Gotham FC took home bronze in the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup on Sunday in London.
The 2025 NWSL champions handily beat Morocco’s ASFAR 4-0 in the third-place game, also marking their only win in the tournament.
On Wednesday, Gotham narrowly missed out on advancing to the final with a 1-0 loss to eventual runners-up Corinthians from Brazil. Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amorós called the games similar, despite the different results.
“The main difference is we were able to get the early lead that we know unsettled teams, and we were able to be more clinical in front of goal, which really allowed us to then play a bit more of a game where players can enjoy,” Amarós said in a press release.
Gotham was without Rose Lavelle, the 2025 NWSL championship MVP, who was evaluated for a concussion during Wednesday’s loss.
The club did more with less against ASFAR, scoring efficiently with four goals on 11 shots — a stark contrast from its semifinal game, with 21 shots yet zero goals.
Gotham’s first goal came in the 27th minute courtesy of second-year player Khyah Harper, who was inserted into the starting lineup ahead of the match. Harper’s goal was assisted by reigning NWSL Rookie of the Year Lilly Reale, who passed it forward to Harper on the left flank.
The team extended its lead in the 28th minute with a goal from midfielder Savannah McCaskill, which marked her first goal since returning to Gotham FC after previously playing for the club in the 2018 season.
Just before halftime, Gotham took a commanding 3-0 lead after a penalty kick from forward Jaedyn Shaw, who also assisted on McCaskill’s goal. Forward Midge Purce scored the final goal early in the second half, rebounding a miss from Shaw.
What differentiates this tournament from other FIFA-affiliated counterparts is that only six teams, one from each continent, qualify. Gotham represented North America because of its win in the inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup in May 2025, and they’ll look to defend their title this May.
Next, Gotham will break before resuming its preseason prep in mid-February. The team’s regular season begins on March 14 at Boston Legacy FC, with its home opener to follow a week later against the NC Courage.
