Six Elite Clubs Secure Spots At The Games Of The Future 2025 In Abu Dhabi

The final whistle has blown on Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi - Football, with México Quetzales - Armadillos FC emerging as the champions. The thrilling finale took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). This marks the end of a five-day tournament where six elite clubs secured their spots for the Games of the Future 2025, scheduled in Abu Dhabi from 18 to 23 December 2025.

Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi - Football showcased 21 top clubs from around the globe competing for six coveted positions at the upcoming Games of the Future 2025. From 25 to 29 July, ADNEC hosted this event, featuring leading phygital football athletes aged between 19 and 40. These top performers will return to Abu Dhabi in December for another round of competition.

In an intense final match, México Quetzales - Armadillos FC triumphed over CM Jardim. The contest combined rapid digital gameplay with impressive physical skills. After a 3-3 draw in the initial stage, they clashed on the field, ending with a score of 3-1, making it a total of 6-4. Rodrigo Ulibarri from México Quetzales - Armadillos FC expressed relief and excitement, stating, "We have had a lot of pressure from day one and it would have been such a disappointment if we didn't get a spot, we brought our A-game, and we know we are a fan favorite team."

The semifinals were equally thrilling. México Quetzales - Armadillos FC defeated Zero Tenacity in a dramatic penalty shootout after both stages ended in a 4–4 tie. Meanwhile, CM Jardim secured their place in the final by overcoming Greni Smith with a digital round win of 3–1 and drawing 2–2 on the field, resulting in a final score of 5-3.

The battle for third place was far from ordinary. Greni Smith dominated Zero Tenacity with a digital round score of 6–2. Despite Zero Tenacity's fierce comeback attempt on the field with four goals, Greni Smith held firm and scored once more to clinch third place with an overall score of 7-6. Nizam Omeragić from Greni Smith remarked, "The team is proud. We know we still have a lot of work to do before December. Everything we’ve gone through to get here has been worth it, and we’ll be back stronger and aiming to win."

Future Prospects

Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International, highlighted the significance of this event by saying, "With the conclusion of Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi – Football, the stage is now set for the Games of the Future in Abu Dhabi in December. It is the culmination of year-long dedication from athletes from around the world and we celebrate with them in this moment and look forward to what they, and many other athletes, will achieve later in the year."

The tournament was organised by ASPIRE alongside Ethara and global rights holder Phygital International. As Abu Dhabi continues its journey as an innovation hub for next-gen sports, anticipation builds for December when it will host top phygital athletes at the Games of the Future 2025.

Nis Hatt further commented on Abu Dhabi's readiness: "Abu Dhabi is the perfect international platform. It’s future-focused, tech-driven, and already deeply invested in both sports and cyber competitions. It has the appetite, ability and infrastructure to host entirely new sport formats and do it well."

With inputs from WAM