Women's Club World Cup row builds as WSL warns of catastrophic' impact

"A WSL spokesperson added that they believe clubs and players are also opposed to the schedule, but the league are stopping short of calling for a boycott or threatening to withdraw English teams from the competition, adding: We are not against the introduction of new tournaments in principle [but] those dates would have an impact on five WSL match rounds."

"The qualification pathways for different continental confederations has not yet been revealed, nor has a host. On Tuesday, Fifa's chief football officer and former USWNT coach Jill Ellis appeared to be open to the possibility of the 2028 Cup being contested in the Middle East, and criticised anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the United States when warning of hypocrisy and not wanting to throw stones in glass houses when discussing the prospect of Qatar hosting the event."

The WSL opposes the January 5–30, 2028 dates for the inaugural Women's Club World Cup and has presented its case strongly to FIFA. The league believes clubs and players are also opposed but has stopped short of calling for a boycott or preventing member clubs from participating. The WSL says the proposed dates would affect five WSL match rounds and requests the competition be staged during the northern hemisphere summer. Qualification pathways and a host have not been revealed. FIFA has discussed Qatar as a possible host, and FIFA officials have signalled openness to a Middle East venue while noting political concerns. The January timing would not clash with Women's Champions League ties but would impact many domestic European leagues, despite a WSL winter break from mid-December to early January. The new tournament had originally been targeted for 2026 but was delayed.

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