Arsenal’s Champions Cup Victory: A Sign of Growth, But Challenges Remain for FIFA’s Club Competitions
Arsenal’s historic win in the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup against Corinthians marks a significant moment for the club and the tournament itself. However, the event’s journey to success wasn’t without hurdles, revealing broader challenges for FIFA as it expands its club competitions.
The DAZN Lifeline and Broadcast Rights
FIFA’s initial foray into a revamped Club World Cup last year, and now the Women’s Champions Cup, highlighted a need for strong broadcast partnerships. While a substantial $1 billion prize fund was allocated to the men’s tournament, securing commercial support proved tough. DAZN stepped in with a $1 billion acquisition of global media rights, rescuing the project. This pattern continued with the Women’s Champions Cup, with DAZN again securing global coverage, offering a free-to-air feed to maximize viewership.
Interestingly, FIFA deviated from this global approach by excluding DAZN’s coverage in the home markets of participating teams, opting for deals with Sky Sports (UK), CazéTV (Brazil), and TelevisaUnivision (US). The late timing of these announcements – just 13 days before the tournament began – underscored a broader hesitation in the market and the difficulties in attracting widespread interest.
Sponsorship Struggles and Brand Alignment
The sponsorship landscape for the Champions Cup mirrored the broadcast challenges. Kynisca was announced as the presenting partner relatively late, on January 22, 2026, and the tournament ultimately secured only three partners: Kynisca, Visa, and Aramco. Visa’s long-term commitment to women’s soccer, dating back to 2018 with UEFA, provided a stable foundation. However, Aramco’s involvement drew criticism, with over 100 players previously urging FIFA to end its partnership with the Saudi Arabian energy company.
The total revenue generated from these deals is estimated at $2.25 million annually, a modest figure compared to the investment in prize money.
Attendance and the Potential for Growth
The final match between Arsenal and Corinthians at the Emirates Stadium drew a crowd of 25,031, representing only 41.2% capacity. This is particularly noteworthy considering Arsenal Women’s success in attracting an average attendance of 34,110 for Women’s Super League matches at the same venue, with a season high of 56,700 against Tottenham Hotspur. The attendance figures suggest untapped potential for drawing larger crowds to women’s club matches in North London.
Prize Money Disparity and Future Investments
FIFA demonstrated a commitment to competitiveness by distributing $3.95 million across the six participating teams, with Arsenal receiving $2.3 million for winning the tournament. This prize money significantly exceeds what Arsenal earned for winning the 2024/25 UEFA Women’s Champions League (€500,000 / $590,000). However, the investment pales in comparison to the men’s FIFA Club World Cup, where Chelsea received $115.5 million and all competing clubs were guaranteed $38 million.
FIFA plans to launch a 16-team Women’s Club World Cup in 2028. Matching the investment in the men’s tournament would require a $500 million outlay, a figure that seems unlikely given the current financial landscape.
Scheduling Concerns and the Road Ahead
The proposed January 2028 dates for the Women’s Club World Cup have already faced criticism from clubs concerned about the impact on domestic scheduling, potentially affecting up to five rounds of matches in leagues like the Women’s Super League.
Despite these initial challenges, FIFA appears committed to expanding its involvement in club soccer, recognizing the long-term potential for revenue growth beyond the four-year cycle of the FIFA World Cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup?
A: It’s a novel FIFA-organized club tournament featuring top women’s teams from around the world. The inaugural edition took place in 2026.
Q: Who won the first FIFA Women’s Champions Cup?
A: Arsenal won the inaugural tournament, defeating Corinthians in the final.
Q: What role did DAZN play in the tournament?
A: DAZN acquired global media rights for the tournament, providing a free-to-air feed to fans worldwide.
Q: What are the concerns surrounding the 2028 Women’s Club World Cup?
A: Concerns center around the proposed January dates and the potential disruption to domestic league schedules.
Q: How does the prize money compare to other tournaments?
A: The Champions Cup offers significantly higher prize money than the UEFA Women’s Champions League, but less than the men’s FIFA Club World Cup.
