NEW YORK (January 20, 2026) – World Sevens Football (W7F) today announced that Claire Bloomfield has been appointed Chief of Football Affairs and Governance, a new senior leadership role focused on leading the long-term strategic direction of the tournament series, governance structures, and global stakeholder strategy. Bloomfield will lead the organisation's relationships with federations, confederations, leagues, clubs, and player representatives, and support the next phase of W7F’s international growth by ensuring strong alignment between sporting ambition, commercial objectives, and the evolving global football landscape.

In the new role, Bloomfield will steer the organisation’s approach to competition development and regulatory frameworks, ensuring that W7F is fully integrated into the women's football ecosystem. The role also carries responsibility for implementing initiatives that safeguard integrity and financial sustainability while supporting innovation in competition formats and player pathways.

World Sevens Football CEO Sarah Cummins said, “Claire joins us at a pivotal inflection point for both our business and the wider women's game. As we expand our tournament footprint and deepen our relationships with clubs, leagues, and governing bodies, her leadership will be instrumental in building a sustainable, scaled global competition platform that delivers long-term commercial value for our partners and investors while keeping players and clubs at the centre of every decision we make. Her experience at the intersection of sporting, political, and commercial decision-making in women's football gives World Sevens Football a unique edge and will ensure that our governance framework protects the integrity of the competition, underpinning a compelling proposition for sponsors, broadcasters, and host cities for years to come.”

Bloomfield said: “After almost 20 years working across the industry, it’s exciting to encounter an organisation with both the ambition and conviction to genuinely reimagine the future of women’s football. W7F is prepared to think beyond established formats, act with intent, and turn vision into reality.”

She added: “I’m thrilled to bring my experience to a highly talented, female-led leadership team, united by a shared belief in advancing the women’s game with credibility, purpose, and lasting global impact.”

Jen Mackesy, Co-Founder and Lead Investor, said: “This is a foundational appointment for World Sevens Football as the tournament series matures from a breakthrough concept into a regular destination in the global women's football calendar. Claire's expertise in competition design, stakeholder alignment, and player pathways will be central to delivering world-class tournaments that top clubs want to participate in year after year.”

Mackesy continued: “As we move toward multiple events per year across new regions, we need a governance and regulatory leader who understands both the technical detail and the bigger picture of where women's football is heading. Claire will be key in shaping formats, calendars, and sporting standards that protect player welfare, enhance competitive balance, and ensure the best clubs in the world view World Sevens Football as a must-play event.”

Bloomfield is a recognised authority in global women's football with almost 20 years of wide-ranging experience in the industry, across journalism, roles at Chelsea Football Club and West Ham United Football Club, and senior leadership positions in the European game. Most recently, she served as the European Club Association's (now European Football Clubs) first Head of Women's Football, where she led major reforms of the competition landscape, developed governance frameworks, and introduced game-changing professionalisation policies and initiatives, positioning women’s European football clubs at the centre of global decision-making.

She was instrumental in launching the ECA’s first women’s football strategy, twice reforming the Women’s Champions League in partnership with UEFA, and driving the creation of a second European competition - the UEFA Women’s Europa Cup. Bloomfield also worked hand in hand with FIFA to evolve the international match calendar and secure the FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, strengthened maternity provisions together with FIFPRO, and led a pioneering study into women’s football boots. Equally transformative has been her work driving governance reform, with women’s clubs now holding seats on the ECA Board for the first time. 

Her background combines sporting and regulatory expertise, commercial understanding, and a deep commitment to innovation and high performance, giving her a unique perspective on how to build sustainable, impactful properties in women's sport. 

About World Sevens Football

World Sevens Football (W7F) is a global 7v7 women’s football tournament series that debuted in May 2025 with a successful event in Estoril, Portugal, won by FC Bayern München of the  Frauen-Bundesliga. Featuring fast-paced seven-a-side matches and a $5 million prize pool per tournament, W7F brings together top professional clubs in an exciting new format. The second tournament in Fort Lauderdale in December 2025 marked the series’ expansion into North America. Won by San Diego Wave FC of the NWSL, it showcased eight elite clubs from across the Americas, each among the strongest in their respective leagues. W7F works in partnership with DAZN for worldwide broadcast, sub-licensing, and marketing, as well as co-exclusive sublicensee partners TNT, Univision, and ESPN. Guided by a distinguished Player Advisory Council, W7F is committed to elevating women’s football and providing unique opportunities for players and fans worldwide.

Media contact: media@worldsevens.com