The United States is on the verge of securing hosting rights for the inaugural Women's Club World Cup, with the 19-team competition set to take place in January 2028. According to reports, discussions between American organisers and FIFA are at an advanced stage, with Los Angeles and San Diego emerging as the leading candidates to stage matches.

The tournament would follow a similar path to the expanded men's Club World Cup, which debuted last year, in being awarded to a nation that also played host to the men's World Cup — the USA, Canada and Mexico having staged the global showpiece this past summer. Notably, the United States appears set to receive the event without going through a formal bidding process, even though Qatar had been in active discussions with FIFA about putting itself forward as a potential host.

Tight timeline, crowded calendar

The January scheduling is deliberate. Placing the Women's Club World Cup in the opening days of 2028 sidesteps a direct conflict with the men's Copa America, for which the United States is the frontrunner to host in the summer of that year. However, it does raise legitimate concerns about player welfare, given the competition sits squarely between the 2027 Women's World Cup and the 2028 Paris Olympics — two tournaments that will demand clubs release their best internationals.

Those workload pressures are already causing unease among leading clubs. A number of top sides are reportedly pushing for a rule change that would limit players to one major international tournament per year, regardless of whether that means representing club or country. FIFA has yet to formally address the proposal.

With the Women's Club World Cup scheduled to kick off on 5 January 2028, the window to organise, market and sell the competition is tight. Sources have pointed to the ongoing turbulence within FIFA's leadership — stemming from the fallout over Gianni Infantino's ill-fated FFE scheme — as a key reason why several hosting decisions remain unresolved. In July, Europe's leading clubs threatened to withdraw from future Club World Cup editions unless the FFE project was abandoned and a joint venture between European Football Clubs and FIFA was formally signed off before any television rights deals were struck for the women's edition.

A dry run for 2031

FIFA's interest in staging the Women's Club World Cup in the United States goes beyond the competition itself. The governing body is keen to use the tournament as a test case ahead of the 2031 Women's World Cup, which the USA will co-host alongside Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica — a decision expected to receive formal approval at an Extraordinary FIFA Congress on 23 November. Assessing stadium readiness, ticket pricing and public demand at a 19-team event provides valuable intelligence before a 48-team World Cup arrives three years later.

Meanwhile, the 2029 men's Club World Cup remains without a confirmed host. The United States has expressed interest there too, but if the women's tournament is confirmed on American soil, the men's equivalent appears more likely to be co-hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal — the trio set to jointly stage the 2030 men's World Cup.

FIFA did not comment when approached by the publication that broke the story. But with the pieces moving quickly into place, the women's game is on the cusp of a landmark moment. A bespoke Club World Cup, played in one of the world's biggest football markets, would mark a significant step forward — provided the calendar chaos and governance concerns that have shadowed this process can be resolved in time.

Frequently asked

When is the Women's Club World Cup taking place?
The inaugural Women's Club World Cup is scheduled to begin on 5 January 2028, with the United States in advanced talks to host the 19-team tournament.
Which cities could host the Women's Club World Cup?
Los Angeles and San Diego are reported to be among the favoured host cities, with venues such as SoFi Stadium in LA linked to the competition.
How many teams will be in the Women's Club World Cup?
The tournament is planned as a 19-team competition, giving it a distinct format from the expanded men's Club World Cup that launched last year.