09/08
NS Team are new Phygital Football champions after heart-stopping final
NS Team defeat reigning champions Quetzales-Armadillos on penalties after a dramatic final at GOTF in Astana, while FC OLYMPIC PHYGITAL secure third place.
Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi
Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi – Football (25-29 July 2025)
Excitement levels rose higher than the temperature in the desert oasis of Abu Dhabi, when the world’s premier Phygital Football clubs descended on the city for Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi – Football, the official qualifying round for the Games of the Future 2025.
From July 25–29, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) hosted some of the best clubs from across the globe as they battled for a coveted spot at this year’s main event.
With 21 clubs taking part, it was an epic contest to secure one of only six places available at GOTF 2025. After five days of thrilling competition, the final six were decided. They are México Quetzales-Armadillos FC (ALUNIA SA DE CV), CM JARDIM (Phygital Games Brazil), FC Whitebird (Belarusian Federation of Phygital Sports), Greni Smith (eJadranskaLiga-eAdriaticLeague), La Crema (Asociación de Deportes Electrónicos y Videojuegos de Argentina) and Zero Tenacity (Serbia Association of Electronic Sports and E sport).
The successful clubs will now meet again at GOTF 2025, which kicks off in spectacular style in Abu Dhabi on 18 December. Scroll down to find out more about all the clubs who took part, the complete match results, as well as news and pictures from the arena.
Phygital Football news
08/08
Quetzales-Armadillos and NS Team through to GOTF 2026 Phygital Football final
Reigning champions will face NS Team for the Phygital Football crown after a dramatic semifinals day in Astana.
07/08
Heartbreak for home teams in GOTF 2026 Phygital Football quarterfinals
Quetzales-Armadillos, Club Holcattes, NS Team, and FC OLYMPIC PHYGITAL are through to the last four after a nail-biting day of footballing action.
06/08
Decider day in Phygital Football sees four teams knocked out of Games of the Future 2026
High drama on and off the pitch sees ORLANDO PIRATES FIVES, Tamo Junto, KMF Titograd and LOS TRONCOS FC heading for home while the remaining eight teams get ready for the quarterfinals.
04/08
Nerves, gaffes and penalties – day one of Phygital Football delivers the goods
Reigning champions returned, mistakes were made and football was most certainly played. One of phygital sport’s most popular disciplines is back at Games of the Future 2026 powered by Samruk-Kazyna.
22/07
One week to go – get ready for Games of the Future Astana 2026!
The action will kick off in just seven days, and you can catch every dramatic moment live and on demand with Phygital+
10/07
Official draw decides opening matches at GOTF 2026
The group stage brackets are confirmed, setting the path to the championship title.
01/07
Games of the Future 2026 final lineup revealed
From iconic sports clubs to leading esports organizations, the world's best are heading to Astana for the ultimate phygital showdown
29/06
The countdown is on: 30 days until Games of the Future 2026
800+ participants, eight disciplines, one city – Astana is getting ready to host phygital sport’s biggest event.
26/06
The next challengers are here: GOTF 2026 lineup grows
Four new competitors secure direct spots for the ultimate phygital showdown in Astana
14/06
From Phygital Contenders to GOTF 2026: The final qualifiers are in!
Five days of dramatic action have decided the final lineup of athletes and clubs heading to Games of the Future Astana 2026 next month.
14/06
Five days, one champion: Phygital Football concludes in Astana
ACF x Allur completed an unbeaten campaign on home soil to take the Phygital Contenders Astana 2026 title
13/06
Phygital Football: Quarterfinals deliver high drama and heartbreak
The semifinals are now set after the most dramatic day of football action so far in the tournament.
12/06
Phygital Football: Playoff victories set up quarterfinal showdown
Four teams move one step closer to qualification as the playoff stage delivered drama, comebacks and heartbreak on day 3
11/06
Phygital Football and Phygital Basketball: Day 2 sees high drama and eliminations
The group stages at Phygital Contenders Astana 2026 produced some epic encounters as teams battled to secure knockout-round positions
10/06
Race for Games of the Future 2026 Begins in Phygital Football
The path to Games of the Future 2026 has exploded into life. Day one of Phygital Contenders Astana 2026 delivered chaos, comebacks, and goal-fests. Miss the action? Here's everything that happened.
09/06
Meet the teams of Phygital Contenders Astana 2026
The next stage is about to start. Who will rise? Who will fall? Here's a full preview of every discipline and the teams to watch.
08/06
Global athletes arrive in Astana for Phygital Contenders 2026
With the start of qualifying competition only two days away, the first arrivals are getting ready to do battle for a coveted spot at the Games of the Future 2026 next month.
02/06
UFL set to dominate Phygital Football at GOTF 2026
Fast-paced football title returns as the world’s best Phygital Football teams battle for a US5,000 prize pool.
20/04
100 days until Games of the Future comes to Astana
Here's what you can expect.
13/04
Phygital Contenders lineup confirmed!
The race to the Games of the Future 2026 in Astana has entered its final stages – who must battle again?
