France Football announces 2026 Ballon d'Or selection process

France Football has outlined the selection process for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, which will be awarded in London on October 26. The process involves a two-stage system: first, an internal committee selects 30 candidates per category, and subsequently, an international jury of specialized journalists votes for the winner.

For the men's category, the initial list is compiled by a 14-person jury including the France Football editorial staff, L’Équipe journalists, and UEFA ambassadors such as Luis Figo and Fabio Capello. The women's category follows an identical procedure but utilizes a different 11-person jury featuring experts from various nations, including the US, England, Spain, Venezuela, and Iceland.

Performance in the recent World Cup is expected to be a significant factor in the voting. In the current race, Ousmane Dembélé has publicly endorsed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, stating the Georgian player deserves the award following an exceptional season. Despite not participating in the World Cup, Kvaratskhelia's performance in the Champions League remains a central part of the discussion.