFA announced Wednesday that the inaugural Women's Club World Cup will take place from January 5 to 30, 2028, marking the first global club tournament for women's soccer. The decision came during a meeting of the FIFA Council in Doha, Qatar, with no host nation yet confirmed, though the winter dates suggest a location with a warm climate.

The 16-team competition follows the expanded men's Club World Cup held in the United States this past summer. Initially planned for 2026, the women's edition was postponed to 2028 after extensive consultations with stakeholders, who requested additional time to prepare adequately. The tournament will coincide with the 2028 Olympic Games in the United States, scheduled for July 14 to 30.

The format includes four groups of four teams, followed by a knockout stage starting at the quarterfinals. A separate six-team play-in phase will determine three additional qualifiers for the main draw. Europe will receive five guaranteed spots, reflecting its dominance in the sport, while Asia, Africa, Concacaf and South America will each have two. The play-in participants will represent all five confederations plus Oceania.

The scheduling has drawn attention...