U.S. Soccer Announces Launch of Arthur M. Blank Crest Cup for Women's Clubs

U.S. Soccer is preparing to launch the Arthur M. Blank Crest Cup, a groundbreaking competition for women's clubs across various leagues, featuring a prize pool of $1.5 million. The competition is expected to commence before the 2031 Women's World Cup, which may be co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica.

The inaugural event will include teams from the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the Gainbridge Super League (GSL), with potential for additional clubs to participate in the future. U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone expressed her long-standing desire to create a women's equivalent to existing men's competitions, noting the growth of women's soccer at both professional and amateur levels.

The Crest Cup will allow the winner to qualify for the Concacaf W Champions Cup, enhancing competitive opportunities for players and teams. While the scheduling of matches is still under consideration, Parlow Cone emphasized the importance of balancing player workloads and ensuring adequate recovery time between league and cup matches.