Arsenal are world champions! Renee Slegers’ side survive Corinthians test and a wall of Brazilian noise to conquer women’s football – as Gunners bank huge seven-figure prize from FIFA’s new but contentious Champions Cup

Arsenal Women have been crowned champions of the world after beating Corinthians 3-2 in extra-time thanks to Caitlin Foord’s winner in the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup final.

The Gunners, who lifted the Champions League in May, were handed a stern test as they edged past South America’s champions, who played full-blooded, counter-attacking football backed by an army of passionate supporters.

In the end, however, Europe’s elite and their deep squad of superstars proved too much for the Brazilian side, in what turned out to be a thrilling, emotional evening for both sets of fans.

Arsenal will take home £1.67million for their efforts over just two games – first beating African champions AS FAR in Tuesday’s semi-final before overcoming Corinthians on Sunday. It is a sizeable sum, falling just short of the £1.8million they earned for defeating Barcelona in the Champions League final in May.

It would be easy to be cynical about a competition of this nature – the first of its kind to pit the champions of the six continental confederations against one another: UEFA (Europe), CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia), CONCACAF (North America, Central America and the Caribbean), CONMEBOL (South America) and OFC (Oceania).

In many ways, that felt like the tempting route to take in the build-up to this strange, two-day tournament that came out of nowhere and, to many in England, felt unnecessary in the midst of an already jam-packed calendar.

The Gunners were handed a stern test as they edged past South America’s champions, who played full-blooded, counter-attacking football backed by an army of passionate supporters

That scepticism largely stems from the sense that FIFA have identified an opportunity to seize the women’s game and use it to their own ends. The age-old issues plaguing the men’s game – scheduling problems, the impact on player welfare, and the over-saturation of football for fans – are beginning to rear their ugly head here too.

In Europe, the biggest women’s leagues want the chance to grow sustainably before tournaments such as this arrive and take their share of the pie.

There is also a sense that this Women’s Champions Cup has been tailored in favour of one of the world’s biggest financial hitters in Arsenal.

Without even kicking a ball, the Gunners were clear favourites to win the competition, given it was held in their city – and the final at their stadium. The semi-finals took place at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium.

Arsenal’s players were not faced with long-haul flights, jet lag or – as was the case for the United States’ NWSL champions Gotham and South America’s champions Corinthians – the challenge of competing in a tournament while still in the midst of pre-season. The rich get richer, and so on.

Yet despite these issues simmering in the background, it was almost impossible to emerge from the build-up to Sunday’s final without a sense of optimism, not least because in Brazil many believe this could mark a turning point. Their Chloe Kelly, shirt-waving moment that shifts how the women’s game is viewed by key stakeholders in the country. Given they are to host the World Cup in 18 months, this could not have been held at a better time in one of the world’s most prestigious football stadiums.

Speaking before Sunday’s match, Corinthians boss Lucas Piccinato, when pressed on the clear advantage weighted in Arsenal’s favour, said in Portuguese: ‘I really value this moment. It is the final of a very high-profile cup. We cherish this moment, we appreciate it, because we know we will have a huge audience.

‘It’s a pressure to go to the Arsenal stadium but it’s also a privilege. This is one of the most important matches in our history. The whole world will be watching.’

Vic Albuquerque of Corinthians celebrated for scoring a stoppage-time penalty to level the game in what her manager described as ‘one of the most important matches in our history’

Throughout the two-day competition, it was clear that Corinthians fans fully understood the role they had to play. Many flew in from Brazil, while others travelled from cities across Europe.

By the time Sunday arrived, the energy was palpable. They banged their drums, swung scarves above their heads and danced throughout – even when they would concede a goal. The Arsenal crowd – ever relied upon for their enthusiasm – paled in comparison. It may not have been the biggest attendance at 25,031, but together the supporters created the best atmosphere a club women’s game has ever seen in this country.

Back in South America, one million people tuned in to watch the game which was being played at the same time their men’s side were playing in the Brazilian Super Cup. Brazil 2027 suddenly feels like a rather tantalising prospect.

As for global club competitions going forward, there remain clear issues that must be addressed. Based on concerns recently voiced by the WSL, FIFA have not been especially accommodating when it comes to adapting to the needs of domestic leagues and their clubs.

The WSL recently said the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup, scheduled for January 2028, could be ‘catastrophic’ because of its timing.

A global 16-team tournament in the middle of a season is, indeed, a very different proposition to this two-match event.

But what must not be lost in all of this, however, is that the global growth of the women’s game ultimately benefits the English game too.

As Lotte Wubben-Moy said before the game: ‘Everyone’s going to have to compromise. Ideally it would fall into a summer where there’s no major tournament but then again that clashes with other leagues including the NWSL. When I look at moving forward and how there’s going to have to be a give and take, I see compromise, but in the face of growth.

As Lotte Wubben-Moy (left) said before the game: ‘Nothing easy is done in comfort. It’s going to be uncomfortable but that’s where I see growth’

‘Nothing easy is done in comfort. It’s going to be uncomfortable but that’s where I see growth. What I hold highly is one that the fans are a key part of the decisions, the players are a key part of the decisions, and those making the final decisions do it with integrity and do it in a way that takes those two parties into account.’

More competitive leagues and more passionate fans, both at home and abroad, can only be a good thing for women’s football – and this Women’s Champions Cup, despite its flaws, spoke directly to that point.

And the Corinthians fans would certainly be welcome back here again soon.