Gotham FC Chases History at First Women's Champions Cup

Women's soccer just got its biggest stage yet, and Gotham FC wants to make history again.

The 2025 NWSL champions arrived in England this week ready to compete in the inaugural Women's Champions Cup, a brand new intercontinental tournament that brings together the world's best women's club teams. Gotham faces Brazil's Corinthians on Wednesday in the semifinal at Brentford's stadium, with the championship match set for Sunday at Emirates Stadium.

For Gotham, winning championships is becoming a habit. The team shocked everyone as the eighth seed in last year's NWSL playoffs, defeating top teams before claiming the title. They then won the first-ever Concacaf Champions Cup in May, beating Mexico's Tigres to punch their ticket to London.

"The hunger they have to win is unbelievable," said Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amorós. "They win one competition and they're already thinking about the next one."

The tournament represents a major milestone for women's club soccer worldwide. Six continental champions are competing, including UEFA Champions League winner Arsenal and representatives from South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. The winner takes home $2.3 million, while the runner-up earns $1 million.

The Ripple Effect

This tournament signals real investment in women's soccer at the club level. The total prize pool of $3.9 million demonstrates serious commitment from FIFA, especially considering Arsenal earned only $1.8 million for winning last year's UEFA Champions League.

The timing capitalizes on explosive growth in the women's game. The 2025 Women's European Championship just set records for attendance and viewership. Barcelona's 2022 Champions League final against Real Madrid drew over 91,000 fans, a world record for women's club soccer.

The new Champions Cup will be held annually, complementing FIFA's planned 16-team Women's Club World Cup launching in 2028. Together, these competitions create a global calendar that matches the ambition and talent of women's players.

Defender Mandy Freeman captured Gotham's mindset perfectly during preseason training in Spain. "We want to not only be the first to win these types of competitions, but to continue that legacy and keep coming back to fight for championships."

With their NWSL season starting March 14, Gotham is using this tournament as the ultimate warmup, and they're hungry to add another trophy to their growing collection.