Winning the Women’s Champions League saw us create history, and we'll do so once again by competing in the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup in early 2026.
The newly created tournament will see the best women’s clubs from around the world compete for a new trophy, and the title of world champions, but how will it work and what else do we know so far?
Here is a handy guide to the tournament we hope to add to our illustrious honours board:
WHAT IS IT?
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The tournament will feature the champion clubs from each of the six continental confederations - UEFA (Europe), CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia), CONCACAF (North America), CONMEBOL (South America) and OFC (Oceania).
It will take place in a cycle of three years in every four, with the exception of the year in which another new tournament - the FIFA Women's Club World Cup - is held. That will first be held in 2028, and we will be one of 19 clubs battling for that prize thanks to our success against Barcelona in Lisbon.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
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Six teams will compete for the prize. In round one, the champions of the AFC Women's Champions League will host the winners of the OFC Women's Champions League, meaning Wuhan Jianghan will tackle Auckland United.
Then in round two, the winners of that tie head to the triumphant side in the CAF Women's Champions League, which will be determined in November.
The team that advances from that tie will be our opponents in the semi-final, while the other final four clash will see CONCACAF champions Gotham FC face the champions of October's Copa Libertadores Femenina. The winners will meet in the final, while the losers battle in the third-place play-off.
WHERE WILL IT BE PLAYED?
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While the first two rounds will be held at the home sides of the AFC and CAF champions, from the semi-finals onwards, all four remaining teams will compete for the silverware in a neutral country predetermined by FIFA.
This has yet to be selected, meaning we still don't know where we'll be heading this winter.
WHO ARE OUR potential opponents?
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In total we will play two out of five possible teams across the semi-final and final stage (or the third-place play-off if we lose the semi-final).
**Wuhan Jiangda - potential semi-final opponent**
Chinese Women’s Super League club Wuhan Jiangda were founded in 2001 and won the AFC Women’s Champions League on penalties against Melbourne City in May.
They went 1-0 down in the 76th minute, but Wang Shuang scored a 98th minute equaliser from the spot, and it was Wuhan Jiangda who emerged victorious from the shootout, winning 5-4 thanks to Chen Chen’s save.
It’s been a rapid rise, given that Wuhan Jiangda were only promoted to the Chinese WSL in 2017; a league they have since won back-to-back for the last five seasons.
**Auckland United - potential semi-final opponent**
New Zealand Women’s National League side Auckland were founded just five years ago as an amalgamation between Onehunga Sports and Three Kings United.
They won their second OFC Women’s Champions League in Tahiti in May by beating Hekari 1-0 in the final, Zoe Benson their top scorer with eight goals in the competition. They had two 11-0 wins in the group stage, and a 6-1 success in the semi-finals!
**Gotham FC - potential final opponent**
Founded in 2006 as Jersey Sky Blue, American team Gotham FC compete in the National Women’s Soccer League. Between 2008 and 2020 they were known as Sky Blue FC, and as NJ/NY Gotham FC from 2021 to 2024.
They’re now managed by former Tottenham Hotspur Women assistant manager Juan Carlos Amoros.
Gotham won the CONCACAF W Champions Cup with a 1-0 victory over Tigres UANL in May, Esther Gonzalez scoring the only goal of the game.
WSL and Lionesses fans will be familiar with Jess Carter, who moved to Gotham from Chelsea in July 2024.
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