World Sevens Football

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World Sevens Football
FoundedJanuary 2025 (2025-01)
RegionInternational
Teams8
Current championsEngland Chelsea (1st title)
Most championshipsGermany Bayern Munich
United States San Diego Wave FC
England Chelsea
(1 title each)
Broadcaster(s)DAZN
Sky Sports (London 2026)
WebsiteOfficial website
London 2026

World Sevens Football (W7F)[1] is a women's association football competition series format, which features existing clubs playing professional seven-a-side football.

Format

World Sevens Football features a pitch half the size of a regulation (11-a-side) pitch and goals that are 2m tall and 5.5m wide. There is no offside rule. Games are played in two halves of fifteen minutes each, with rolling substitutions from an unlimited squad (with fourteen players for each match). In the case of games being tied, they go to 5 minutes extra time, and then sudden-death penalties.[2] The organisers devised the format with the aim to appeal to "a new generation of fans."[3][1]

Tournaments are invitational – with mainstream top-level women's football teams applying to be included – and feature eight teams split into two groups of four, with the groups followed by semi-finals and the final. The competition is not regulated by FIFA, and takes place outside the FIFA International Match Calendar, meaning there are no player release obligations for the clubs.[3] The inaugural tournament was streamed live on DAZN.[4] World Sevens Football was founded by Jennifer Mackesy and Justin Fishkin.[5] Its player advisory council is composed of former internationals Anita Asante, Laura Georges, Tobin Heath, Kelley O'Hara, and Caroline Seger.[6]

Estoril 2025

The inaugural tournament took place from 21–23 May 2025 at the Estádio António Coimbra da Mota in Estoril, Portugal. The site and dates were chosen due to their proximity to the 2024–25 UEFA Women's Champions League final, set to be held in Lisbon on 24 May. Participating teams were finalised during the later stages of the Champions League knock-out rounds, as only the two finalists were ineligible to take part.[3]

In April 2025, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Benfica, and Manchester United were all confirmed as participants.[7] In May 2025, Manchester City, AS Roma, Paris Saint-Germain and Rosengård joined the tournament.[8][9][10]

Teams

All times are local, WEST (UTC+1).

Group 1

Pos Team Pld W L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Germany Bayern Munich 3 3 0 11 3 +8 3 Advanced to knockout stage
2 England Manchester City 3 2 1 7 5 +2 2
3 Netherlands Ajax 3 1 2 6 6 0 1
4 Sweden Rosengård 3 0 3 0 10 −10 0
Source: World Sevens

Group 2

Pos Team Pld W L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 England Manchester United 3 3 0 8 5 +3 3 Advanced to knockout stage
2 France Paris Saint-Germain 3 2 1 6 4 +2 2
3 Italy AS Roma 3 1 2 5 7 −2 1
4 Portugal Benfica 3 0 3 4 7 −3 0
Source: World Sevens

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
23 May
 
 
Germany Bayern Munich5
 
23 May
 
France Paris Saint-Germain0
 
Germany Bayern Munich2
 
23 May
 
England Manchester United1
 
England Manchester United2
 
 
England Manchester City0
 
Third place
 
 
23 May
 
 
France Paris Saint-Germain3
 
 
England Manchester City1

Semi-finals

Bayern Munich Germany v France Paris Saint-Germain
23 May 2025 Bayern Munich Germany 5–0 France Paris Saint-Germain Estoril, Portugal
15:00 Damnjanović 14'
Plattner 15'
Tanikawa 21', 28'
Zadrazil 25'		 Report Stadium: Estádio António Coimbra da Mota
Manchester United England v England Manchester City
23 May 2025 Manchester United England 2–0 England Manchester City Estoril, Portugal
16:30 Malard 4'
George 25'		 Report Stadium: Estádio António Coimbra da Mota

Third place match

Paris Saint-Germain France v England Manchester City
23 May 2025 Paris Saint-Germain France 3–1 England Manchester City Estoril, Portugal
18:30 Traoré 12'
Geyoro 19'
Hurtré 24'		 Report Park 9' Stadium: Estádio António Coimbra da Mota

Final

Bayern Munich Germany v England Manchester United
23 May 2025 Bayern Munich Germany 2–1 England Manchester United Estoril, Portugal
20:00 Tanikawa 22'
Zadrazil 26'		 Report Awujo 14' Stadium: Estádio António Coimbra da Mota

Awards

Award Player (club) Ref
Breakout Player Canada Simi Awujo (Manchester United) [11]
Golden Ball Japan Momoko Tanikawa (Bayern Munich)
Golden Boot Japan Momoko Tanikawa (Bayern Munich)
Golden Glove Germany Ena Mahmutovic (Bayern Munich)

Fort Lauderdale 2025

The second tournament took place in December 2025, in Fort Lauderdale in the United States.[12] Investment for five years of the format was made.[3][13] In October 2025, AFC Toronto, Flamengo, Club América, Tigres UANL, the Kansas City Current, San Diego Wave FC, Deportivo Cali, and Nacional were confirmed as participants.[14]

Teams

All times are local, EST (UTC−5).