Photo Gallery
Recent highlights from Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi - Football tournament
All the results from Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi – Football
Group stage. Group A
7/25 10:00-11:15
M1
México Quetzales - Armadillos FC
Mexico
Total Score
8:1
Digital stage
5:1
Physical stage
3:0
OAA Esports
Oman
7/26 10:00-11:15
M8
Gentle neighbours
Slovenia
Total Score
4:11
Digital stage
4:3
Physical stage
0:8
México Quetzales - Armadillos FC
Mexico
7/27 10:00-11:15
M15
OAA Esports
Oman
Total Score
12:6
Digital stage
9:4
Physical stage
3:2
Gentle neighbours
Slovenia
Group stage. Group B
7/25 11:30-12:45
M2
La Crema
Argentina
Total Score
6:8
Digital stage
3:7
Physical stage
3:1
FC WhiteBird
Belarus
7/26 11:30-12:45
M9
CEFL PHYGITAL
Cyprus
Total Score
5:9
Digital stage
5:4
Physical stage
0:5
La Crema
Argentina
7/27 11:30-12:45
M16
FC WhiteBird
Belarus
Total Score
8:5
Digital stage
4:3
Physical stage
4:2
CEFL PHYGITAL
Cyprus
Group stage. Group C
7/25 13:00-14:15
M3
ALKHDOUR FC
Qatar
Total Score
8:10
Digital stage
6:4
Physical stage
2:6
Orlando Pirates Fives
South Africa
7/26 13:00-14:15
M10
Zero Tenacity
Serbia
Total Score
12:10
Digital stage
5:9
Physical stage
7:1
ALKHDOUR FC
Qatar
7/27 13:00-14:15
M17
Orlando Pirates Fives
South Africa
Total Score
6:7
Digital stage
3:2
Physical stage
3:5
Zero Tenacity
Serbia
Group stage. Group D
7/25 14:30-15:45
M4
KMF Titograd
Montenegro
Total Score
7:7
Digital stage
3:6
Physical stage
4:1
Penalty
2:3
Team Ghana
Ghana
7/26 13:00-14:15
M10
AIGLES PHYGITAL
Mali
Total Score
7:9
Digital stage
5:5
Physical stage
2:4
KMF Titograd
Montenegro
7/27 14:30-15:45
M18
Team Ghana
Ghana
Total Score
6:7
Digital stage
5:4
Physical stage
1:3
AIGLES PHYGITAL
Mali
Group stage. Group E
7/25 16:45-18:00
M5
Interstellars, Team Joga
USA
Total Score
9:11
Digital stage
7:10
Physical stage
2:1
Navai
Uzbekistan
7/26 16:45-18:00
M12
IndexG
Kenya
Total Score
10:10
Digital stage
6:7
Physical stage
4:3
Penalty
2:0
Interstellars, Team Joga
USA
7/27 16:45-18:00
M19
Navai
Uzbekistan
Total Score
6:9
Digital stage
1:8
Physical stage
5:1
IndexG
Kenya
Group stage. Group F
7/25 18:15-19:30
M6
CM JARDIM
Brazil
Total Score
5:2
Digital stage
5:1
Physical stage
0:1
Greni Smith
Bosnia and Herzegovina
7/26 18:15-19:30
M13
PGM Covic
Croatia
Total Score
3:8
Digital stage
3:3
Physical stage
0:5
CM JARDIM
Brazil
7/27 18:15-19:30
M20
Greni Smith
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Total Score
15:8
Digital stage
7:8
Physical stage
8:0
PGM Covic
Croatia
Group stage. Group G
7/25 19:45-21:00
M7
Street Ball
Armenia
Total Score
9:12
Digital stage
6:11
Physical stage
3:1
Team Santa
Cameroon
7/26 19:45-21:00
M14
Libertadores PT
Venezuela
Total Score
13:12
Digital stage
11:6
Physical stage
2:6
Street Ball
Armenia
7/27 19:45-21:00
M21
Team Santa
Cameroon
Total Score
4:5
Digital stage
4:4
Physical stage
0:1
Libertadores PT
Venezuela
Quarterfinals
7/28 13:00-14:15
M22
México Quetzales - Armadillos FC
Mexico
Total Score
8:4
Digital stage
4:4
Physical stage
4:0
FC WhiteBird
Belarus
7/28 14:30-15:45
M23
Zero Tenacity
Serbia
Total Score
7:5
Digital stage
5:4
Physical stage
2:1
KMF Titograd
Montenegro
7/28 18:15-19:30
M24
IndexG
Kenya
Total Score
3:10
Digital stage
2:5
Physical stage
1:5
CM JARDIM
Brazil
7/28 19:45-21:00
M25
Libertadores PT
Venezuela
Total Score
5:6
Digital stage
4:4
Physical stage
1:2
Greni Smith
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Semifinals
7/28 13:00-14:15
M22
México Quetzales - Armadillos FC
Mexico
Total Score
8:4
Digital stage
4:4
Physical stage
4:0
FC WhiteBird
Belarus
7/28 14:30-15:45
M23
Zero Tenacity
Serbia
Total Score
7:5
Digital stage
5:4
Physical stage
2:1
KMF Titograd
Montenegro
3rd place match
7/29 18:00-19:15
M28
Zero Tenacity
Serbia
Total Score
6:7
Digital stage
2:6
Physical stage
4:1
Greni Smith
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Final
7/29 20:00-21:15
M29
México Quetzales - Armadillos FC
Mexico
Total Score
6:4
Digital stage
3:3
Physical stage
3:1
CM JARDIM
Brazil
The six clubs that qualified for the Games of the Future 2025
México Quetzales - Armadillos FC
Mexico
Greni Smith
Bosnia and Herzegovina
CM JARDIM
Brazil
La Crema
Argentina
FC WhiteBird
Belarus
Zero Tenacity
Serbia
Other clubs that participated in Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi - Football
KMF Titograd
Montenegro
Street Ball
Armenia
Team Santa
Cameroon
Orlando Pirates Fives
South Africa
Gentle neighbours
Slovenia
Interstellars, Team Joga
USA
IndexG
Kenya
Navai
Uzbekistan
OAA Esports
Oman
PGM Covic
Croatia
Libertadores PT
Venezuela
AIGLES PHYGITAL
Mali
Team Ghana
Ghana
ALKHDOUR FC
Qatar
CEFL PHYGITAL
Cyprus