Concacaf, soccer’s governing body across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, has expanded its relationship with Canadian bank Scotiabank.

Through a deal add-on announced late last week, Scotiabank becomes a founding partner of the Concacaf W Champions Cup, the first continental women’s club soccer property in the region.

This agreement builds on the existing Concacaf-Scotiabank deal, with the first tie-up between the two parties dating back to 2014.

The Concacaf W Champions Cup, set to be an annual affair, contains 11 teams (including Canada’s Vancouver Whitecaps) from the body’s various member countries in this, its inaugural 2024-25 edition. It is the only way through which Concacaf teams will be able to qualify for the first-ever FIFA Women’s Club World Cup in 2026.

The 2024-25 edition is currently at the group stage, and will run until a Final Four mini-tournament next May.

Philippe Maggio, general secretary of Concacaf, has now said: “We have made significant progress in the growth of the women's game and, while there remains much more work to do, the development of leagues and clubs, and the opportunity for the top teams in our region to compete to be the Concacaf club champion, is a very important step in our strategy.”

In terms of Concacaf’s recent commercial activity, the body announced a long-term deal with Italian sportswear brand Macron earlier this month.

Macron becomes the sports equipment and apparel partner of Concacaf for the next six and a half years, through 2030. This represents the Italian brand’s first such tie-up with a FIFA regional confederation.

Laura Curtis Ferrera, Scotiabank’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer, added: "Women's soccer is rapidly growing across the Americas, and so is its fanbase. We are thrilled to be a part of this movement and to partner with Concacaf to deliver amazing experiences throughout the tournament as some of the world's best soccer players strive to qualify for the FIFA Women's Club World Cup."

The last renewal between Scotiabank and Concacaf was unveiled last March, as the bank extended its deal as title sponsor of the men’s Concacaf Champions League and as a partner of the soccer body’s various other properties.

Other Concacaf commercial partners, meanwhile, include Aramco and Molten.