Dates Confirmed For 2028 Inaugural Women's Club World Cup
3 minute readPublished: Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 6:04 pm
FIFA Announces Dates for Inaugural Women's Club World Cup
Zurich, Switzerland - FIFA has announced the dates for the inaugural Women's Club World Cup, set to take place in January 2028. The tournament will run from January 5th to January 30th. The host nation has yet to be determined. The timing of the event suggests a location with a warm climate will be selected.
The decision to launch the Women's Club World Cup follows the expansion of the men's Club World Cup, which recently concluded. FIFA's council approved the dates during a meeting. The tournament will feature 16 teams.
The competition format includes four groups of four teams, followed by a knockout stage beginning with the quarterfinals. A "play-in" phase will involve six teams, with three advancing to the main tournament.
The allocation of teams among confederations has been confirmed. Europe will be guaranteed five spots in the tournament. Asia, Africa, Concacaf, and South America will each have two representatives. All five confederations, along with Oceania, will participate in the "play-in" phase.
The January timeframe presents some scheduling challenges. The tournament will coincide with the ongoing seasons of top European domestic leagues. However, it will not conflict with the Women's Champions League, which takes a break during January. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States will be in its offseason.
BNN's Perspective:
The launch of the Women's Club World Cup is a significant step forward for women's soccer. While the scheduling conflicts with some domestic leagues will need careful management, the tournament promises to elevate the profile of the women's game and provide a platform for top clubs from around the world to compete. The format appears balanced, and the allocation of spots across confederations seems fair.
Keywords: Women's Club World Cup, FIFA, January 2028, soccer, tournament, women's soccer, club competition, international football, football, sports, women's sports, schedule, teams, confederations