Gotham FC are no strangers when it comes to blazing a trail.
Last May, the Bats downed Tigres in the final of the inaugural CONCACAF W Champions Cup, with Esther Gonzalez hitting the only goal of the historic Nuevo Leon decider.
That victory secured their qualification to this month’s maiden FIFA Women’s Champions Cup 2026™, which brings the continental queens from all six confederations together to crown a global champion.
Gotham will take on Brazilian outfit Corinthians at Brentford Stadium in London in a battle for a place in the final against either English giants Arsenal or Moroccan powerhouses ASFAR. Captain Tierna Davidson can’t wait to get the action under way.
“We’re really excited,” the defender told FIFA. “We’re honoured to represent our league and to represent our country on this stage. It’s something that teams haven’t done before and it’s exciting and new. We’re ironing out the wrinkles as it goes and taking on the challenges as they are. We’re really excited to face some incredible international competition in this tournament.”
For Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, the visit to the English capital represents something of a homecoming. She spent two years with Birmingham City and went on to win ten trophies across a stellar five-year spell with Chelsea, before departing for the States in 2024.
“What I love about England is that it doesn’t matter if it’s male or female – it’s a sport for them and they absolutely love the sport,” she stated. “Over the years, when I was in Birmingham or Chelsea, I saw how the game changed and how many people are coming (to watch) and I think that will be very exciting for us here at Gotham to see so many supporters against us or for us. It’s a good first hosting nation, that’s for sure.”
Midfielder Rose Lavelle, who spent the 2020/21 campaign with Manchester City, echoed Berger’s thoughts.
“Oh my gosh, I loved playing at City!” the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ winner said. “One of the things I enjoyed most was, every single day in training, going up and challenging myself against really, really good players and getting to learn from such a wealth of experience.
“It was during COVID so I didn’t get to experience the fans, so I think it’ll be really exciting to be able to play at club level in front of fans this go-round in England.”
Corinthians stand in between the Bats and a place in the decider, with the pair set to collide at Brentford Stadium on 28 January. Gotham haven’t played since their 1-0 NWSL Championship victory over Washington Spirit last November, with Davidson stressing the need to get back up to speed.
“The team is preparing by first off getting our legs back underneath us,” she said. “Trying to build very quickly into a tournament is something that our coaches and medical staff has worked a lot on.
“But building specifically into that game, we know they have a lot of quality, a lot of creativity and are very well-known champions in their own league. They know what it’s like to win, so we need to make sure to match that energy and to bring that level of confidence to an international stage.”
“I think, obviously, even the Brazilian national team are dominant in the way that they play,” midfielder Jaedyn Shaw added. “I know Corinthians are really good in the Brazilian league. For us coming into this tournament, we know that it’s going to be a really hard game and we’re going to have to perform and be back at our A-game. I also love Brazilian football, so it’ll be fun to play against Corinthians.”
Victory over the Timão would take Gotham to a decider at the 60,704-seat Arsenal Stadium. While Corinthians are unquestionably objective number one, the tantalising thought of being the first name etched on to another major trophy isn’t lost on the squad.
“That’s the great thing about this club – we want to go after every historical title,” Shaw continued. “I wasn’t a part of the group when they won the Champions Cup, but I think just the vibe off of that and the mentality that it takes to win the first-ever tournament of its kind, it’s motivating. It makes you want to go for it even more because your name is etched in the history books forever. [To be] part of the team that won the first ever is crazy – no one else can say that. That’s part of the reason why I love this club.”
“It’s always cool to be one of the first teams [to be] a part of something. It’s just such a special opportunity for all four teams,” Lavelle concluded. “I think anytime you go into a tournament, you’re hoping to win it all. But like I said, I think we have to take it one day at a time and still have to play Corinthians. I think we’re excited.”
