Prince William stepped up to celebrate the grit, grace, and glory of women’s football with a powerful recorded message ahead of the 2026 Women’s Football Awards. His words hailed the "dedication, resilience, and leadership" that fuel this meteoric rise.
Now, the shortlist is out—and it’s absolutely stacked. From Manchester City’s deadly duo Lauren Hemp and Bunny Shaw to Arsenal’s magician Alessia Russo and Chelsea’s fearless Hannah Hampton, the battle for Player of the Year is electric.
Young Player of the Year contenders are no less explosive. Think Tottenham’s Tōko Koga, Manchester City’s Laura Blindkilde Brown, and the lightning-quick Alyssa Thompson at Chelsea. These are the names rewriting the future of the game.
International Player of the Year? A global showcase. Bayern’s Klara Bühl, Real Madrid’s Caroline Weir, Barcelona’s Alèxia Putellas, and Lyon’s Melchie Dumornay are all in the running—pure star power from every corner of the planet.
Club of the Year is a heavyweight showdown. Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, and surprise contenders like London City Lionesses and Hearts prove the depth of excellence across the entire football ecosystem.
Media Figure of the Year celebrates the voices amplifying the game—Kelly Cates, Karen Carney, Laura Woods, and a roster of journalists and broadcasters who make every match feel epic.
The Best Marketing Campaigns category is pure creativity unleashed: Sports Direct’s "Legacy Starts Here," AXA’s "Keep On Kicking," and Unilever’s "Hellmann’s Russo Burger" show brands finally aligning with the sport’s soul.
Grassroots initiatives are the heartbeat. Liverpool FA’s "She Inspires," Tottenham’s Girls & Women Programme, and McDonald’s Fun Football are turning passion into opportunity for thousands of young players.
Brand of the Year? Lucozade Sport, Adidas, EA Sports, Barclays, Nike—the giants are all in, proving women’s football is no longer a niche—it’s the mainstream.
Then there’s the Game Changer Award—a hall of fame of legends. Rachel Yankey, Kelly Smith, Ellen White, Fran Kirby, Jess Fishlock. These women didn’t just play; they broke barriers and built bridges.
The Off The Pitch Award honors the architects—Stephen Lansdown, Tammy Parlour, and others who pull strings and open doors behind the scenes. Their vision makes the impossible happen.
From Equality and Diversity awards to Community Impact and Football Business Trailblazers, every category tells a story of progress. This isn’t just an awards night—it’s a revolution in cleats.
The countdown is on. The winners will be revealed soon, and with names like these, expect surprises, tears, and triumphant roars.
