Games of the Future 2025 Offers $5M Prize Pool

“Phygital” sports combine traditional athletic competition with its digital counterpart in a unified format that requires competitors to excel in both dimensions. Teams begin the challenge in the digital round before facing off again in the physical arena, with victory determined by the combined results of both performances.

This model reflects the growing convergence of technology and real-world performance, offering a new and immersive form of sporting competition.

More than 850 athletes from 60 countries will participate, representing clubs, emerging talents, and new faces across 11 phygital sports disciplines.

Faisal Al Bannai, Adviser to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs and Secretary-General of the Advanced Technology Research Council, said:

“Digital sport is not merely a new format; it embodies the mindset of a new generation.

Abu Dhabi is proud to host this edition of the Games of the Future 2025, providing an environment that brings together physical excellence and digital mastery. Our goal is to empower youth, accelerate innovation, and build communities around the technologies that will shape the future.”

The 2025 edition comes with strong global momentum, bringing together elite athletes from across the phygital sports ecosystem—competitors who demonstrate exceptional physical performance alongside advanced digital skills.

The event will feature professional athletes, esports stars, and rising phygital talents, promising outstanding competitions that showcase the best of both the physical and digital worlds. The championship reflects the rapid transformation of sport in an increasingly interconnected world, positioning the 2025 edition as a pivotal milestone in the global evolution of this growing sector.

The draw has determined the opening group-stage matchups across the various disciplines, setting the stage for the first competitive narratives that audiences will follow. As the event progresses, full competitive pathways will unfold, with clubs vying for qualification and top positions in the finals, which will feature a total prize pool of USD 5 million.

In parallel with the tournament, Abu Dhabi will host the Phygital Sports Summit on 17 December 2025. The summit will serve as an intellectual platform bringing together global experts, athletes, innovators, and decision-makers to discuss the evolution of hybrid sports. Its comprehensive program includes keynote addresses, panel sessions, and in-depth discussions on the intersection of sport and technology, human–AI integration, the future of youth engagement, athlete health in hybrid environments, and the sustainable legacy of phygital sports.

Summit sessions will be moderated by Amy Jane Gillingham, Mohamed Al Hosani, and Sabine Sassen, with participation from senior representatives of Phygital International, partners of the Games of the Future, and leading global figures shaping both the digital and physical sports movements.

Distinguished guests expected to attend include H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Minister of Sports, and a high-level international delegation featuring H.E. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan; H.E. Rawan bint Najeeb Tawfiqi, Minister of Youth Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Sheikha Deena bint Rashid Al Khalifa, Adviser for Planning and Development at Bahrain’s Ministry of Youth Affairs; and Dr. Osman Aşkın Bak, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Türkiye.