Gotham FC Critiques Scheduling of FIFA Women’s Champions Cup

omidbasir- Gotham FC’s players have voiced their concerns regarding the scheduling of the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, following the team’s narrow defeat to Corinthians in the semifinals on Wednesday.

The New York-based club secured their spot in the FIFA event after clinching the first Concacaf Champions Cup but was unfortunately beaten 1-0 by the South American champions in London. This match marked Gotham’s first competitive appearance since winning the NWSL championship on November 22, while the new NWSL season is not set to commence until March 13.

When asked about the appropriateness of holding an intercontinental event in January, during the NWSL offseason, Gotham defender Jess Carter expressed her dissatisfaction, stating, “Absolutely not. I don’t think anyone is, but I don’t really know when else to put it in, to be honest.”

She further elaborated, “You’re asking players to cut their offseason short when they’ve just completed various competitions, including the Euros, and traveled extensively. We come back after a very limited time off and have to compete again.”

The six-team Women’s Champions Cup was established as an intercontinental championship for women’s club teams, building upon the success of the UEFA Women’s Champions League and other regional competitions. Additionally, FIFA is set to launch a 16-team Women’s Club World Cup in 2028, which will occur every four years. The Champions Cup is planned to be held annually, except in years when the Club World Cup takes place.

The increasing number and length of competitions has sparked discussions about the potential strain on top women’s players. Carter noted, “There are just a lot of games being added to the women’s game, and there’s an expectation that everyone can manage the workload. We need to be taken care of to perform at the highest level of entertainment. This applies universally to all women’s games.”

During the semifinal match, Gotham suffered injuries to two players. Gabi Portilho required treatment after sustaining a kick to her right foot and had to exit early in the second half. Team captain Rose Lavelle also left the field due to what was later identified as concussion-like symptoms and will enter concussion protocol.

The only goal of the match came from Corinthians captain Gabi Zanotti in the 82nd minute, successfully finding the back of the net against Gotham’s German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.

Berger remarked on the need for a more equitable system that ensures all players arrive fit for competition: “You want to compete against the best teams, and we need to figure out the optimal timing for such events.”

Corinthians will face the winner of the second semifinal between Arsenal and African champions ASFAR of Rabat, Morocco, while Gotham will compete against the losing team in the third-place playoff, both scheduled for Sunday.