Latest news with #FIFAWomen'sChampionsCup
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Vancouver Rise FC Academy learns its path at the 2025-26 CONCACAF W Champions Cup
The Vancouver Rise FC Academy was drawn with defending champion Gotham FC and fellow NWSL side Washington Spirit in Group B for the second edition of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup, which kicks off in August. Group B also includes Mexico's CF Monterrey Femenil and El Salvador's Alianza Women FC. Group A is comprised of Mexico's Club America and CF Pachuca Femenil, NWSL champion Orlando Pride, Costa Rica's LD Alajuelense and Panama's FC Chorrillo. The group stage, to run from August to October, will see each team play two home and two away games. The top two from each group advance to the semifinals, set for May 2026. The 10-team tournament is the elite women's club competition in the region that covers North and Central America and the Caribbean. The winner qualifies for the 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup, an annual tournament featuring the champions of each confederation, and for the inaugural FIFA Women's Club World Cup, set to debut in 2028. Gotham, the 2023 NWSL champion, defeated Mexico's Tigres UANL 1-0 in the May 25 final of the inaugural edition of the tournament. As winner, Gotham qualifies for the 2028 FIFA Women's Club World Cup. The Vancouver Rise Academy, formerly Whitecaps Girls Elite FC, qualified virtue of winning the League1 Canada Inter-Provincial Championship — the same pathway it used for 2024-25 qualification. Whitecaps Girls Elite failed to reach the knockout rounds after finishing fourth in Group B at 1-3-0, outscored 16-2 after losses to Club America (7-0) and NWSL's Portland Thorns (6-0) and San Diego Wave (2-0) and a win over Panama's Sante Fe FC (2-1). The Northern Super League is currently in discussions with Canada Soccer and CONCACAF about the qualification process for future editions. Gotham was the highest-scoring team in the inaugural edition of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup with 25 goals. CF Monterrey won the 2024 Apertura title while Alianza Women won the 2024 Apertura and Clausura titles in El Salvador for a domestic four-peat. Tuesday's draw was conducted by Carlos Fernandez, CONCACAF's chief football competitions officer, and assisted by former Mexican footballer Desirée Monsiváis. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 3, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Vancouver Rise FC Academy learns its path at the 2025-26 CONCACAF W Champions Cup
The Vancouver Rise FC Academy was drawn with defending champion Gotham FC and fellow NWSL side Washington Spirit in Group B for the second edition of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup, which kicks off in August. Group B also includes Mexico's CF Monterrey Femenil and El Salvador's Alianza Women FC. Group A is comprised of Mexico's Club America and CF Pachuca Femenil, NWSL champion Orlando Pride, Costa Rica's LD Alajuelense and Panama's FC Chorrillo. The group stage, to run from August to October, will see each team play two home and two away games. The top two from each group advance to the semifinals, set for May 2026. The 10-team tournament is the elite women's club competition in the region that covers North and Central America and the Caribbean. The winner qualifies for the 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup, an annual tournament featuring the champions of each confederation, and for the inaugural FIFA Women's Club World Cup, set to debut in 2028. Gotham, the 2023 NWSL champion, defeated Mexico's Tigres UANL 1-0 in the May 25 final of the inaugural edition of the tournament. As winner, Gotham qualifies for the 2028 FIFA Women's Club World Cup. The Vancouver Rise Academy, formerly Whitecaps Girls Elite FC, qualified virtue of winning the League1 Canada Inter-Provincial Championship — the same pathway it used for 2024-25 qualification. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Whitecaps Girls Elite failed to reach the knockout rounds after finishing fourth in Group B at 1-3-0, outscored 16-2 after losses to Club America (7-0) and NWSL's Portland Thorns (6-0) and San Diego Wave (2-0) and a win over Panama's Sante Fe FC (2-1). The Northern Super League is currently in discussions with Canada Soccer and CONCACAF about the qualification process for future editions. Gotham was the highest-scoring team in the inaugural edition of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup with 25 goals. CF Monterrey won the 2024 Apertura title while Alianza Women won the 2024 Apertura and Clausura titles in El Salvador for a domestic four-peat. Tuesday's draw was conducted by Carlos Fernandez, CONCACAF's chief football competitions officer, and assisted by former Mexican footballer Desirée Monsiváis. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 3, 2025.
