FIFA has announced that the FIFA Global Football Awards will be held in Dubai starting in 2026. The event, which honors the world’s top football players, coaches, and influential figures, marks a new partnership between FIFA and the United Arab Emirates.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino made the announcement on Monday during the World Sports Summit in Dubai. He stated:
“We invest billions of dollars in developing football around the world, and our goal is to engage the entire globe.”
Infantino added that FIFA supports its 211 member associations not only through player development but also by funding infrastructure projects. He noted that FIFA aims to establish talent development academies in all member countries by the end of 2027.
“Starting next year, 100 football academies will be launched worldwide,” Infantino said. “I don’t know yet if the UAE would like to host one, but we could make it 101 academies with one based in the Emirates.”
The World Sports Summit is taking place from December 29 to 30 in Madinat Jumeirah and features prominent figures such as Novak Djokovic, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and football legend Ronaldo Nazário.
