Qatar is in advanced discussions with FIFA about hosting the first-ever Women's Club World Cup, a major new tournament scheduled for January 2028. The move, confirmed by sources close to the talks, is set to cause significant disruption to domestic football seasons across Europe and beyond.
Qatar's Bid and FIFA's New Tournament
The proposed event would take place from 5 to 30 January 2028, though FIFA has not yet announced a formal host or bidding process. Qatar's expression of interest is the latest in a series of tournament bids from the Gulf state, which has maintained a close relationship with football's global governing body since hosting the men's World Cup in 2022.
FIFA announced the creation of the 16-team Women's Club World Cup last month. The competition is planned to be held every four years. The format will include at least five clubs from Europe and two each from Asia, Africa, South America, and North America. A qualifying tournament involving one club from each of those five confederations, plus one from Oceania, will decide the final three entrants.
Controversy and Context
Awarding the inaugural tournament to Qatar would be contentious. The country has a limited history in women's football and its stance on LGBTQ+ rights has been heavily criticised. Qatar formed a women's national team in 2009 during its bid for the 2022 World Cup, but the side has not played an official FIFA match for 12 years and consequently does not hold a FIFA ranking.
However, Qatar possesses significant practical advantages for hosting. These include state-of-the-art stadiums built for the 2022 World Cup, a warm winter climate ideal for a January event, and its established ties with FIFA. The governing body's president, Gianni Infantino, has a strong working relationship with Qatari officials.
Qatar has recently hosted other FIFA events, including the Intercontinental Cup in Al-Rayyan last month and the upcoming men's Finalissima between Spain and Argentina in Doha this March. The nation had also expressed interest in staging the men's Club World Cup in 2029, but those plans were shelved after FIFA decided to hold that tournament in the northern hemisphere summer.
Fixture Congestion and Global Disruption
The timing of the January 2028 tournament highlights the growing issue of fixture congestion in the women's game. While it will not clash with the UEFA Women's Champions League, it will interrupt numerous domestic league seasons.
Major European leagues, along with established competitions in Australia, Mexico, and Japan, are likely to be affected and may be forced to implement an extended winter break. This adds another layer of complexity to an already crowded football calendar.
FIFA sources state that formal bids for the hosting rights have not yet been received, and the nature of any bidding process remains undiscussed. Another Gulf nation, Saudi Arabia, is considered a possible alternative host but is already committed to staging the four-team Spanish Super Cup in January 2028.
Clubs are awaiting FIFA's finalised entry criteria. Arsenal, as the reigning Champions League winners, expect to be among the European participants in the groundbreaking competition.