South Wales Guardian
26-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
‘Buzzing' Alessia Russo left wanting more by Arsenal's Champions League success
They are still the only English club to win the women's edition, having done it once before Saturday's 1-0 victory over Barcelona as part of an historic quadruple in 2007. The triumph also guarantees Arsenal a direct place in next season's Champions League league phase – alongside Women's Super League winners Chelsea – after becoming the first team in history to reach the final from qualifying round one. 'I'm absolutely buzzing,' said Russo, after substitute Stina Blackstenius' 74th-minute strike proved enough to inspire the underdogs to victory over a Barca side that had conquered Europe in 2021, 2023 and 2024. CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE. THE ONLY IN THE LAND ❤️ — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) May 24, 2025 'I can't really put it into words, it just feels bloody amazing. It feels surreal right now, but I just had so much belief going into this game. We all did. We didn't really want to say it too much, but we all kind of had this feeling. 'We knew we could and we just had to go and deliver.' The result means Arsenal will also represent Europe in the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup next year, entering as automatic semi-finalists. And while it is the brilliant culmination of a hard-fought campaign – and seven-month journey under boss Renee Slegers – Russo also sees it as just a first step. 'I feel like that massively,' she said. 'When you win things, you want to win things even more, and also you know you're good enough to do it. 'I think it was important to win for many reasons, but now we want to win more. We want to go back and start next year strong. We want to compete domestically more so than we did this year, and we want to be back winning this trophy again.' The returning champions will celebrate their title on Monday alongside 10,000 fans in Armoury Square outside the Emirates Stadium in London, where the trophy lift will take place at around 1140 in the morning. Celebrating together 🫶 Details of Monday's Armoury Square trophy lift are confirmed 📋 — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) May 24, 2025 It is a quick turnaround ahead of the next international window, beginning for Russo and England with Friday's Nations League meeting with Portugal at Wembley. Arsenal's victory is a testament to resilience and risk. Forward Chloe Kelly revealed after the triumph that she had nearly taken a break from football after finding herself in 'a dark place' at Manchester City before joining the Gunners on loan in January. And two days before teeing up Blackstenius' winner in the final, England forward and second-half substitute Beth Mead, writing for the Players' Tribune, penned a heartfelt tribute to her mother, June, who died from ovarian cancer in 2023. Then there is the rise of former assistant Slegers, who was appointed as the permanent head coach in January after serving on an interim basis since October, no doubt beating out more proven candidates for one of the most coveted jobs in women's football. 'It means so much, for everyone who has built towards this across many years,' said the 36-year-old boss. 'But it also means so much for the future, because it motivates people, it motivates us, and it shows what we are capable of. 'There's even more in the group. The strength of this team has been to be in the present, and trying to become better every single day. And of course if you are part of Arsenal and win trophies, that's what builds bonds.'
North Wales Chronicle
26-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
‘Buzzing' Alessia Russo left wanting more by Arsenal's Champions League success
They are still the only English club to win the women's edition, having done it once before Saturday's 1-0 victory over Barcelona as part of an historic quadruple in 2007. The triumph also guarantees Arsenal a direct place in next season's Champions League league phase – alongside Women's Super League winners Chelsea – after becoming the first team in history to reach the final from qualifying round one. 'I'm absolutely buzzing,' said Russo, after substitute Stina Blackstenius' 74th-minute strike proved enough to inspire the underdogs to victory over a Barca side that had conquered Europe in 2021, 2023 and 2024. CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE. THE ONLY IN THE LAND ❤️ — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) May 24, 2025 'I can't really put it into words, it just feels bloody amazing. It feels surreal right now, but I just had so much belief going into this game. We all did. We didn't really want to say it too much, but we all kind of had this feeling. 'We knew we could and we just had to go and deliver.' The result means Arsenal will also represent Europe in the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup next year, entering as automatic semi-finalists. And while it is the brilliant culmination of a hard-fought campaign – and seven-month journey under boss Renee Slegers – Russo also sees it as just a first step. 'I feel like that massively,' she said. 'When you win things, you want to win things even more, and also you know you're good enough to do it. 