Visa Signs as global Sponsor for inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup

Visa has been confirmed as a global sponsor of the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup, which takes place in London from January 28 to February 1. The payment technology company, a FIFA partner since 2007, will present the Player of the Match awards at both semi-finals, the third-place play-off and the final. Visa will also sponsor the Player of the Tournament Award for the competition's standout performer.FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis welcomed the partnership ahead of the tournament, which brings together champion clubs from each confederation for the first time. "We are delighted to welcome Visa as a global sponsor for the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup, a tournament that brings together the best clubs from each confederation on a truly global stage," Ellis said. "This competition is set to redefine perceptions of women's club football, and we are proud to rely on Visa's continued commitment to innovation and impact at this pivotal moment in the women's game." Andrea Fairchild, Senior Vice-President of Global Sponsorship Strategy at Visa, said the tournament reflected the momentum in women's football.Fairchild commented: "Visa is proud to expand our long standing partnership with FIFA by supporting the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup."This new tournament reflects the incredible momentum in women's football and the power it has to inspire growth on and off the pitch – we're excited to connect even more people to the future of the game." The late notice of this announcement underlines the difficulties FIFA faces attracting sponsors for new events, with no existing heritage or audience engagement to support this latest competition for the women's game. The semi-finals take place at Brentford Stadium on January 28, with Concacaf champions Gotham FC facing CONMEBOL champions SC Corinthians at 12:30 GMT, followed by Arsenal Women FC against CAF champions ASFAR at 18:00 GMT. The third-place play-off and final will be held at Arsenal Stadium on February 1, with the final scheduled for 18:00 GMT.Tickets are available at FIFA.com/tickets.