Premiere with 16 teams

First Club World Cup for women’s teams to be held in 2026

The best teams on the continent will travel to the Club World Cup.(Bild: AP/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

In a year and a half, FIFA will host the first Club World Cup for women's teams. The premiere with 16 teams is to take place in January and February 2026 and every four years thereafter. This was decided by the FIFA Council in Bangkok on Wednesday. In addition, there is to be another international competition for clubs in years in which no Club World Cup is held.

The Council approved the international match calendar for female footballers from 2026 to 2029, reducing the number of windows for international matches from six to five. This should give the players more opportunities for breaks and reduce the stress of traveling. The decisions are "an important milestone in taking the women's game to the next level," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

From next year, the men's Club World Cup will be held with 32 teams instead of the previous seven. Red Bull Salzburg will be taking part from Austria.