As we have entered the new year, soccer fans all over the world have so much to be excited for. There are various international and club-level tournaments that fill this year’s schedule. Let’s take a closer look at just what we have in store this year.
Club Competitions
FIFA Women’s Championship Cup
This club tournament will continue as the semi-finals and final remain to be played. The semi-finals will be held on January 28, where Gotham FC will face SC Corinthians and Arsenal Women FC will play against ASFAR. The two teams who come out victorious will meet each other in the finals on February 1.
UEFA Women’s Champion League Final
European soccer is much more important and electric when being played in the UEFA Champions League tournament. Only clubs who are the best of the best make it into the tournament and build a legacy if they lift the trophy at the very end. The tournament will continue with the knockout stage with games held on February 11, 12, 18, and 19. The championship match is scheduled for May 23 in Oslo, Norway.
CONCACAF W Champions Cup Finals:
While Europe has the UEFA Champions League tournament, America has CONCACAF, where clubs from all areas of the American continent compete. In 2026, the semi-finals and championship match will be held in May. Club America will play Gotham FC, while Washington Spirit will face Pachuca to see which squads will play for the title. There will also be an international CONCACAF tournament which we will dive into more ahead in this article.
Honorable Mention: the 2026 NWSL Season Kickoff!
With many trades being completed already and the expansion of the league with the addition of two more squads, what are we to expect in the upcoming NWSL season? Well, with the return of Sophia Wilson, we can expect a lot of attention being put on the Thorns. Can we expect to see Gotham pick up where they left off? Possibly. Or how about another dominant season from KC Current with a trophy at the end this time around? Maybe. There is so much to predict and so much to look forward to!
International Team Competitions
AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026
In March, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup will kick off with the host country Australia facing the Philippines. Various teams representing different countries on the Asian continent will challenge each other to see who will emerge as the most dominant Asian country on the soccer field. The
Four semi-finalists of the tournament will earn direct 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification.
Women’s AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations)
This tournament holds the same concept as the Asian Cup, where national squads will compete to determine who is the strongest soccer team in the entirety of the continent. 16 national teams across Africa will participate in the tournament held in Morocco from March 17 to April 3. Similar to the Asian Cup, the top four teams will earn direct qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
International CONCACAF W Championship
8 teams will finish the tournament with hopes of securing direct qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics. As of now, the USA and Canada are the only two squads confirmed in the CONCACAF W Championship due to being the top two ranked teams in the tournament. The remaining 6 teams must win their groups. Group games will be played from late February to mid-April.
Image via @sydneyfootballclub
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