The finalists for the WFS Awards 2026 are in. This year’s edition received close to 200 candidacies from close to 50 countries across all six continents, spanning 12 categories that recognise the professionals and organisations behind the game.
Here they are, category by category:
WFS Award for the Best Content Creator by TikTok
WFS Award for Best Digital Transformation Initiative by N3XT Sports
- EasyCoach Connected Football Ecosystem (EasyCoach)
- Revolutionizing the Saudi Sports and Football Ecosystem (Saudi Ministry of Sports)
- Vitória SC’s All-In-One Fan Engagement (Vitória SC)
WFS Award for Best Executive by Excel Search & Advisory
- Michele Kang (Kynisca Sports Group)
- Bob Madou (Club Brugge)
- Mirwan Suwarso (Como 1907)
WFS Award for Best Fan-Centric Initiative by Goodform by YouFirst
- Como Gaming Club (Como 1907)
- Expected Jinx / xJ (Xbox × Opta / Stats Perform)
- Stories of Strength 3 (Juventus FC)
WFS Award for Best Gender Equality Initiative by Women in Football
WFS Award for Best Growth Strategy by Deloitte
WFS Award for Best Stadium Experience by Stadium DB
- Beyond Matchday: Designing the Other 345 Days
- CPKC Stadium: The First Stadium Built for Women’s Football
- The Sívori Inferior: Removing the Track, Building South America’s Loudest Wall
WFS Award for Eli Wolff Football Without Limits by Integrated Dreams
WFS Award for Football for Good by Common Goal
- Moving the Goalposts
- PACES
- Sport in the Service of Peace (Peres Center)
WFS Award for Most Innovative Supplier by SportsTechX
- Biolyz
- Together with Empa (Swijin)
- Trajektory
WFS Award for Woman in Leadership by Women in Soccer
- Claire Bloomfield (World Sevens Football)
- Khalida Popal (Girl Power Organization)
- Zeycan Rochelle Yildirim (Samsunspor)
Winners will be announced on 3 September, ahead of the WFS Awards ceremony at Teatro Eslava, Madrid, on 15 September, where the trophies will be presented.
The WFS Award for a Career Honouring the Essence of the Game by Senn Ferrero is not included above, as this category is chosen directly by the jury without a public finalist stage.
Created in 2017, the WFS Awards recognise the professionals and organisations, in the spotlight and behind the scenes, whose work elevates the game, expands the business, and deepens its impact on society, while honouring the essence and values of the sport.
Past honourees include Aleksander Čeferin, Marcus Rashford, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Atlético de Madrid, Juventus, Arsenal FC, Sevilla FC and DAZN, among many others. This is where the industry recognises professional excellence and celebrates global impact.
