FIFA has unveiled a record $2.3 million payout for winners of the first-ever Women's Champions Cup—the highest single award in women's club football history. The intercontinental tournament's final phase begins next week in London, with semi-finals on January 28 featuring top clubs from four confederations, underscoring FIFA's investment in the sport's growth.
The inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup brings together confederation winners to crown the first intercontinental women's club champion. Six teams qualified, but after play-in rounds in October and December, Auckland United FC (OFC) and Wuhan Chegu Jiangda WFC (AFC) were eliminated, leaving Arsenal Women FC (UEFA), Gotham FC (CONCACAF), SC Corinthians (CONMEBOL), and ASFAR (CAF).
Semi-finals are set for Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium in London: Gotham FC vs. SC Corinthians at 12:30 GMT, followed by Arsenal vs. ASFAR at 18:00 GMT. The third-place match and final will occur on Sunday, February 1, at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, kicking off at 14:45 GMT and 18:00 GMT, respectively. Tickets remain available for fans in London.
FIFA announced the prize structure on January 23, distributing nearly $4 million total. Winners receive $2.3 million, runners-up $1 million, losing semi-finalists $200,000 each, and earlier-eliminated teams $100,000 apiece. For context, Arsenal earned about €1.5 million ($1.8 million) for winning last season's UEFA Women's Champions League, while FIFA distributed $1 billion across 32 teams in the men's 2025 Club World Cup.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström described the payouts as "a clear statement of belief in women’s club football and the players, teams and competitions driving its continued rise." He added that it "reflects the global growth of the women’s game and FIFA’s commitment to making targeted, meaningful investments that strengthen women’s club football for the long term."
This annual event precedes the full Women's Club World Cup in 2028 and aligns with initiatives like the $11.3 million distributed to 1,041 clubs via the FIFA Club Benefits Programme after the 2023 Women's World Cup.