WFS Announces Nasser Al-Khelaïfi As Best Executive 2025
Paris Saint-Germain President, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi has been named Best Executive by the WFS Awards 2025, which will be presented on 15th October during the first day of the World Football Summit in Madrid.
Created in 2017, the WFS Awards celebrate the leaders and initiatives shaping the future of the global football industry. Over the years, the Hall of Fame has included Aleksander Čeferin, Marcus Rashford, Atlético de Madrid, Bundesliga, Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Coca-Cola and DAZN, among many others.
The 2025 edition features eleven categories showcasing innovation, social impact, sustainability and growth on and off the pitch. In total, more than 135 applications were submitted from 20 countries across six continents, confirming the Awards’ position as a benchmark of excellence in football.
Speaking of the awards, WFS Co-Founder and Managing Director, Jan Alessie, said: “It is a privilege to celebrate the winners of the WFS Awards 2025. The variety of initiatives and countries represented reflects the diversity that defines today’s football industry and reinforces WFS’ commitment to represent and give a voice to all stakeholders across the ecosystem.”
LIST OF WINNERS:
Best Digital Transformation presented by N3XT Sports
Winner: Al Nassr x Condor Media.
Finalists: Playback Sports AI & Club Brugge Loyalty.
Al Nassr’s alliance with Condor Media created a global digital powerhouse, combining personalised content, AI-powered campaigns and multilingual platforms to engage millions of fans worldwide.
Best Executive presented by Excel Search & Advisory
Winner: Nasser Al-Khelaïfi (Paris Saint-Germain).
Finalists: Jessica Berman (NWSL) & Esteve Calzada (Al Hilal FC).
Chairman of beIN Media Group and Qatar Sports Investments, and President & CEO of Paris Saint-Germain, who conquered its first UEFA Champions League in 2025, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi has been honored for leading PSG’s global expansion while promoting sustainability, diversity and community impact.
Best Growth Strategy presented by Deloitte
Winner: Zebras FC (Juventus FC).
Finalists: West Ham United & Playback Sports AI.
In 2025, Juventus became the first professional club to join the Kings League, co-creating Zebras FC as a bold brand extension. Rooted in Juventus’ identity, Zebras FC blended football, entertainment, and creator-led content to engage Gen Z, deliver cultural relevance, strategic impact, and position the club as a digital-first innovator.
Best Venue presented by UN Tourism
Winner: Allianz Arena (FC Bayern).
Finalists: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta United) & Johan Cruyff Arena (AFC Ajax).
Home to FC Bayern, the Allianz Arena has become Europe’s greenest football venue thanks to cutting-edge sustainability upgrades such as heat pumps, EV charging infrastructure, climate-smart lighting, hybrid turf and zero-waste policies.
Best Women’s Football Initiative presented by Women in Football
Winner: FAW – Cymru WEURO25 Campaign.
Finalists: Kigezi Women Football Tournament & World Sevens Football (W7F).
The Football Association of Wales WEURO25 campaign used the slogan “For Us. For Them. For Her.” to break down financial and cultural barriers to inspire a nationwide movement for equality in football. The campaign achieved a cumulative media reach of 8.35 billion and doubled spontaneous national awareness of Cymru’s participation.
Eli Wolff Football Without Limits presented by Integrated Dreams
Winner: Il Calcio è di Tutti (FIGC).
Finalists: Genuine Cup & Connect & Unsilence The Crowd.
By launching Italy’s first-ever national football tournament for athletes with disabilities as a fully integrated part of the national ecosystem, Il Calcio è di Tutti made football a space without walls, inspiring cultural change and new inclusive models.
Football for Good presented by Common Goal
Winner: Enabling Leadership Play (EL Play).
Finalists: Fields of Change (YFC Rurka Kalan) & Sport for Good at Malaika.
Enabling Leadership Play used football as a learning tool in marginalized communities, empowering youth through play-based education and creativity. The project showed football as a gateway to brighter futures and lasting hope in fragile environments.
Marcus Rashford Award presented by FIFPro
Winner: Jan Vertonghen Foundation.
Finalists: André Onana Foundation & Marc Klok Foundation.
Led by former Belgium international Jan Vertonghen, the foundation transforms hospital wards into playful and creative spaces, bringing dignity and hope to vulnerable children in Belgium and beyond. Inspired by personal gratitude, Vertonghen’s work delivered smiles and play to those who need it most.
Most Impactful Branding Initiative presented by SUMMA
Winner: Club América.
Finalists: Sporting CP & Arabian Gulf Cup Kuwait 2024.
Club América redefined its identity by moving beyond “Ódiame más” and reconnecting with its heritage through the reunion with Adidas, reaching 34 million users, generating 100 million views and strengthening ties with fans in Mexico, the US and beyond.
Most Innovative Supplier presented by SportsTechX
Winner: wehave x RSCA x Sunweb.
Finalists: ReSpo.Vision & Golstats.
The 2025 we have x RSCA x Sunweb partnership proved how football, travel and data innovation can drive measurable impact. With 3,226 fan bookings and clear revenue growth, it set a new benchmark for sponsorship value and fan-driven engagement.
Women in Leadership presented by Women in Soccer
Winner: Diana Matheson (Northern Super League)
Finalists: Irantzu Díez-Gamboa (Mediapro North America) & Khalida Popal (Girl Power
Organisation).
Diana Matheson spearheaded the creation of Canada’s Northern Super League, answering a decade-long need for a professional women’s league. Drawing on her experience as a former international, she built coalitions of teams, investors and supporters, making the Northern Super League a reality in 2025
Image: WFS
