Arsenal and Chelsea set to miss a month of next WSL season due to Club World Cup

Back end of 2027-28 season likely to be ‘challenging’Fixture contestion a growing area of concernThe Women’s Super League will face major disruption next season due to the Club World Cup, with Arsenal and Chelsea likely to be absent from domestic competition for up to a month.The Guardian revealed last week that the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup is set to be awarded to the US, with transatlantic travel to cause additional problems for European sides, while the proposed dates of 5-30 January will clash directly with the WSL. Continue reading…

The Women’s Super League will face major disruption next season due to by the Club World Cup The Women’s Super League will face major disruption next season due to the Club World Cup, with Arsenal and Chelsea likely to be absent from domestic competition for up to a month. The Guardian revealed last week that the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup is set to be awarded to the US, with transatlantic travel to cause additional problems for European sides, while the proposed dates of 5-30 January will clash directly with the WSL.

Fifa has yet to confirm the qualification criteria for the Club World Cup but the Guardian has learned Arsenal are guaranteed to be involved as 2025 Champions League winners and Chelsea are likely to join them, although they would lose their place if Manchester City win this season’s Champions League. Based on this season’s schedule, an extended run in the Club World Cup would mean the two English clubs missing up to four