'I think it was important to win for many reasons, but now we want to win more. We want to go back and start next year strong. We want to compete domestically more so than we did this year, and we want to be back winning this trophy again.' The returning champions will celebrate their title on Monday alongside 10,000 fans in Armoury Square outside the Emirates Stadium in London, where the trophy lift will take place at around 1140 in the morning. Celebrating together 🫶 Details of Monday's Armoury Square trophy lift are confirmed 📋 — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) May 24, 2025 It is a quick turnaround ahead of the next international window, beginning for Russo and England with Friday's Nations League meeting with Portugal at Wembley. Arsenal's victory is a testament to resilience and risk. Forward Chloe Kelly revealed after the triumph that she had nearly taken a break from football after finding herself in 'a dark place' at Manchester City before joining the Gunners on loan in January. And two days before teeing up Blackstenius' winner in the final, England forward and second-half substitute Beth Mead, writing for the Players' Tribune, penned a heartfelt tribute to her mother, June, who died from ovarian cancer in 2023. Then there is the rise of former assistant Slegers, who was appointed as the permanent head coach in January after serving on an interim basis since October, no doubt beating out more proven candidates for one of the most coveted jobs in women's football. 'It means so much, for everyone who has built towards this across many years,' said the 36-year-old boss. 'But it also means so much for the future, because it motivates people, it motivates us, and it shows what we are capable of. 'There's even more in the group. The strength of this team has been to be in the present, and trying to become better every single day. And of course if you are part of Arsenal and win trophies, that's what builds bonds.'
New York Post
25-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Gotham FC ‘over the moon' after securing place as global heavyweight with Concacaf Champions Cup win
NJ/NY Gotham FC secured their place among the global women's soccer heavyweights this weekend when they won the inaugural Concacaf Women's Champions Cup. They were crowned the best team in North America, Central America and the Caribbean after beating Mexico-based club Tigres UANL in the tournament's championship game Saturday night. Gotham FC's offense was relentlessly attacking and frustrating the Tigres. Advertisement Ultimately, Esther González's second-chance goal in the 82nd minute was all Gotham needed to secure the 1-0 win in Monterrey, Mexico. 4 Gotham FC players celebrate after winning the Concacaf Women's Champions Cup on May 24. Shutterstock 'It's a historic moment for the Concacaf and for women's football in this part of the world,' Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amorós said after the win. 'It was the whole target at the beginning of the year — not only to come here and compete, but to come here and win.' Amorós said the team was 'over the moon' that it did just that. Advertisement Gotham recorded 23 shots, with seven on goal, while the Tigres registered only seven shots, none on target. González scored the winning goal when she found the back of the net off a rebound after her penalty kick was initially stopped. 'We really left it all out there and everyone really fought hard to the end,' defender Mandy Freeman told reporters. 'We deserved the win and we really earned it.' Advertisement 4 Gotham FC players react after winning the Concacaf Women's Champions Cup on May 24. REUTERS Gotham took pride in knowing they were bringing the inaugural regional championship trophy to the NWSL. 'It's always great to win a trophy with your team this early in the season, and I think this will help us going into our league games,' midfielder Jaelin Howell told reporters. 'It's great to win as a team and represent NWSL in this way.' Not only did the Concacaf Women's Champions Cup victory present Gotham, the 2023 NWSL champions, their second major trophy in two years, but it also secured them a spot in what's considered to be the top two women's club competitions in the world — the new 2026 FIFA Women's Champions Cup and the first FIFA Women's Club World Cup in 2028. Advertisement 4 Esther Gonzalez scored Gotham's only goal during their Concacaf Women's Champions Cup win on May 24. AP Gotham join Arsenal, who won the UEFA Women's Champions League Final on Saturday, as the only teams to have secured outright spots in the 2026 FIFA Women's Champions Cup semifinals in January. Wuhan Jiangda from China and Auckland United from Oceania have qualified for play-in games. The final two open spots are for South America and Africa. For now, Gotham are going to savor Saturday's win. 4 Gotham FC players celebrate with their medals after winning the Concacaf Women's Champions Cup win on May 24. AP 'It's really an honor to be walking back with a trophy and we're just glad to have been able to contribute on the field and go to the Club World Cup for the first time,' forward Sarah Schupansky told reporters. 'That's an incredible step forward for women's football and it's going to be really, really fun.' Gotham are set to return to NWSL June 7, when they host the KC Current at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
