Banyana Banyana forward Thembi Kgatlana missed out on gold in the final of the inaugural CONCACAF W Champions Cup when her side UANL Tigres lost 1-0 to Gotham FC.
The clash took place in the early hours of Sunday morning (25 May 2025) in Monterrey, Mexico.
Spain international Esther Gonzalez struck late (82’) in the match to hand the Americans victory and be declared the continental winners – which goes with qualification to the new FIFA Women’s Champions Cup 2026, as well as the 2028 FIFA Women’s Club World Cup.
This was the second meeting between the two sides, with the first clash, played in the group stages of this tournament, ending in a dramatic 4-4 draw in October last year.
Kgatlana had hoped she would be able to book her tickets for the new prestigious tournaments, but the honour fell to Ghana U20 captain Stella Nyamekye. The 19-year-old was signed by Gotham FC on a three-year contract in December last year from Dreamz Ladies FC in the Ghana Women’s Premier League.
The Kumasi-born midfielder led the Ghana U20 Women’s National Team at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia, scoring twice.
In the third-place play-off held earlier, the USA’s Portland Thorns took bronze when they defeated Club America 3-0, with goals from Pietra Tordin, Payton Linnehan and Olivia Moultrie.
Gotham FC becomes the second club to advance to the new FIFA women’s showpiece after New Zealanders, Auckland United, defeated Hekari Women 1-0 in the final of the OFC Women’s Champions League to secure their spot in the 2026 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
The encounter was played a week ago (Sunday, 18 May 2025) at Stade Pater in Papeete, Tahiti.
Representing the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will be China’s Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC who beat Melbourne City of Australia 5-4 on penalties to claim the 2024/2025 AFC Women’s Champions League on Saturday, 24 May 2025.
It was 1-1 at the end of extra time after Shelby McMahan (84′) had opened the scoring for Melbourne City before Wang Shuang (90+8′) cancelled the lead. Both were scored from the penalty spot.
Arsenal Women will carry the UEFA flag at the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup after they brushed aside favourites and three time winners Barcelona in a tense UEFA Women’s Champions League final on Saturday, 24 May 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Chasing their third consecutive Champions League title and their fourth in five years, the Spanish giants were however left stunned by a Stina Blackstenius’ second half strike (74’).
This was Arsenal’s second UEFA Women’s Champions League glory in 18 years following their success in 2007.
There are two spots still to be completed for the 2026 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, with CAF and CONMEBOL yet to decide their winners in the CAF Women’s Champions League and the 2025 Libertadores Femenina respectively.
The two tournaments will be played later in the year.
QUALIFIED TEAMS FOR THE 2026 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup:
| TEAM | CONFEDERATON | QUALIFICATION | QUALIFIED DATE |
| Auckland United – New Zealand | OFC | Winners of the 2025 OFC Women’s Champions League | 17 May 2025 |
| Arsenal – England | UEFA | Winners of the UEFA Women’s Champions League | 24 May 2025 |
| Wuhan Jiangda – China: | AFC | Winners of the 2025 AFC Women’s Champions League | 24 May 2025 |
| GOTHAM FC – USA | CONCACAF | Winners of the 2024/25 CONCACAF Women’s Champion Cup | 25 May 2025 |
| TBD | |||
| CAF | Winners of the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League | OCT/NOV/DEC 2025 | |
| CONMEBOL | Winners of the 2025 Copa Libertadores Femenina | OCTOBER 2025 | |
By Matlhomola Morake
