Prince William sends message of thanks to the stars powering growth of women’s football

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A video message from Prince William praising the remarkable growth of the women’s game and the people driving its success both on and off the pitch will open the 2026 Women’s Football Awards ceremony.

Recorded at Kensington Palace, the special address was created after the Prince was unable to attend the ceremony in person due to diary commitments.

In his message, he applauds the achievements of players and acknowledges the dedication of those working tirelessly behind the scenes to elevate women’s football to new heights.

‘I’m delighted to send my warmest congratulations to everyone involved in the 2026 Women’s Football Awards.’ he said.

‘This event celebrates not only remarkable sporting achievement, but also the dedication, resilience and leadership that continues to drive the women’s game forwards, from grass roots to the very top.

‘Women’s football has seen extraordinary growth in recent years but that progress is a result of the players, coaches, volunteers and supporters who believe in its power to inspire and unite communities.

‘To the nominees and winners thank you for what you do and congratulations on your well deserved recognition.

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Gabby Logan will help hosts the ceremony alongside Jamie Carragher

The 2026 Women’s Football Awards, in partnership with Metro, Europe’s biggest awards event dedicated to the women’s game, returns for its third year following its launch in 2023.

This year’s glittering ceremony, headline sposnored by Shein, takes place tomorrow and will be co-hosted by football legend Jamie Carragher, renowned BBC Sport presenter Gabby Logan, and former Lioness Lianne Sanderson.

Former Lioness Sanderson said: ‘Prince William’s support for women’s football has been fantastic. Having him take the time to record such a thoughtful message really shows how much he cares about the growth of the game.’

‘He’s a well-known football fan, so it’s great to have his support for the event and for women’s football as a whole,’ former Liverpool and England defender Carragher added.

Hannah Hampton is in the running to win Player of the Year (Getty Images)

Thursday’s ceremony will bring together some of the biggest names in the sport, including Bunny Shaw, Alex Greenwood, Millie Bright and Maya Le Tissier.

They will be joined by a host of celebrity guests such as Jordan Henderson, Denise Van Outen, Carol Vorderman and Roman Kemp.

The Women’s Football Awards continues to shine a spotlight on excellence across the game, celebrating the players, teams, and industry figures who are shaping the future of women’s football across Europe and beyond.

The Women’s Football Awards is sponsored by online fashion retailer Shein, which has dressed stars for the event, alongside Scottish Power, and logistics company DSV. Luxury holiday company Destinology is providing exclusive holiday experiences for selected award winners.

SHEIN Women’s Football Awards shortlist

Player of the Year

Lauren Hemp (Manchester City) Bunny Shaw (Manchester City) Kerstin Casparij (Manchester City) Jess Park (Manchester United) Ella Toone (Manchester United) Kiko Seike (Brighton & Hove Albion) Hannah Hampton (Chelsea) Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa) Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal) Alessia Russo (Arsenal) Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City)

Young Player of the Year

Tōko Koga (Tottenham Hotspur) Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City) Michelle Agyemang (Brighton & Hove Albion) Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses) Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea) Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United) Grace Clinton (Manchester City) Aoba Fujino (Manchester City) Nelly Las (Leicester City) Ruby Mace (Everton) Lenna Gunning-Williams (Tottenham Hotspur)

International Player of the Year

Klara Bühl (Bayern Munich) Caroline Weir (Real Madrid) Alèxia Putellas (Barcelona) Romée Leuchter (Paris Saint-Germain) Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich) Ewa Pajor (Barcelona) Claudia Pina (Barcelona) Melchie Dumornay (Lyon) Tessa Wullaert (Inter Milan) Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid) Victoria López (Barcelona)

Club of the Year

Manchester City Wrexham London City Lionesses Manchester United Chelsea Glasgow City Tottenham Hotspur Arsenal Charlton Athletic Hearts Brighton & Hove Albion

Media Figure of the Year

Kelly Cates Karen Carney MBE Lianne Sanderson Laura Woods Reshmin Chowdhury Alex Scott MBE Mina Ibrahim Suzanne Wrack Katie Whyatt Faye Carruthers Mollie and Rosie Kmita

