A new tournament in the women’s soccer calendar takes place in May 2025 in the build-up to the UEFA Women’s Champions League final.
The World Sevens Football event is being held this week in Portugal, where eight major club sides will compete for a trophy and a sizeable prize pot.
Described by former England international Anita Asante as “football, but faster, bolder, and made for the future,” the W7F is bankrolled by a stakeholder from the NWSL and will include both Manchester City and Manchester United in its inaugural competition.
The Sporting News breaks down everything you need to know, including the format, team rosters, and the match schedule.
Fixture schedule | Team rosters | Tournament format | Prize money
What is World Sevens Football?
World Sevens Football is a women’s soccer tournament, the inaugural edition of which takes place this month in Portugal.
Eight clubs will be represented in the seven-a-side competition, which runs over the course of three days in the lead-up to the UEFA Women’s Champions League final.
W7F is funded by Jennifer Mackesy and her husband, Scott. Mackesy is a minority owner of NWSL side NJ/NY Gotham FC. A group of prominent current and former women’s players, coaches and officials, including Tobin Heath, Kelley O’Hara and Laura Georges, are helping to shape the competition as an advisory council.
Go behind the scenes with Manchester United as they gear up for World Sevens Football kicking off next week! 7v7, smaller pitches, and faster games. They’re ready to bring the heat (and feel it too)!
Get tickets now and stream it live on @DAZNWFootball!https://t.co/5BGePFbTGd pic.twitter.com/ZXCbzvGoSB
— World Sevens Football (@worldsevens_) May 16, 2025
The idea is to expand the format in future years and stage them in North and South America, not only Europe. “It is a significant investment that we’re making,” Mackesy said. “We expect to see proof of concept after this first tournament and be able to grow it from there.”
W7F, she said, is an opportunity to “elevate the women’s game” and give players “a powerful new platform to showcase their talent, grow their personal brands, and provide economic opportunity in a way that truly reflects their value.”
When is the World Sevens Football? Match schedule for 2025
The tournament runs from May 21-23, 2025. The group games are played over the first two days, with the knockout stage on the third day.
MORE: How to watch the World Sevens Football tournament
W7F match schedule
*All kickoff times are local (CEST), which is +6 hours from ET
Wednesday, May 21
Manchester City vs. Rosengard (5:00 p.m.)
Roma vs. Manchester United (6:00 p.m.)
Ajax vs. Bayern Munich (7:00 p.m.)
PSG vs. Benfica (8:00 p.m.)
Thursday, May 22
Manchester City vs. Ajax (1:30 p.m.)
Rosengard vs. Bayern Munich (2:30 p.m.)
Roma vs. PSG (3:30 p.m.)
Manchester United vs. Benfica (4:30 p.m.)
Bayern Munich vs. Manchester City (6:30 p.m.)
Rosengard vs. Ajax (7:30 p.m.)
Benfica vs. Roma (8:30 p.m.)
Manchester United vs. PSG (9:30 p.m.)
Friday, May 23
Semifinal 1 (3:00 p.m.)
Semifinal 2 (4:30 p.m.)
Third-place match (6:30 p.m.)
Final (8:00 p.m.)
Awards ceremony (9:00 p.m.)
Where is it being played?
The tournament is being held in Estoril, Portugal.
The matches are played at Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota. The 8,000-seat venue is the home of G. D. Estoril Praia, who finished eighth in the 2024/25 men’s Primeira Liga.
Which teams are taking part in World Sevens Football 2025?
There are eight major European club teams represented at the event. Each team will have a maximum of 14 players in their roster for a single match.
The teams competing are:
- Ajax
- Bayern Munich
- Benfica
- Manchester City
- Manchester United
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Roma
- Rosengard
World Sevens Football 2025 format
The teams are split into two groups of four. Matches are in a round-robin format, with the top two in each pool progressing to the semifinals. There is then a final and a third-place playoff game.
The games themselves are 30 minutes in length (two halves of 15 minutes) and are played on 11-a-side grass pitches, even though it is a seven-a-side competition.
There are rolling substitutes, meaning players can be brought on and off as many times as teams wish.
Every team will play at least three games.
