Arsenal Triumphs Over Corinthians In Dramatic Women’s Champions Cup Final

In a night that will be etched into the annals of women’s football history, Arsenal clinched the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup title with a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Brazil’s Corinthians at a rain-drenched Emirates Stadium on February 1, 2026. The Gunners, playing in front of a spirited crowd and under the relentless London downpour, not only lifted the brand new global club trophy but also walked away with a hefty $2.3 million prize purse.

The anticipation for this historic final had been building for days. Corinthians fans, some 400-500 strong, had already made their presence felt across London, transforming riverside neighborhoods and stadium concourses into a sea of black and white. Their chants, banners, and unwavering support—fueled by expats from São Paulo to Dublin and beyond—set the stage for a South American-European showdown that lived up to every bit of its billing.

As kickoff approached, the atmosphere inside the Emirates was electric. Arsenal, buoyed by their home crowd, wasted no time in asserting themselves. In the 15th minute, Stina Blackstenius pounced on a defensive error and forced a sharp save from Corinthians goalkeeper Letícia. The rebound fell kindly for Olivia Smith, who coolly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner to give the Gunners a deserved early lead. “Smith opened the scoring, in the right place at the right time to nestle the ball into the bottom left after a shot from Stina Blackstenius was saved,” reported Arsenal.com.

Corinthians, though, were not to be cowed. The Brazilian champions responded with grit and flair. Just six minutes later, their 40-year-old captain Gabi Zanotti rose highest at a corner, her header glancing off Steph Catley and over the line. The equalizer sent the traveling Corinthians faithful into raptures. According to The Athletic, “Pandemonium ensues in section N125” as Zanotti found the net, with fans singing her praises: “She (Zanotti) is amazing. She’s the best woman in football now.”

The rest of the first half saw both sides create chances, but neither could find a breakthrough. Arsenal’s Beth Mead saw her volley saved by Letícia, while Corinthians’ Duda Sampaio forced Anneke Borbe into a fingertip stop. The rain intensified, adding another layer of drama to an already tense affair.

After the break, Arsenal made a tactical switch, bringing on Frida Maanum for Blackstenius. The move paid dividends in the 58th minute. Emily Fox, a constant threat down the flank, whipped in a pinpoint cross that Lotte Wubben-Moy met with a powerful header, restoring Arsenal’s lead. The Gunners looked poised to see out the win as the minutes ticked away, but Corinthians continued to press, their fans urging them forward with relentless chants.

With the match deep into stoppage time, controversy struck. Katie McCabe’s challenge on Gisela Robledo in the box was reviewed by VAR, and referee Katia Itzel García pointed to the spot. Up stepped Vic Albuquerque, who kept her nerve to fire home the equalizer in the 96th minute, sending the contest into extra time. The Emirates, already buzzing, reached a fever pitch as both sets of supporters sensed the gravity of the moment.

Extra time began with chances at both ends. Corinthians’ Albuquerque forced Borbe into another smart save, while Arsenal’s Wubben-Moy headed just wide from a corner. The breakthrough came in the 104th minute, and it was a moment of sheer class on the counter-attack. Maanum surged through midfield, played in substitute Caitlin Foord, and the Australian international smashed a low drive past Letícia at the near post. “Foord smashed in our third in the 104th minute to ensure we became history makers at home,” Arsenal’s official website recounted.

Corinthians pushed desperately for another equalizer, but Arsenal’s defense held firm. The final moments, however, were marred by concern for goalkeeper Anneke Borbe, who collided with teammate Wubben-Moy and had to be stretchered off after a lengthy delay. The celebrations, while jubilant, were tempered by the hope that Borbe’s injury would not cast a long shadow over a night of triumph.

As the final whistle blew, Arsenal’s players and fans erupted in celebration. They had not only become the first-ever champions of the Women’s Champions Cup—a tournament featuring the best clubs from every continent—but had done so on home soil in unforgettable fashion. “We became champions of the world with a 3-2 win over Corinthians at Arsenal Stadium in the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup final,” the club proudly declared.

For Corinthians, the defeat was heartbreaking but their journey to the final, and the passionate support from their global fanbase, underscored the growing stature of women’s football in South America. As Tainara, a fan from Canada, put it, “It would be proof of what’s happening in women’s football South America. It’s so important.” The Brazilian side’s run included a hard-fought semifinal win over NJ/NY Gotham FC, where Zanotti again proved the hero. Their fans—organized into storied groups like Gaviões da Fiel and Camisas 12—brought São Paulo’s soccer culture to London, turning every match into a festival of noise and color.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Gotham FC bounced back from their semifinal loss to Corinthians by thrashing ASFAR 4-0 in the third-place match earlier in the day. Khyah Harper, Savannah McCaskill, Jaedyn Shaw, and Midge Purce all found the net for the NWSL side, who will take heart from their podium finish in this groundbreaking competition.

Looking ahead, Arsenal’s focus will quickly shift back to domestic and European campaigns. The Gunners are set to host Manchester City in Women’s Super League action on February 8, followed by a Champions League quarter-final first leg against OH Leuven in Belgium on February 11. The schedule is relentless, but with a world title now in their trophy cabinet, Jonas Eidevall’s side will be brimming with confidence.

As the Emirates lights dimmed and the rain finally eased, the significance of the night was clear. Arsenal had made history, Corinthians had inspired, and the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup had announced itself as a new jewel in the crown of global club football. Both teams and their supporters left an indelible mark on London—and on the future of the women’s game.