FIFA lifts women’s funding and confirms US club tournament
FIFA has increased preparation funding for the 2027 Women’s World Cup to US$80m and named the United States as host of the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup, expanding financial support and international competition for the women’s game.
FIFA will provide each team at the 2027 Women’s World Cup with US$2.5m in preparation funding, matching the allocation for men’s teams in 2026, while staging its first Women’s Club World Cup in the United States in January 2028.The decisions combine increased distributions for national-team stakeholders with a new global club competition, creating additional sporting and commercial opportunities across women’s football.FIFA chief women’s football officer Dame Sarai Bareman said: “We undertook a detailed assessment to identify the most suitable host for the inaugural edition of the FIFA Women’s Club World Cup.“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.”Preparation funding for Brazil 2027 will total US$80m across 32 participating associations, compared with approximately US$31m for the 2023 tournament.FIFA says the funds will be made available before December 2026, giving associations additional resources ahead of the first Women’s World Cup staged in South America.Players will also receive business-class or charter flights and individual hotel rooms, bringing those provisions into line with the men’s 2026 tournament.The total prize fund remains undecided, with further details of the financial distribution model due for discussion at December’s FIFA Council meeting.Approved principles include higher minimum guaranteed player payments, an enhanced Club Benefits Programme and distributions to national teams involved in qualification.Any tournament surplus will be allocated to participating associations, with a specified amount ring-fenced for players.The separate Women’s Club World Cup will run from January 5–30, 2028, featuring 19 teams drawn from all six confederations.Bareman continued: “Alongside the vibrant and passionate women’s football ecosystem in the United States, the qualified clubs, government, host cities, our commercial and media partners and more, our mission will be to set an impressive standard for global women’s club football and a benchmark for the future.”Arsenal, Barcelona, Gotham FC, Club América Femenil, Corinthians, Naegohyang and Wuhan Jiangda are the first seven confirmed participants.UEFA will have six places, with three each for the AFC, CAF, Concacaf and CONMEBOL, plus one for Oceania.Qualification prioritises continental champions from seasons ending between 2024 and 2027, with rankings used to allocate additional places or address repeat winners.A two-club limit will normally apply to each European association, except where more than two clubs from the same country have won the continental competition during the qualifying period.No equivalent country cap will apply to the other confederations.Bareman said: “These seven clubs, and a dozen more, will come together to show the strength and depth of women’s club football to a global audience.“They will have the opportunity to tell their story, expand their fan base and represent their club on the world stage. They have thoroughly earned this opportunity to be part of history in the United States.”FIFA also revised the final-stage schedule for the separate 2027 Women’s Champions Cup, which brings continental champions together between Club World Cup editions.Miami’s Nu Stadium will host semi-finals on January 26 and 27, followed by the bronze match and final as a double-header on January 31.