Arsenal And Corinthians Set For Historic Women’s Champions Cup Final

The inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup semi-finals delivered high drama and emphatic statements from some of the world’s top clubs, as Arsenal and SC Corinthians powered their way into the final with dominant performances in London. The action unfolded on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at both the Brentford and Gtech Community Stadiums, with fans across the globe tuning in via a host of broadcast partners eager to witness history in the making.

Arsenal, entering the competition as reigning UEFA Women’s Champions League winners, faced off against Moroccan giants AS FAR Rabat. The Gunners came into the contest riding a wave of momentum, fresh off a resounding domestic victory over Chelsea, and their confidence was evident from the opening whistle. Despite making several changes to their starting lineup—leaving out regular stars like Alessia Russo, Emily Fox, and Leah Williamson—manager Renee Slegers fielded a side bursting with quality and intent.

The match, broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and available to viewers worldwide via CBS, DAZN, and other outlets, quickly turned into a showcase of Arsenal’s attacking prowess. Swedish striker Stina Blackstenius opened the scoring in the eighth minute, heading home after a clever assist from Laia Codina. Only four minutes later, Frida Maanum doubled the advantage with a thunderous strike from close range, sending the home supporters into raptures.

Arsenal’s relentless pressure paid off again in the 22nd minute when Mariona Caldentey coolly converted from the penalty spot after a VAR review flagged a handball in the box. The Moroccan champions, Africa’s first professional women’s team and 12-time Moroccan Championship winners, struggled to contain the Gunners’ fluid attack. Before halftime, Canadian winger Olivia Smith—making her return after a suspension—combined slickly with Vitoria Pelova and rifled in a low shot for Arsenal’s fourth, all but sealing the result by the interval.

“First of all, compliments to the opposition. Of course it was a hard game for them but I think the way they represented Morocco and Africa was very inspirational,” Slegers told www.arsenal.com after the match. “I’m really happy with our performances. The players dealt so well with the unknown as it was the first time we played against them. We are doing things with a lot of discipline and I’m happy to have five different goal scorers as well.”

With the game all but decided, Slegers took the opportunity to rotate her squad in the second half. The return of England winger Chloe Kelly from injury was met with cheers, while the biggest ovation was reserved for Alessia Russo, who entered the fray at the hour mark with England manager Sarina Wiegman watching from the stands. Russo wasted no time, netting a brace within 16 minutes of her introduction to cap a 6-0 rout. Arsenal finished with 65% possession and a dominant 17-3 shot advantage, a testament to their control and clinical finishing.

On the other side of London, the second semi-final saw Brazilian powerhouse SC Corinthians edge past NJ/NY Gotham FC in a tightly contested affair at the Gtech Community Stadium. The match was a classic display of defensive resilience and opportunism, culminating in a moment of magic from 40-year-old midfielder Gabi Zanotti. With the score locked at 0-0 in the 83rd minute, Zanotti chested down a cross and lashed a left-footed shot past Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, sending the Corinthians bench and fans into wild celebration.

“It was a dream come true,” Zanotti said in the post-match press conference. “It’s the most important goal of my career and for Corinthians. We did not leave any open spaces. We helped each other all the time. We were dedicated. We were Corinthians.”

Despite Gotham’s dominance in possession—66% and 21 shots—they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, testing Corinthians’ keeper Leticia only twice. Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amoros acknowledged the effort but rued the lack of finishing: “The team did really well in every aspect apart from scoring goals. I think we dominated.” Gotham’s Rose Lavelle was forced off in stoppage time with concussion-like symptoms, while Gabi Portilho, a former Corinthians player, was substituted at halftime as a precaution due to injury.

Corinthians head coach Lucas Piccinato was full of pride for his squad’s achievement. “Nobody wins before the game. Everyone’s talking about maybe Gotham and Arsenal in the final. Corinthians are here, we’ll play the best game of our life to try and beat Arsenal. We played a great game to beat an NWSL champion. It was a very cool moment.”

The stage is now set for a blockbuster final at Emirates Stadium on Sunday, February 1, 2026, where Arsenal will host Corinthians at 1 p.m. ET for a chance to lift the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup trophy and claim the record $2.3 million winner’s prize. The runners-up will not leave empty-handed, pocketing $1 million, while Gotham and AS FAR will contest the third-place playoff earlier that day for $200,000 each in what FIFA has described as the “highest single payout ever awarded in women’s football.”

For Arsenal, the journey to the final has been marked by ruthless efficiency and a deep squad capable of producing goals from all areas. Their five different scorers against AS FAR—Blackstenius, Maanum, Caldentey, Smith, and Russo—underscore the threat they pose to any opponent. The Gunners’ Champions League pedigree and recent domestic form make them favorites, but Corinthians have already shown they can upend expectations, having dispatched the NWSL champions with grit and a touch of class.

Corinthians, led by the ageless Zanotti and a disciplined backline, will look to frustrate Arsenal’s attack and seize their own moment on the break. The Brazilian side’s journey to the final, capped by Zanotti’s late heroics, has captured the imagination of fans back home and around the world. Their coach’s words ring true: “We were Corinthians.”

Meanwhile, the tournament’s global reach has been evident in the diversity of its semifinalists and the international broadcast footprint, with fans in the United States, UK, Brazil, Morocco, and beyond able to follow every twist and turn. The success of the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup, with its record-setting prize money and high-profile participants, signals a new era for women’s club football on the world stage.

As anticipation builds for Sunday’s final, both Arsenal and Corinthians will be fine-tuning their tactics and managing their squads, knowing that glory—and a hefty payday—awaits the victor. The football world will be watching as history is written at Emirates Stadium.