Dubai has been selected as the host city for the inaugural FIFA Awards ceremony in 2026, marking a significant partnership between the global football governing body and the emirate. The announcement was made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during his keynote address at the World Sports Summit in Madinat Jumeirah on December 29, 2025.
The newly established FIFA Awards will recognize exceptional football players, coaches, and teams worldwide, with the first ceremony scheduled to take place in Dubai next year. Infantino emphasized FIFA’s commitment to global football development, revealing that the organization invests billions of dollars worldwide to support the sport’s growth.
‘We are investing billions of dollars in football development all over the world. As FIFA, we want to have the entire world involved,’ Infantino stated during his summit address. ‘We need to develop club football everywhere in the world, and we need to give opportunities everywhere in the world for clubs and for players to play at the highest level.’
The FIFA president further detailed the organization’s ambitious academy program, noting that 100 elite talent development academies are planned for establishment by next year. Infantino extended an invitation to the UAE to potentially host the 101st academy, demonstrating FIFA’s commitment to regional football development.
The World Sports Summit, running from December 29-30, 2025, has attracted numerous sporting icons including tennis champion Novak Djokovic, mixed martial arts legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, and football great Ronaldo Nazário. The event serves as a platform for major sports announcements and international collaboration discussions.
This partnership with Dubai represents FIFA’s latest initiative to globalize football recognition and development, building on their 2023 commitment to establish elite academies across all 211 member association countries by 2027. The organization also provides grants to member countries for improving football infrastructure and development programs.