Best Marketing Campaign

Sports Direct & Fresh Base Productions – Legacy Starts Here AXA – Keep On Kicking Lidl – Never Stop Growing Adidas & Intersport – Make Football Their Game Chelsea & Here We Flo – We Don’t Bleed Blue. We Bleed. Period. PepsiMAX & Hope&Glory – Thirsty for More Unilever – Hellmann’s Russo Burger The FA & Disrupt – Made For This Game WSL Football & Anomaly – Watch This Nike & Wieden+Kennedy London – IIOME Heineken – Cheers to the Superstitious Fans

Best Grassroots Initiative

Liverpool FA – She Inspires GoCardless – Grassroots Football Partnership Tottenham Hotspur Foundation – Girls & Women Programme Flutter UK & Ireland – Cash4Clubs McDonald’s – Fun Football Steven Gerrard Academy – Girls Football Programme Electric Ireland – Game Changers NI Starling Bank – Kick On With Starling Octopus Energy – Kits For Kids Manchester City – City in the Community SP Energy Networks – Wrexham Partnership

Brand of the Year

Lucozade Sport Adidas EA Sports British Gas Skoda UK Rexona Barclays Adobe Three UK VISA Nike

Best Social Media

Juventus The FA – Lionesses Chelsea Newcastle United Aston Villa Tottenham Hotspur Bristol City Manchester United Rangers Manchester City Adobe – Women’s FA Cup

Global Impact Award

PlayStation VisitMalta VISA Adidas Iberdrola PepsiCo Booking.com Amazon Google Pixel Kynisca Nike

Best Fan Engagement

Disney+ EA Sports Chelsea London City Lionesses Birmingham City Panini Glasgow City Havas Play Charlton Athletic TikTok YouTube

Legal Team of the Year

Linklaters RPC Thackray Williams Evelyn Partners Lawrence Stephens Limited Penningtons Manches Cooper Tottenham Hotspur Legal Team Capital Law Mills & Reeve Paul Robinson Solicitors Bird & Bird

Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility Award

Admiral Lidl Adobe Unilever Domestic & General Xero Apple RSK Bute Energy The Premier League Deloitte

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award

Arsenal EE Pixel FC Academy The FA West Ham United Mastercard Utilita Brighton & Hove Albion VISA Three UK Liverpool

Community Impact Award

Sunderland Carpenters Group Bristol City Crane Worldwide Logistics Her Game Too Xero London City Lionesses Domis Brighton & Hove Albion E.ON Goals4Girls

Football Business of the Year

ORRECO Mercury13 We Are Athlete CAA SPORTS Gravity Media LiveScore Group Foudys EA Sports Kynsica Sportfive Twenty3

Football Agency of the Year

Wasserman CAA SPORTS CMG SPORTS Gen Z Football Ignite Talent Tongue Tied Management PLG A&V Sports Group Gestifute Livida Sport Quantum Sport

Football Business Trailblazer

Kay Cossington Aki Mandhar Maggie Murphy Sarah Batters Zoe Johnson Jemma White Sola Kasali Charlotte O’Neill Laura Downey Laura Montgomery Liz Ellen

Best Breakthrough Business

E.l.f Beauty Modibodi Mercedes-Benz UK Airbnb British Gas Guinness AFTA Studios PLG Revolut Skechers Crocs EU

Women’s Football Champion

Rose Read Nadine Kessler Nikki Doucet Jemma White Michele Kang Ebru Köksal Debbie Hewitt MBE Joelle Murray Rachel Pavlou Simone Pound MBE Vic Akers OBE

Game Changer Award

Rachel Yankey OBE Gillian Coultard MBE Eartha Pond Shelley Kerr MBE Kelly Smith MBE Nikita Parris Ellen White MBE Gilly Flaherty Fran Kirby Ini Umotong Jess Fishlock MBE

Off The Pitch Award

Stephen Lansdown CBE Michael Williamson Matt Johnson Bethan Woolley Tammy Parlour MBE Lungi Macebo Rachel Pavlou Liz Ellen Lola Ogunbote Helen Hardy Jo Osborne

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