U.S. Soccer Will Launch New Women’s Crest Cup

The inaugural tournament will feature NWSL and Super League teams competing for a $1.5 million prize pool.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Soccer

U.S. Soccer Will Launch New Women’s Crest Cup

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U.S. Soccer plans to introduce the Arthur M. Blank Crest Cup by 2031 to expand interleague play. The tournament will offer a $1.5 million prize pool and provide the winner with a qualification spot for the Concacaf W Champions Cup.

Why it matters

This competition aims to capitalize on the rapid growth of professional women's soccer in the United States. By bridging different leagues, the tournament will provide increased domestic and international exposure for a wider pool of players.

The new competition features a $1.5 million prize pool for participating teams. The winner of the tournament will earn a qualification spot in the Concacaf W Champions Cup.

The players

U.S. Soccer

This is the national governing body for the sport of soccer in the United States.

NWSL

The National Women's Soccer League is the top-tier professional women's soccer league in the United States.

Gainbridge Super League

This is a professional women's soccer league that will compete alongside the NWSL in the new tournament.

The details

Modeled after the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the Crest Cup will utilize a single-elimination format for participating clubs. The competition is slated to feature teams from both the NWSL and the Gainbridge Super League, with matches anticipated to take place during the midweek.

The Women's Club World Cup is expected to arrive in the U.S. in Winter 2028.
The Arthur M. Blank Crest Cup is scheduled to launch by 2031.

Season Trajectory

The introduction of the Crest Cup mirrors the structural format of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup to unify top-tier women's clubs. This move signals a significant expansion of the domestic competitive calendar and aims to align with global standards like the planned FIFA Women's Club World Cup.

The introduction of the Crest Cup guarantees an additional path for NWSL and Super League clubs to qualify for the Concacaf W Champions Cup. Fans and analysts will see roster rotations change as clubs balance the midweek tournament schedule with their primary league commitments.

The takeaway

The Arthur M. Blank Crest Cup represents a major expansion in the opportunities for professional women's soccer clubs to compete on a national stage. Clubs and players should prepare for a more congested match schedule as these new high-stakes tournaments become a standard part of the calendar.