By: Belinda Nketia
FIFA will award a record-breaking $2.3 million to the winners of the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup. This is the largest single payout ever offered in women’s club football, as the governing body ramps up investment in the women’s game.
The runners-up will earn $1 million for reaching the final, scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at Arsenal Stadium in London. FIFA said the overall prize pool will approach $4 million, distributed among the six participating clubs based on performance.
The two semifinalists who fail to advance to the final will each receive $200,000, while Auckland United FC of New Zealand and Wuhan Chegu Jiangda WFC of China, who were eliminated in the opening rounds will earn $100,000 apiece.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström said the payout reflects growing confidence in women’s club football and the need for sustained financial backing to support players and teams worldwide.
The Women’s Champions Cup is part of a broader FIFA strategy aimed at strengthening the global women’s club ecosystem. Following the 2023 Women’s World Cup, FIFA distributed $11.3 million to more than 1,000 clubs through its Club Benefits Programme. Additional reforms include adjustments to the Women’s International Match Calendar and the launch of new elite competitions.
FIFA also plans to debut the Women’s Club World Cup in 2028, as it introduces measures such as training compensation, solidarity payments and minimum club standards to improve competitiveness and long-term sustainability.
The final stage of the 2026 Women’s Champions Cup will be held in London from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1. The semifinals are scheduled for Jan. 28 at Brentford Stadium, with Gotham FC of the United States facing Brazil’s SC Corinthians in the first match, followed by Arsenal Women FC taking on Morocco’s ASFAR.
The third-place match and championship final will be played Feb. 1 at Arsenal Stadium, where the first women’s intercontinental club champion will be crowned.
