The first Fifa Women’s Champions Cup is happening in London this week – and Arsenal’s Olivia Smith is ready to win

London is no stranger to major sporting moments. Over the last couple of years alone the city has hosted a series of iconic events, from the historic Women’s Euro final at Wembley in 2022 to last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham.

And this week it’ll add another international tournament to its belt, thanks to the first Fifa Women’s Champions Cup. The brand-new club competition sees the champions of confederations around the world come head-to-head to crown an overall winner.

This time around, that means north London’s very own Arsenal will be taking part, thanks to their Uefa Women’s Champions League win in Lisbon last year. They’ll face Moroccan side (and CAF Women’s Champions League winners) AS Far in the semi-finals on Wednesday, where a win will secure them a place in the final against either Copa Libertadores Feminina winners Corinthians or National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) champions Gotham FC.

Whether you’re an Arsenal fan or not, this is an incredible opportunity to see some of the world’s best women’s football clubs play each other right here in London. And with the final being played at the Emirates (Arsenal’s home ground), we’re sure to see some passionate performances as the players fight to lift the trophy in front of their fans.

Speaking to Stylist about this week’s competition, Arsenal’s Olivia Smith said the idea of winning at home was what excited her most about this tournament. “I’m looking forward to holding up the trophy with my club in front of our home fans,” she says. “It would mean everything to bring home a trophy – that’s what I came to Arsenal to help the club do.”

Of course, playing against unfamiliar opponents can come with its challenges – especially when those clubs are the best in their region. But Smith says the team is prepared to face whatever comes their way this week – starting with AS Far on Wednesday evening.

“From what I know, they’re quite a physical team,” she explains. “They’re top of their league, so it will definitely be a challenge. But we won’t change anything about our style – we’ll just go in with a steady mindset and play how we normally play.”

Looking forward to the final on Sunday, Smith adds that the prospect of playing at home – in front of all the Arsenal fans – feels like a “big opportunity” for the club.

“It’s always exciting to play at home in front of our home crowd at the Emirates,” she adds. “It’s tough for other teams to play there, and [the fans] are pretty much our 12th player. So I’m definitely looking forward to that.”

She continues: “My highlight of the season so far is scoring my debut goal at the Emirates; my dad was there in the stands as well, so it made it so much more special. I’ve grown a lot since that moment, both as a person and a player, and I can’t wait to keep growing.” 

Don’t miss your chance to watch the first-ever FIFA Women’s Champions Cup in London, book your tickets at FIFA.com/tickets

Images: Getty