England international Jess Carter has been included in the Gotham FC starting lineup for their Women’s Champions Cup semi-final against Corinthians.
Jess Carter makes Gotham FC starting XI
Lioness defender Jess Carter makes her first appearance of 2026 for the reigning NWSL champions in the semi-final of the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup.
Gotham FC are part of the tournament, which includes the winners of six continental tournaments around the world.
The NWLS side qualified for the tournament by winning the 2024-25 CONCACAF W Champions Cup.
Carter hopes to add another trophy to her cabinet after a successful 2025, in which she also won the European Championship with England.
She recently revealed that she joined Gotham FC in 2024 after she was not happy at Chelsea.
Full Gotham team to play Corinthians in the Women’s Champions Cup
There are some other recognisable names in the Gotham FC squad, including Carter’s partner and former Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.
Brazilian Gabi Portilho starts in attack for Gotham FC against her former side, after leaving Corinthians in December 2024.
Meanwhile, there is a 15-year-old on the Gotham FC bench in Mak Whitham, who is a USWNT U17 international.
Starting XI: Katrin-Berger; Bruninha, Sonnett, Carter, Reale; Howell; Lavelle, McCaskill; Purce, Shaw, Portilho
Bench: Campbell, Cook, Dudley, Duran, Freeman, Harper, Hasbo, Hogan, Kitahata, Schupansky, Sommer, Stengel, Whitham, Wy
HERE WE GO!
🆚 @SCCPFutFeminino
⏰ 7:30am ET
🏟️ Brentford Stadium
đź“ş @DAZNWFootball
🏆 #FIFAWCC pic.twitter.com/3KeK0evKx3— Gotham FC (@GothamFC) January 28, 2026
Corinthians Starting XI
Starting XI: Lele; Fernandes, Ferreira, Teles, Tamires; Vitoria, Sampaio, Andressa; Jaqueline, Aquino, Zanotti
Bench: Nicole, Rillary, Robledo, Godoi, Fuso, Albuquerque, Monteiro, Garcia, Juliete, Rhaizza, Rodriguez, Mineira, Jhonson, Carol Nogueira, Erika
Who will the winner face in Women’s Champions Cup final?
The winner will face either Arsenal or Moroccan side AS FAR in the Women’s Champions Cup final.
The final will be held at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, which could give the Gunners a huge advantage in the final.
During her press conference on Tuesday, Renee Slegers revealed that Chloe Kelly will return for Arsenal against AS FAR.
Both of the semi-finals are being held on Wednesday in Brentford, with Arsenal’s game kicking off at 6.30pm.
The tournament is being shown on Sky Sports and FIFA have revealed that the Women’s Champions Cup winners will earn £1.7 million.
This is the largest amount of money handed as a single award in women’s football history.
The team that loses the final will earn ÂŁ735,000, while the two sides that lose in the semi-finals will each earn ÂŁ147,000.