Group 1

Pos Team Pld W L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Mexico Tigres 3 2 1 8 4 +4 2 Advanced to knockout stage
2 Brazil Flamengo 3 2 1 5 7 −2 2
3 Canada AFC Toronto 3 1 2 7 7 0 1
4 United States Kansas City Current 3 1 2 6 8 −2 1
Source: World Sevens

Group 2

Pos Team Pld W L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 United States San Diego Wave 3 3 0 6 2 +4 3 Advanced to knockout stage
2 Mexico Club América 3 2 1 8 2 +6 2
3 Colombia Deportivo Cali 3 1 2 5 6 −1 1
4 Uruguay Nacional 3 0 3 3 12 −9 0
Source: World Sevens

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
7 December
 
 
Mexico Tigres UANL (a.e.t.)2
 
7 December
 
Mexico Club América1
 
Mexico Tigres UANL0
 
7 December
 
United States San Diego Wave3
 
United States San Diego Wave5
 
 
Brazil Flamengo1
 
Third place
 
 
7 December
 
 
Mexico Club América1
 
 
Brazil Flamengo0

Semi-finals

Third place match

Final

Awards

Award Player (club) Ref
Breakout Player Germany Gia Corley (San Diego Wave) [15]
Golden Ball Mexico María Sánchez (Tigres UANL)
Golden Boot Mexico María Sánchez (Tigres UANL)
Golden Glove Bosnia and Herzegovina DiDi Haračić (San Diego Wave)

London 2026

The third tournament took place in England and featured eight WSL clubs: Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Leicester City, London City Lionesses, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham and Manchester United.[16]

Teams

All times are local, BST (UTC+1).

Group 1

Pos Team Pld W L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Chelsea 3 3 0 12 6 +6 3 Advanced to knockout stage
2 Everton 3 2 1 13 7 +6 2
3 Leicester City 3 1 2 5 12 −7 1
4 London City Lionesses 3 0 3 4 9 −5 0
Source: World Sevens

Group 2

Pos Team Pld W L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Manchester United 3 3 0 17 6 +11 3 Advanced to knockout stage
2 Aston Villa 3 2 1 9 9 0 2
3 Tottenham Hotspur 3 1 2 9 15 −6 1
4 West Ham United 3 0 3 7 12 −5 0
Source: World Sevens

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
30 May
 
 
Chelsea8
 
30 May
 
Aston Villa2
 
Chelsea6
 
30 May
 
Manchester United5
 
Manchester United5
 
 
Everton2
 

Semi-finals

Final

Awards

Award Player (club) Ref
Breakout Player England Rachel Maltby (Aston Villa) [17]
Golden Ball England Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea) [18]
Golden Boot England Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea) [19]
Golden Glove Canada Sabrina D'Angelo (Aston Villa) [20]

See also

  • 7's Football League – a seven-a-side football format in the Philippines, which has a women's division
  • Queens League – a seven-a-side women's football format in Spain, with its own franchise teams
  • The Soccer Tournament – a seven-a-side football format in the United States, which has featured women's and mixed teams

References

  1. "World Sevens Football: Global women's seven-a-side series to start in May". BBC Sport. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  2. "Sporting & Disciplinary Regulations". World Sevens Football. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  3. Garry, Tom (20 March 2025). "World Sevens Football: who will be taking part and how will it work?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  4. Garry, Tom (20 March 2025). "Global women's seven-a-side football series launched with $100m investment". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  5. Harpur, Charlotte (25 May 2025). "Inside World Sevens Football: A $5m prize pot, rolling subs, DJ sets and plenty of personality". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  6. "Man Utd one of eight clubs entering new World Sevens tournament". BBC Sport. 24 April 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  7. "World Sevens Football Unveils First Four Elite Women's Teams For Inaugural Tournament in Portugal". World Sevens Football. 24 April 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  8. "Man City complete Women's World Sevens line-up". BBC Sport. 6 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  9. "World Sevens Football: Roma to take part in new 7-a-side tournament in Portugal". AS Roma F.C. 6 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  10. "Paris Saint-Germain to take part in World Sevens Football in Portugal!". Paris Saint-Germain F.C. 6 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  11. "Tournament recap — Bayern win inaugural W7F tournament". World Sevens Football. 24 May 2025.
  12. Jacques, John (20 October 2025). "AFC Toronto Joins Tournament With Five Million Dollar Prize Pool". Northern Tribune.
  13. "New women's 7 vs. 7 league touting $5M purses". ESPN. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  14. "NWSL's KC Current, SD Wave to play in World Sevens Football". ESPN. 28 October 2025.
  15. "Tournament recap — San Diego Wave FC rides undefeated run to W7F trophy". World Sevens Football. 7 December 2025.
  16. "Chelsea Completes 8-Team Field for World Sevens Football London Edition". justwomenssports.com.
  17. @worldsevens_; (30 May 2026). "Breakout Player" – via Instagram.
  18. @worldsevens_; (30 May 2026). "Golden Ball" – via Instagram.
  19. @worldsevens_; (30 May 2026). "Golden Boot" – via Instagram.
  20. @worldsevens_; (30 May 2026). "Golden Glove" – via Instagram.