FIFA Announces Technical Panel for 2026 World Cup Awards

FIFA has unveiled an 11-member technical panel for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, tasked with analyzing matches and determining the winners of individual awards during the tournament. The panel was announced during a virtual media briefing on Monday, ahead of the tournament's kickoff next month at Estadio Azteca.

The group will be led by FIFA senior football expert Pascal Zuberbühler and includes former Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta, former Germany striker and coach Jürgen Klinsmann, Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill, former Ghana coach Otto Addo, Costa Rica legend Paulo Wanchope, Brazilian World Cup winner Gilberto Silva, and players Tobin Heath, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Jayne Ludlow, and Aron Winter. The panel will be responsible for selecting the winners of the Golden Ball, Golden Glove, and Best Young Player awards.

The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams for the first time in its history, with a total of 104 matches scheduled throughout the tournament.