FIFA are continuing to highlight an unwavering support for women’s football with introduction of the Women’s Champions Cup.
The inaugural tournament has seen matches take place already and it is scheduled to be concluded in February next year, where the two teams that get to the final will play at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium for the trophy.
Arsenal are one of the teams who have secured a place in the semi finals which are taking place at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford. They will play Moroccan side AS FAR before the other semi final is contested between the NWSL’s Gotham NY/NJ and Corinthians, the champions of the Copa Libertadores Femenina, South America’s biggest women’s football tournament. The losing teams from these semi-finals will face a third place play off at the Emirates.
Jill Ellis, FIFA Chief Football Officer said:
“London has emerged as a global hotspot for women’s football. The unwavering passion of the fans, the substantial investment in the sport and the remarkable success of England’s Lionesses have fostered an environment in which the women’s game is thriving more than ever before.”
Richard Garlick, Arsenal CEO said:
We’re thrilled that the third-place match and final will be played at Arsenal Stadium, as we continue to pioneer and drive growth in the women’s game with our supporters.”
Hosting the remainder of the tournament in London is an excellent decision which will increase the growing stature of the women’s game. The Emirates and the Gtech are two stadiums with capacities that can result in high attendances. If Arsenal were to get to the final, it would be the chance for Renée Slegers and her team to win a trophy on home soil.
Also, global appeal could see a rise due to the nature of the competition and with teams from different confederations participating. According to an article from Inside FIFA, there is an ongoing objective to “promote football across all 211 member associations” and a tournament like this which features clubs from different regions would be beneficial in trying to achieve this target
FIFA hope that the tournament will be successful and when it comes to a close in February next year, they hope that the final will be an enthralling, exciting end to the first edition of this tournament.
