Get ready for the ultimate showdown in Phygital Football!
From 25–29 July 2025, all eyes will be on the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) for Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi – Football, where top-tier clubs from all over the world will compete for their final shot at qualifying for the highly anticipated the Games of the Future 2025.
In partnership with ASPIRE, the local delivery authority, and Ethara, the official Event Delivery Partner for GOTF 2025, Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi – Football will feature twenty-four elite phygital football clubs, showcasing top athletes from North and Latin America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The line-up includes standout clubs such as GOTF 2024 side tournament champions LPT Venezuela and globally recognized contenders like Team Joga (USA).
“Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi – Football represents the culmination of a season-long qualification process and will set the stage for what promises to be the most competitive Games of the Future to date,” said Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International. “We are witnessing unprecedented global engagement in phygital sport, and this tournament reflects its evolution as a legitimate and future-focused athletic discipline.”
Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE commented “Bringing Phygital Contenders to Abu Dhabi is both a tremendous opportunity and a meaningful responsibility. Abu Dhabi has always championed bold, forward-looking ideas, and phygital sport is no exception. We’re proud to host some of the world’s most elite clubs and serve as the stage where the future of global competition is being defined and look forward to five days of intense competition that will determine the final contenders for the main event this December.”
The event marks the final qualification stage for the Games of the Future 2025, also taking place in Abu Dhabi from 18–23 December. As the last stop on a year-long global journey through the Phygital Origins and Phygital Rivals series, this tournament will determine who earns the final available spots to participate in the pinnacle event of the season.
