As you know, at World Football Summit every year we share the spotlight and acknowledge those behind the scenes who are creating the football we need. The WFS Awards, presented this year by Junta de Andalucía were created to reward the achievements of these executives, managers, sponsors, agencies, media, NGOs and other professionals whose talent, passion and dedication help make football the greatest show of our time. Among some of the past winners are Arsenal FC, Aleksander Čeferin, Sevilla FC, Socios.com… The awards ceremony will be held on the first night of our two-day WFS Europe event in Sevilla.
Below you will find the three finalists from each category:
Best Executive Award by Nolan Partners
Directed to the executive who has made a change for the benefit of the institution, has made the most efficient use of its resources, and has achieved greater impact according to their capabilities.
- Dawn Airey, Women’s Super League
- Ferran Soriano, City Football Group
- Ryan Reynolds & Rob Mcelhenney, Wrexham AFC
Best Venue Award by Mondo Stadia
Directed to stadiums and sports venues, taking into account fan experience, access, match day operations… among others.
- Sapporo Stadium, Japan
- Accor Stadium, Australia
- Tottenham Hotspur Football Club Stadium, United Kingdom
Best Digital Transformation Initiative Award by N3xt Sports
Directed at football rights holders: clubs, federations, and leagues, that have recently gone through a digital transformation process with demonstrated new value generated. The process may either be completed or ongoing but must be able to present tangible results.
- The Professional Football Association
- Sevilla FC
- EuroLeague Basketball
Football For Good Award by Common Goal
Directed at clubs, club foundations, institutions, NGO’s or companies that promote social change through football.
- P.L.A.Y.S (Participate, Learn, Achieve, Youth, Soccer) Program
- Mandela Project by Dragones de Lavapies
- Atoot – Her Voice. Her Choice.
Best Women’s Football Initiative Award by Women in Football
Directed at the company or institution whose performance or initiative has contributed in an outstanding and relevant way to promote the development and growth of women’s football, on a professional level, achieving notoriety and a certain projection that inspires new generations to practice it and audiences to follow it.
- M&C Saatchi Sports – Barclays: It All Starts With a Chance
- The Bravehearts Ladies Come Out and Play Outreach Initiative
- Pifa Foundation for the Benefit of Sports – Indian Women’s Football Alliance
Football Without Limits Award by Integrated Dreams
This WFS Award looks to applaud, cherish and gain inspiration from companies, clubs and federations that have provided support to the inclusion and visibility of disabled people in our society, specifically in sports, by means of any initiative, technology, marketing campaign, innovative solution.
- Access Earth
- Kateryna Biloruska Foundation
- Scottish Para-Football
Most Innovative Supplier Award by SportstechX
Directed at companies that provide products that provide products or services to the football industry. The company may be a supplier for different football clubs or sports disciplines.
- Teamworks – The Operating System for Sports
- Gol Mundial – The World Cup for Everyone by MEDIAPRO
- International Sports Groundbreakers Challenge by GSIC Microsoft
Marcus Rashford Award by FIFPro
An award created to reaffirm the legacy of Marcus Rashford MBE’s child food poverty campaigning. This is directed at athletes, executives and organization employees who have championed programs and actions that have a positive impact on their communities and drive positive societal change.
- Football for Future – Sofie Junge Pedersen
- Marshall Munetsi / Marshall Munetsi Foundation
- Very Proud by Borja Iglesias
Best Sportstech Startup Award by LaSource
This award celebrates the most promising and innovative startups that provide sports organizations with outstanding solutions to help them in their transitions and overall transformation.
- MyGamePlan
- Neurocess
- turfcoach
Best Internationalization Strategy Award by Deloitte
Directed at the company or institution that has best expanded its business internationally, gaining market expansion, business diversification, growth of investment, etc.
- Valencia CF
- City Football Group
- Inter Miami CF
Most Impactful Branding Initiative Award by SUMMA Branding
Directed at the company, club, institution or individual who has displayed or executed an exceptional branding campaign within the football industry.
- 433
- FC Internazionale Milano
- Fortuna Düsseldorf
Check out the pictures from the WFS Awards Ceremony last year
Stay tuned for those who will be making football industry history!
