Everything you need to know about the 2024-25 Concacaf W Champions Cup

For the first time, the incoming 2024-25 Concacaf season will feature an 11-club battle for bragging rights to say you have conquered North and Central America and the Caribbean. And, in turn, lift the W Champions Cup.

Here's what you need to know:

Group A:

#1 Gotham FC (NWSL, USA) – 2023 Champion
#2 UANL Tigres (LigaMX, MEX) – 2023 Apertura Champion
#3 Club de Monterrey (LigaMX, MEX) – 2024 Clausura Champion
#4 Alajuelense (CR Liga, CRI) – 2023 Apertura Champion
#5 Frazsiers Whip (JWPL, JAM) – 22-23 Champion

Group B:

#1 San Diego Wave (NWSL, USA) – 2023 Regular Season Champion
#2 Portland Thorns (NWSL, USA) – 2023 Regular Season Runner Up
#3 Club America (LigaMX, MEX) – 2024 Clausura Runner Up
#4 Sana Fe FC (LFF, PAN) – 2023 Clausura Champion
#5 TBD*

*Alianza (PDEL, SLV) – 2023 Apertura Champion
OR *Vancouver Whitecaps (League1, CAN) – 2023 Inter-Provincial Champions

Group Stage

Single-leg playoff match to decide 5th team in Group B:
August 13-15, 2024
Alianza vs. Vancouver Whitecaps at Estadio Cuscatlán, El Salvador

Group Stage Week 1: August 20-22, 2024
Group Stage Week 2: September 3-5, 2024
Group Stage Week 3: September 17-19, 2024
Group Stage Week 4: October 1-3, 2024
Group Stage Week 5: October 15-17, 2024

The Group Stage will feature 10 clubs divided into two groups of five clubs each. Each club will play every club in its group once, for a total of four matches per club (two at home and two away).

Final Four

Finals (Semifinals, 3rd Place match, and Final): May 22-25, 2025

After the Group Stage, the top two from Groups A and B will qualify for the semifinals. The Semifinals (1A vs 2B and 1B vs 2A), Third Place Match, and Final will all take place at one centralized venue, TBD. There is a good chance it is the home stadium of one of the clubs that finishes top of the Group Stage.

The Trophy

Along with discovering the groups for the 24-25 WCCC (yes, that's the acronym I believe we will be using), we also learned what we will be playing for.

For me, all Concacaf trophies are starting to blur into one. This is rather reminiscent of the W Gold Cup, just without that trophy's trademark rose gold colouring.

The two-tone silver and gold don't work for me. I think this is because the matte effect on the gold makes it look a bit dodgy. Cheap, somewhat plastic. It could just be the lighting in the photograph, but I really want a trophy that shimmers (which the W Gold Cup did).

The over-the-top handles are a fun addition. And, after all, it is an actual cup. Kudos always has to be given when you can have a tasty cervaza out of the damn thing post-final.

The Anthem

We have an official competition song! Which I love. Albeit the instrumental track, titled 'For Greatness' and composed by Matt Clifford, is yet to really take off in my headphones. I am sure it will bang more as the players walk out of the tunnel on a midweek night this Autumn.

Take a listen:

Official WCCC Anthem -- 'For Greatness'

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While they weren't going for the playful brilliance of 'Vamos' from the W Gold Cup, this doesn't quite hit the grandeur of UEFA's thrilling adaptation of George Handel's 'Zadok the Priest' for the iconic Champions League anthem.

There's a good chance it grows on me, but right now it's simply not camp enough and not nailing the earnestness necessary to capture the drama. Perhaps because this is a brand new competition.

2026 Club World Cup

The WCCC will provide the only route for Concacaf teams to the upcoming inaugural women's FIFA Club World Cup. FIFA recently announced that the first edition will feature 16 clubs and be played between January and February 2026.

It is unknown how many WCCC teams will move onto the CWC but my guess is that both finalists will have shot, considering that 16 teams from the world's six FIFA confederations will enter that tournament.