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Dubai to Host Best FIFA Football Awards in 2026
Global Football’s Night of Stars: FIFA President Gianni Infantino Confirms Prestigious Awards Ceremony for the UAE
- Publish date: since 2 hour Reading time: 1 min read
In a landmark announcement for the region’s sporting landscape, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the 2026 edition of The Best FIFA Football Awards will be held in Dubai.
Speaking on the opening day of the World Sports Summit at Madinat Jumeirah on Monday, December 29, 2025, Infantino revealed a new partnership aimed at bringing the global governing body’s flagship awards ceremony to the emirate.
"I can announce here a new partnership we have closed together to honour the best players, coaches and teams, here in Dubai," Infantino told a star-studded audience during his keynote speech, titled 'The Next 90 Minutes: Charting the On-Pitch Evolution of Football.'
The event, which recognizes excellence in both men’s and women’s football, has traditionally been held in European cities like London, Zurich, and Paris. The move to Dubai reflects the city’s burgeoning status as a global sports hub and follows the 2025 edition held in Doha, where Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí were crowned the world’s best players.
Infantino emphasized the "unity the sport brings to the entire world" and praised Dubai’s world-class infrastructure and hospitality as the perfect backdrop for celebrating football's elite. The ceremony is expected to draw the biggest names in the sport, further cementing the UAE’s reputation for hosting premier international events.