World Sevens Football 2025 rosters
Group 1:
Ajax
Goalkeepers: 1. Regina van Eijk, 13. Lois Nienhuis, 31. Dionne van der Wal
Defenders: 3. Roos van der Veen, 4. Deau den Turk, 8. Sherida Spitse, 18. Milicia Keijzer, 24. Daliyah de Klonia, 25. Kay-Lee de Sanders, 26. Isa Kardinaal
Midfielders: 6. Jonna van de Velde, 12. Jade Van Hensbergen, 16. Danique Noordman, 20. Lily Yohannes, 21. Rosa van Gool, 22. Quinty Sabajo, 27. Nayomi Buikema
Forwards: 9. Danique Tolhoek, 11. Bo van Egmond, 15. Inessa Kaagman, 17. Bente Jansen, 19. Tiny Hoekstra, 23. Lotte Keukelaar
Bayern Munich
Goalkeepers: 1. Maria Luisa Grohs, 32. Ena Mahmutovic, 41. Anna Wellmann
Defenders: 2. Linda Sembrant, 5. Magdalena Eriksson, 6. Tuva Hansen, 28. Michelle Ulbrich, 30. Carolin Simon, — Giulia Gwinn, — Katharina Naschenweng, — Glodis Perla Viggosdottir
Midfielders: 16. Julia Zigiotti Olme, 18. Momoko Tanikawa, 25. Sarah Zadrazil, 47. Maria Plattner, — Arianna Caruso, — Sydney Lohmann, — Lena Oberdorf, — Georgia Stanway
Forwards: 9. Jovana Damjanovic, 10. Linda Dallmann, 21. Pernille Harder, 24. Weronika Zawistowska, 48. Elira Terakaj, — Klara Buhl, — Lea Schuller
Manchester City
Goalkeepers: 12. Eve Annets, 31. Ayaka Yamashita, 35. Khiara Keating, 40. Katie Startup
Defenders: 3. Naomi Layzell, 13. Laura Wienroither, 28. Gracie Prior, 44. Codie Thomas, 53. Mayzee Davies
Midfielders: 7. Laura Coombs, 19. Laura Blindkilde Brown, 30. Aemu Oyama
Forwards: 16. Jessica Park, 17. Poppy Pritchard, 20. Aoba Fujino, 46. Lily Murphy
Rosengard
Goalkeepers: 1. Eartha Cummings, 43. Saga Andersson
Defenders: 2. Emilie Woldvik, 3. Gudrun Arnardottir, 4. Emma Pennsater, 5. Anni Hartikainen, 8. Molly Johansson, 11. Emma Jansson, 44. Jo-Anne Cronquist, 49. Alice Enehov
Midfielders: 7. Bea Sprung, 9. Hanna Andersson, 10. Isabella Tryggvadottir, 14. Emilia Larsson, 16. Emilia Pelgander, 18. Halimatu Ayinde, 19. Maja Johansson, 22. Yuna Hazekawa
Forwards: 21. Oona Sevenius
Group 2:
Benfica
Goalkeepers: 1. Lena Pauels, 12. Thais Lima, 66. Rute Costa
Defenders: 3. Joana Silva, 5. Marit Lund, 15. Carole Costa, 16. Christy Ucheibe, 19. Catarina Amado, 80. Lais Dos Santos
Midfielders: 6. Beatriz Cameirao, 8. Andreia Norton, 10. Andreia Faria, 14. Leticia Almeida, 18. Rakel Engesvik, 23. Anna Gasper
Forwards: 7. Cristina Martin-Prieto, 9. Nycole Raysla, 11. Jody Brown, 20. Lara Martins, 25. Chandra Davidson, 77. Neide Guedes
Manchester United
Goalkeepers: 1. Kayla Rendell, 39. Safia Middleton-Patel, 91. Phallon Tullis-Joyce
Defenders: 3. Gabrielle George, 4. Maya Le Tissier, 5. Aoife Mannion, 17. Dominique Janssen, 21. Millie Turner, 38. Jessica Simpson
Midfielders: 7. Ella Toone, 8. Grace Clinton, 13. Simi Awujo, 16. Lisa Naalsund, 34. Emma Watson
Forwards: 9. Melvine Malard, 11. Leah Galton, 15. Celin Bizet Ildhusoy, 19. Elisabeth Terland, 28. Rachel Williams, 37. Keira Barry
Paris Saint-Germain
Goalkeepers: 1. Katarzyna Kiedrzynek, 40. Alyssa Fernandes
Defenders: 2. Thiniba Samoura, 4. Paulina Dudek, 5. Elisa De Almeida, 19. Eva Gaetino, 22. Oceane Hurtre, 24. Baby Jordy Benera, 28. Jade Le Guilly, 29. Griedge Mbock
Midfielders: 6. Onyi Echegini, 7. Sakina Karchaoui, 8. Onema Grace Geyoro, 80. Manssita Traore, 95. Laurina Fazer
Forwards: 16. Froya Brennskag-Dorsin, 17. Romee Leuchter, 30. Merveille Kanjinga
Roma
Goalkeepers: 12. Camelia Ceasar, 52. Liliana Merolla
Defenders: 3. Lucia Di Guglielmo, 19. Shukurat Oladipo, 23. Hawa Cissoko
Midfielders: 10. Manuela Giugliano, 22. Marta Pandini, 24. Katherine Kuhl, 25. Frederikke Thogersen, 48. Kim Shin-ji, 51. Sanne Troelsgaard
Forwards: 7. Evelyne Viens, 9. Valentina Giacinti, 11. Emilie Haavi, 16. Alice Corelli, 17. Alayah Pilgrim, 18. Benedetta Glionna, 21. Mia Pante
What is the World Sevens Football prize money?
There is a prize pot of $5 million up for grabs. Competing teams are contractually obliged to give at least some of their tournament earnings to players and staff.
