FIFA Names U.S. Host of First Women's Club World Cup, Set for Jan. 5-30, 2028

FIFA said Thursday, Oct. 22, that the United States will host the first FIFA Women's Club World Cup, to be played Jan. 5-30, 2028. The tournament will feature 19 clubs from all six continental confederations and will be held every four years after that.

FIFA did not name host cities.

Why the U.S. got the nod

FIFA's stated reasons were practical. "The decision was taken in view of its experience in organising FIFA tournaments, the maturity of its infrastructure and services and the level of stakeholder interest in women's football in the country," the governing body said.

Sarai Bareman, FIFA's chief women's football officer, said FIFA ran a "detailed assessment" before choosing. "Ultimately, the United States' recent excellence in staging top FIFA tournaments, combined with the significant interest in women's football there plus its elite sporting infrastructure, made the country the standout option," she said.

The track record is recent. The U.S. hosted the expanded 32-team men's Club World Cup in the summer of 2025. It then co-hosted this year's men's World Cup with Mexico and Canada. Spain won that tournament.

The field

Seven clubs have already booked spots:

• Arsenal (England)
• Barcelona (Spain)
• Club América Femenil (Mexico)
• Gotham FC (United States)
• Corinthians (Brazil)
• Wuhan Jiangda (China)
• Naegohyang (North Korea)

FIFA said those seven slots were awarded to balance competitive quality with global representation. They prioritized continental champions from seasons ending between 2024 and 2027.

The full 19-team allocation breaks down this way: three clubs each from Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), North America (Concacaf) and South America (Conmebol); one from Oceania (OFC); and six from Europe (UEFA).

The other 12 spots will be settled through UEFA and Concacaf ranking systems. FIFA said it will build its own club ranking mechanism for the remaining confederations.

No African club is among the seven confirmed. CAF's Women's Champions League was won by TP Mazembe in 2024 and AS FAR in 2025, and FIFA has not said how Africa's three places will be filled.

Why 2028

The tournament was originally slated for 2026. FIFA pushed it back two years to give it a clear window after the 2027 Women's World Cup and before the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

The January dates also create a scheduling squeeze. The window falls in the NWSL offseason, but it lands in the middle of the European season. Competitions will have to make special room in the schedule for the clubs taking part.

FIFA called the event "a major milestone for the professionalisation and global expansion of the women's club game, giving elite club sides a true world stage to compete on every four years." Bareman said participating clubs "have thoroughly earned this opportunity to be part of history in the United States."

Three things remain open: the host cities and venues, the identity of the 12 clubs still to qualify, and how the continental ranking mechanisms will work. Those details will determine whether the event matches the scale of the men's Club World Cup FIFA is using as its template.