The timeless grandeur and charm of the UNESCO World Heritage site Reggia di Venaria Reale set the stage for the 2026 edition of the SFS Awards. Recognized as the flagship celebratory milestone for the entire SFS network, the event brought together over 400 key leaders from the international football industry to honor achievements, strategic visions, and transformative contributions to the game.
Elegantly and dynamically hosted by Sport presenter Giusy Meloni and Lorenzo Dallari, Editorial & Social Director at Lega Calcio Serie A, the gala featured top SFS partners and prominent figures from the global sports movement. Against the majestic backdrop of the Savoy residence, the ceremony highlighted the seamless synergy connecting sports with digital transformation, commercial expansion, social responsibility, and cutting-edge innovation.
One of the most emotionally resonant moments of the SFS Awards was the heartfelt tribute dedicated to the memory of Emanuela Perinetti, an esteemed professional and cherished friend of the Summit. The award honoring her human and professional legacy, the Female Leadership in Football Award, was presented to Anna Rabuano, Global Chief Financial Officer of a prestigious multi-club organization comprising Nottingham Forest FC, Olympiacos FC, and Rio Ave FC. She was recognized for her extraordinary leadership in financial management across major Italian and European clubs, serving as a model of expertise, international vision, and female empowerment in the sports industry.
The evening also served as the climax of SFS ExtraTime, the innovation platform and startup competition driven by SFS alongside Go Project, Theorema, and Social Media Soccer, with Fantacalcio among the Main Partners. The competition crowned Umo Health as its winner—a startup developing neuroscience-based tools that convert nervous system signals into neuromuscular insights for trauma prevention in athlete training. CEO & Founder Andrea Quattrocchi took the stage to accept the SFS ExtraTime Startup Competition Award.
Below is the complete overview of the industry leaders recognized during the SFS Awards 2026:
Global media personality Fabrizio Romano received the Best Content Creator award, collected on stage by Riccardo Nasuti (Strategic Advisor SFS & BC Roma), in recognition of his worldwide impact on sports journalism and his ability to bridge international brands with the football industry. SSC Napoli, represented by Managing Director Business Area Tommaso Bianchini, earned Best Content Strategy for transforming the club's centennial into an integrated campaign blending digital storytelling, art direction, and community events to elevate the club's identity and deep ties to the city.
The Best Digital and Social Media Team Club award went to FC Bayern München, accepted by Head of Social Media Marie Schuster, for building a glocal social media strategy that serves as a global megaphone while remaining rooted in Bavarian identity. Meanwhile, Campaign of the Year was awarded to Arsenal FC, accepted by Head of Content and Media Mark Cocker, for "Your PL Champions," a campaign blending heritage and sporting triumph through engaging multi-platform content.
The growth and reputation of Como 1907 were celebrated with two major honors: the YouGov Football Index Award, collected for top-tier brand perception and fan engagement metrics in Italian football, and Top Manager of the Year awarded to President Mirwan Suwarso for his strategic leadership across sporting development and international growth. Both awards were accepted by CEO Francesco Terrazzani.
Excellence in sports infrastructure management was recognized with the SFS Stadium & Venue Excellence Award presented to Paolo Monguzzi, Stadium & Consumer Business Director at Juventus Football Club, for establishing a modern venue model that operates 365 days a year, diversifies host events, and maximizes revenue generation.
FC Internazionale Milano won Best Format and Football Community, accepted by Senior Head of Media House & Digital Marketing Stefano Perazzo, for "Solo Noi," an authentic campaign celebrating the club's sporting double alongside its community. The successful alignment of sports institutions and corporate brands saw Lega Calcio Serie A and Haier take home Best Marketing and Sponsor Activation, accepted by Emiliano Garofalo, Country Manager Italy at Haier Europe Group.
Future-oriented innovation was honored with the Football Tech Award presented to Sporting Clube de Braga, represented by Transformation Office Lead António Gomes de Menezes, highlighting the Portuguese club as a European benchmark in sports technology. Real Betis Balompié received the Leader in Social Responsibility and Impact award, collected by Business Development Manager Fausto Scaldaferri, for "Green Living Starts in the Neighbourhood," an initiative under its Forever Green platform combining environmental sustainability, innovation, and community engagement through football.
Finally, experiential fan engagement was celebrated with the SFS Best Indoor Fan Experience Award going to Operazione Nostalgia and the Municipality of Rome, represented on stage by Founder & CEO Andrea Bini and former footballer Max Tonetto. The award recognized their achievement in transforming the Palazzo dello Sport in Rome (PalaEUR) into a major football entertainment event, gathering 15,000 fans around iconic legends of Italian and international football.
The 2026 edition of the SFS Awards reaffirms its position as a primary catalyst for sports innovation, defining the path forward for an industry committed to combining technology, social value, and passion.