The 2026 Global Football Industry Awards will be sponsored by Chery, the official automotive partner of AFC Bournemouth, as the prestigious event returns to London to celebrate the innovators, brands and leaders transforming the business of football.
Taking place in London on 5 November 2026, the car manufacturer is the new headline partner of the awards that recognise the achievements of those across the footballing industry. They bring attention to the sporting stories that often go unheard, and celebrate the people and programmes powering football’s rapid evolution at every level.
Broadcaster and former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher, who co-founded the Global Football Industry Awards, welcomed Chery’s involvement as headline partner, and said: “Football is constantly evolving and you want to work with brands that share that ambition and are prepared to think differently. Chery has a real appetite to grow and make an impact globally, so having them as our headline partner is a great fit for what these awards are all about.
“We’re proud to be working with Chery and look forward to working with them to celebrate the very best people and organisations working across football.”
Farrell Hsu, managing director at Chery UK, added: “Football is built on the people working behind the scenes, from club staff and matchday coaches to the volunteers running community programmes at a grassroots level. The Global Football Industry Awards give them the recognition they deserve and we’re very proud to be the headline partner this year, helping to shine a spotlight on the contribution these unsung heroes make every day.
“As the official automotive partner of AFC Bournemouth, we’ve seen first-hand how much dedication goes into bringing families and local communities together through football. We look forward to celebrating the winners in London.”
In what is quickly becoming one of the must-attend evenings of the year, the awards will bring together more than 600 senior figures from clubs, brands and media across the global football community as they celebrate the achievements of the people, brands and businesses who might not be stepping into the spotlight on the pitch, but who work tirelessly to drive the global growth of the world’s favourite sport.
Daily Telegraph columnist and Liverpool legend Carragher and fellow former England international Theo Walcott will host the ceremony at a sparkling central London venue, joined by broadcaster Hayley McQueen as part of the presenting line-up.
Shining a well-deserved spotlight on outstanding achievement across the football industry, the Global Football Industry Awards include categories such as Global Football Business, Agency of the Year, Best Sponsorship or Partnership, Best Marketing Campaign, Best Fan Engagement, Technology in Football, Women’s Football Impact and Social Impact. From commercial partnership, governance and legal expertise to cutting-edge technology and the very best in community projects, these awards are for those who innovate, influence and lead football, from grassroots to the very top.
Launched in 2025, the Global Football Industry Awards were created to shine a light on the individuals and organisations whose work helps shape the modern game. Following the success of the inaugural event, the 2026 awards will build on that momentum with an even greater celebration of the international football ecosystem.
The second edition of the awards will once again partner with the social mobility and youth opportunities charitable initiative Football For Change. The initiative, co-founded by Jamie Carragher alongside fellow England internationals Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Coady, creates opportunities through education, employment and training for young people facing poverty and disadvantage. Chery is also supporting the charitable initiative and marked the partnership with a visit from Carragher to one of their flagship retail outlets in Liverpool last week.
Award-winners will be chosen by an expert panel of judges with backgrounds in football, media and business, including England assistant coach Anthony Barry, former Lioness Lianne Sanderson, and Telegraph football correspondent Chris Bascombe.
They are reviewing a set of shortlists, compiled through an open nominations process, with submissions welcome from both the public and industry professionals, an inclusive approach helping to ensure a pool of entries that truly reflects the diversity and uniqueness of achievements within global football.
Last year, the brightest and best minds in the football business were all in one room to applaud the game-changing ideas shaping the sport worldwide in a superb ceremony at London’s Landmark Hotel. This time round, clubs, brands, governing bodies and more will mark another year of high performance across the sector in an evening that is set to be even bigger and better than the inaugural edition – with new headline partners Chery providing added power from kick-off until the final whistle.