BBC Announces nominees for Women's Footballer of the Year 2026

BBC Announces nominees for Women’s Footballer of the Year 2026

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BBC World Service Announces 2026 Nominees

The BBC announced the nominees for the BBC World Service Women’s Footballer of the Year 2026 on Tuesday, November 10, bringing the prestigious global award into the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony for the first time.

The five-player shortlist features Malawi and Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga, Poland and Barcelona forward Ewa Pajor, Spain and London City Lionesses midfielder Alexia Putellas, England and Arsenal forward Alessia Russo, and Jamaica and Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw, according to bbc.com.

Public voting opened globally at 6:30 am GMT on Tuesday, November 10, and runs until 9:00 am GMT on Wednesday, November 18, on the BBC Women’s Football website. An expert panel of current and former players, coaches, and journalists selected the nominees based on performances between September 2025 and August 2026.

In a major shake-up for the annual broadcast, the winner will be announced live on December 13 at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony in Salford and simultaneously on the BBC World Service’s Sportsworld programme, as reported by bbc.com, AOL.co.uk, Prolific North, and The Independent. The event will air on BBC One and iPlayer from 5:45 pm to 7:15 pm.

Format Shake-Up in Salford

The 2026 broadcast features structural changes. Prolific North reported that five of the nine awards handed out on the night will be decided directly by public votes, including the addition of a new Men’s Footballer of the Year category determined by a UK public vote.

BBC Announces nominees for Women's Footballer of the Year 2026
Photo: AOL.co.uk

AOL.co.uk noted that no male footballer has won the main Sports Personality of the Year award since Ryan Giggs triumphed in 2009. The Independent highlighted that the BBC is launching a competitor for the Ballon d’Or by including new football categories in its awards programme.

Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport, explained the vision behind the refreshed event format. What I love about BBC Sports Personality of the Year is that it brings together all those moments that stopped us in our tracks, Kay-Jelski said, according to Prolific North. The goals, the medals, the upsets, the records, the stories that had us talking at work, in the pub and around the dinner table.

Player Reactions to Nomination

The nominees reflected on standout campaigns across domestic and international competition. Temwa Chawinga highlighted Malawi’s historic qualification for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final and their first World Cup berth. People didn’t give us any chance to be in the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, but we fight hard, Chawinga told bbc.com.

Ewa Pajor reflected on a milestone year following her move to Barcelona. It’s been a special year for me to win four trophies with Barcelona, Pajor told bbc.com. After the five Champions League finals I lost, I learned a lot from those finals.

The last 12 months have been very emotional, but I feel so grateful to be able to achieve 500 games in a Champions League game in Spotify Camp Nou, winning four trophies and winning the Nations League with the national team, Putellas told bbc.com.

Arsenal has so much history and for us to create a new little piece of history felt really nice and to win it at the Emirates.

BBC shakes up Sports Personality of the Year with two football prizes and more votes for fans
Photo: Prolific North

Khadija Shaw celebrated domestic success and individual milestones with Manchester City. From winning the league, the FA Cup, to getting the fastest hat trick in the Women’s Super League and then scoring 100 goals, I would say the last 12 months has been the best of my career, Shaw told bbc.com.

Disclaimer: The analytical insights and data provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.

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