Published on November 24th, 2025
Location: Global
SPORTFIVE Win Global Football Business of the Year Award
London, 24 November 2025 - Sports Marketing Agency SPORTFIVE has been crowned the Global Football Business of the Year at the inaugural Global Football Industry Awards.
On Thursday, 20 November, 2025, leading figures from across the sport industry gathered for the first edition of the Global Football Industry Awards, a celebration of the visionaries, pioneers, and change-makers powering the world of football from behind the scenes.
The ceremony, hosted by Premier League legends Jamie Carragher and Peter Crouch at The Landmark London saw business leaders, brands, and organisations recognised across 20 categories, including the ‘Global Football Business’ award.
On the night, SPORTFIVE received the prize, which honours the football business that has shown exceptional growth, innovation, and leadership and set new standards across the global industry.
Having been nominated alongside esteemed industry peers such as City Football Group, Fenway Sports Group, Red Bull Football and The Friedkin Group, SPORTFIVE were commended for their meaningful impact across all levels of the game - strategically, commercially, and creatively connecting brands, rightsholders, media platforms, and fans to create impactful partnerships in the sport.
To be recognised with the Global Football Business Award, amongst such esteemed company, is a truly special achievement for everyone at SPORTFIVE.
Stefan Felsing, Chief Executive Officer, SPORTFIVE
SPORTFIVE’s work across 2025 has seen the agency operate across every aspect of the football industry.
From an extensive network of club and federation partnerships that stretch from Borussia Dortmund in Germany and Olympique Lyonnais in France to the NWSL in the U.S. and ASEAN United FC in Southeast Asia, to working with leading brands such as EA SPORTS, Citi, Xylem and Vodafone to cultivate innovative sponsorships and activations.
SPORTFIVE has also empowered clients through commercial sales, internationalisation, activation, media and production services. A particular focus has been delivering large-scale, value-driven hospitality and experiential experiences. This was epitomised at UEFA EURO 2024 in Germany, where SPORTFIVE oversaw more than 100,000 guests and drove record commercial figures.
Additionally, the Hamburg-headquartered agency has also worked with football talent such as Jürgen Klopp, Lamine Yamal and Rio Ferdinand, bringing global campaigns, partnerships and media deals to life.
Beyond the field of play, SPORTFIVE have sought to develop the industry through original research projects, including ‘The Rise of Women’s Football: A Movement, Not a Moment’, a report dedicated to helping brands, righstholders, media platforms and fans understand the value of women’s football, and The Soccer Fandom in the U.S. whitepaper, offering brands a roadmap to understand U.S. soccer fans ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
These projects have been complimented by wider industry recognition with SPORTFIVE being named as ‘Agency of the Year’ by Leaders in Sports, as well as being ranked among the top two employers in all of sport, and named ‘Most Attractive Sports Marketing Agency’ for the third consecutive year in the annual iWorkinSport survey.
Speaking on SPORTFIVE’s Global Football Business Award, Stefan Felsing, Chief Executive Officer, SPORTFIVE, said: “To be recognised with the Global Football Business Award, amongst such esteemed company, is a truly special achievement for everyone at SPORTFIVE.
“This award reflects our commitment to fearlessness, unity and openness, values that inspire us to build authentic partnerships and drive sustainable success for our clients and the wider football community.”
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About SPORTFIVE
SPORTFIVE is a global sports marketing agency that delivers customer-centric solutions based on trust and transparency, deep industry experience and global relationships, digital intelligence and innovation. SPORTFIVE strategically and creatively connects brands, rightsholders, media platforms and fans to create and enable contemporary partnerships in sports.
While creating and growing long-term value for all, SPORTFIVE often leads the sports business into the future through innovative digital solutions and strives to be the most progressive and respected partner in sports.
Being at the centre of professional sport SPORTFIVE will use its unique position, in order to make a positive contribution to sustainability and to live up to the social and economic duty and responsibility, which sport and consequently all parties involved, also have. SPORTFIVE operates with a global mindset and network of over 1,200 local experts based in 15 countries around the world, active in Football, Golf, Handball, Motorsport, Esports, Cricket, Tennis, American Football, Basketball, Hockey, Rugby, Olympics and Multi-Sport Events, Wintersports and many more.
Press contacts
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Dominic Mills
Marketing & Communications Manager, UK
dominic.mills@sportfive.com
