FIFA continues its drive for renewal in football and has turned to Dubai, where a partnership with the Sports Council has been signed. This notably entails the end of The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony, which was organized by the governing body. A new ceremony will be created in 2026, while Dubai remains a partner of the Globe Soccer Awards (in the United Arab Emirates).
We had a glimmer of hope, with fewer ceremonies for trophies that all look the same and always have a disturbing individualistic aspect for a team sport. But ultimately, it’s mainly a change of name and venue. There might also be some differences in the awards themselves.
In any case, Ousmane Dembélé (the 28-year-old striker for PSG and the French national team) will remain the last winner of The Best FIFA Men’s Player award. Most importantly, FIFA has signed a new partnership with Dubai. This is a significant development for football, reflecting the organization’s desire for change. Under President Gianni Infantino, the trend is towards increasing the number of matches, driven by a clear focus on revenue generation. We’ll have to wait and see what happens next.
