ByAdwaidh RajanBBC Sport journalist<\/p>\n
History is guaranteed at Emirates Stadium on Sunday as Arsenal host Brazil's Corinthians in the first Women's Champions Cup final.<\/p>\n
The winners of the new Fifa tournament, which pits continental champions against one another, will claim the biggest single cash prize in women's club football.<\/p>\n
Whoever gets their hands on the trophy will walk away with $2.3m (\u00a31.7m)<\/a> while the runners-up will gain $1m (\u00a3735,000). <\/p>\n Arsenal go into the final as favourites, having booked their place in the title clash by dismantling African champions AS FAR Rabat of Morocco 6-0 on Wednesday. <\/p>\n Brazilian powerhouse Corinthians, meanwhile, progressed in contrasting fashion, shocking North American champions Gotham FC 1-0 in the other semi-final. <\/p>\n Now, Europe meets South America to decide the world's best club side of the year, with the competition set to run annually, except in seasons featuring the new Women's Club World Cup, which will debut in 2028.<\/p>\n For Arsenal, the Champions Cup is a welcome distraction from their Women's Super League (WSL) campaign that has failed to live up to expectations.<\/p>\n Having secured their first Champions League title in 18 years by stunning European giants Barcelona<\/a> last May, the Gunners have failed to capitalise on a rare chance as serial winners Chelsea have faltered this season. <\/p>\n Having been knocked out in the League Cup semi-finals<\/a> by Manchester United, in the Women's Super League they find themselves 10 points adrift of leaders Manchester City, though they moved one point behind Chelsea with a 2-0 win over the defending champions<\/a> last weekend. <\/p>\n This game offers Arsenal a chance to add an international trophy to their cabinet and boost their morale for the second half of the season – not to mention the massive financial incentive. <\/p>\n Renee Slegers had to manage her squad carefully during the semi-final victory over AS FAR, which came four days after their triumph at Stamford Bridge. <\/p>\n Key stars like Alessia Russo, Emily Fox and Leah Williamson were left out of the starting line-up against the Moroccan side but Arsenal hardly broke a sweat to ease into the decider. <\/p>\n Managing minutes for her stars will be crucial for Slegers again on Sunday, with a massive league meeting against Andree Jeglertz's City looming next week. <\/p>\n Arsenal will have eyes firmly on the prize as they meet Corinthians and a win on home soil would be the perfect way to bring a spark to their season, with the Gunners still alive in the FA Cup and the Champions League last 16. <\/p>\n Champions Cup<\/strong><\/p>\n 28 January – 1 February 2026<\/p>\n Live text commentary on Arsenal v Corinthians on Sunday, 1 February from 18:00 GMT.<\/p>\n Arsenal may be favourites on home turf, but they face a Corinthians side who know exactly how to win trophies.<\/p>\n Known as Timao, which translates to 'the Great Team', they are the undisputed queens of Brazilian football and won the league title seven times, including six in a row between 2020 and 2025.<\/p>\n Their dominance extends across the continent, having qualified for the Champions Cup as the reigning champions of the Copa Libertadores – a tournament they have won five times in the past seven seasons. <\/p>\n Corinthians have already proven their quality by knocking out a star-studded Gotham side<\/a> who boasted the likes of America legend Rose Lavelle and England defender Jess Carter in their starting line-up.<\/p>\n The winner came from their 40-year-old captain Gabi Zanotti, who beat former Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger in the 83rd minute at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium.<\/p>\n For a South American club, the economics that Champions Cup offers would be transformative. <\/p>\n However, question marks remain over the tournament's timing with concerns about fixture congestion and player welfare.<\/p>\n While Arsenal benefit from no travel, Corinthians are playing during their off-season, but those concerns will be set aside for the final as the Brazilian side look to upset the odds again and prove they belong at the very top.<\/p>\n What do fans think of the Women's Champions Cup?<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Record \u00a31.7m prize money for Women's Champions Cup winners<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are back for another season of the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed<\/a><\/p>\nGunners chase Champions Cup boost<\/h2>\n
Corinthians look to upset odds again<\/h2>\n
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