Women’s Champions Cup: What do fans think of the competition?

The Women’s Champions Cup will be organized annually, except for years that include the Women’s Club World Cup, another new FIFA competition that will be held every four years and will be held for the first time in 2028.

If Arsenal are successful in Sunday’s final, they will receive £1.7m in prize money – the largest sum in club football, surpassing the figures awarded to teams competing in the World Sevens Championships in 2025.

Teams eliminated from the Champions Cup in the first round still receive £73,500, while Sunday’s runners-up receive £735,000.

This prize money makes it an attractive competition, as well as providing the opportunity for clubs from different continents to face each other.

Among the stars who participated in the opening match on Wednesday was the Gotham trio consisting of English defender Jess Carter, German goalkeeper Anne-Katrin Berger, American midfielder Rose Lavelle, and Corinthians top scorer Gabi Zanotti.

“It’s another opportunity to win a title and it’s great for other clubs to be exposed to the English game because women’s football is so big here,” Arsenal season ticket holder Alana Ball told BBC Sport.

London-based Corinthians fans stole the show with a 1-0 win over Gotham, providing a carnival atmosphere and celebrating wildly when they scored in the 83rd minute, shocking the American champions.

The Royal Army fans booed when Arsenal players took possession of the ball, but they calmed down as the European champions increased their lead.

Overall, the atmosphere was strong with 8,066 people in attendance and the competition was fun.

England national team manager Sarina Wegman was present alongside former USA coach and current FIFA head of football, Jill Ellis.

Arsenal’s goal at the start of the season was to win the Premier League title and compete in the Champions League, but many fans are also keen to succeed in this competition.

“It’s the first, so I think it will be really important to win it,” season ticket holder Olivia Bolend told BBC Sport.

“It’s a big boost for the women’s game and for Arsenal to get more experience and expertise. It’s really important.”