The stakes were high, the action relentless, and in the end, six clubs rose to the top at Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi. Over 20 Phygital Football clubs from five continents gathered in Abu Dhabi for the first-ever Phygital Contenders tournament.
Following the quarterfinals on 28 July, four clubs advanced to a thrilling final day at Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi – Football. The semi-finals opened with México Quetzales – Armadillos FC edged Zero Tenacity 5–4 in a tense penalty shootout after a balanced digital and physical battle. CM JARDIM followed in the second semi-final with a confident 5–3 win over Greni Smith. In the third-place match, Greni Smith held off Zero Tenacity with a final score of 7–6, sealing victory thanks to a dominant digital stage. The final match between México Quetzales – Armadillos FC and CM JARDIM delivered a high-intensity showdown, with México Quetzales – Armadillos FC claiming a 6–4 win through strong performances in both stages.
Below are the clubs who have qualified to GOTF 2025 and the name of the WPC member organization who ran the Phygital Rivals tournament that each club won earlier in the season:
- México Quetzales – Armadillos FC (ALUNIA SA DE CV)
- CM JARDIM (Phygital Games Brazil)
- Greni Smith (eJadranskaLiga-eAdriaticLeague)
- Zero Tenacity (Serbia Association of Electronic Sports and E sport)
- FC WhiteBird (Belarusian Federation of Phygital Sports)
- La Crema (Asociación de Deportes Electrónicos y Videojuegos de Argentina)
As per the rules and regulations of the competition, the semi-finalists – México Quetzales – Armadillos FC, CM JARDIM, Greni Smith and Zero Tenacity – secured slots to the Games of the Future 2025 by reaching the semi-finals, with their placement in the tournament determining their progression.
Additionally, FC WhiteBird secured qualification as the club with the highest-ranking points in the Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi among those outside the top four. Their consistent performance throughout the tournament, combined with a large following, strong visibility, and high engagement across social media platforms, contributed significantly to their final ranking and earned them a spot at the Games of the Future 2025.
La Crema’s qualification was driven by a combination of strong on-pitch performance, ranking points, and a standout presence on social media led by its athletes. The club’s reach across social media, supported by high follower counts and active athlete engagement, contributed significantly to their overall final ranking points – meaning they were the next highest-ranking club. Their qualification highlights the growing role of social media activity in the rankings and therefore, the qualification process.
As the Phygital Contenders chapter closes, attention now shifts to December, when the Games of the Future 2025 returns to Abu Dhabi.
Contenders ranking
| # | Club | Contenders points | WPC Member points | Total points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MEXICO QUETZALES-ARMADILLOS FC | 61.5 | 248 | 152.52 |
| 2 | CM JARDIM | 42 | 204 | 85.68 |
| 3 | FC WHITEBIRD | 28 | 196 | 54.88 |
| 4 | GRENI SMITH | 30 | 155 | 46.50 |
| 5 | LA CREMA | 26 | 171 | 44.46 |
| 6 | ZERO TENACITY | 31.5 | 115 | 36.23 |
| 7 | KMF TITOGRAD | 13.5 | 259 | 34.97 |
| 8 | INTERSTELLARS-TEAM JOGA | 11.5 | 267 | 30.71 |
| 9 | LIBERTADORES PT | 28 | 100 | 28.00 |
| 10 | STREET BALL | 10 | 195 | 19.50 |
| 11 | INDEXG | 16.5 | 115 | 18.98 |
| 12 | AIGLES PHYGITAL | 16 | 110 | 17.60 |
| 13 | TEAM SANTA | 6 | 173 | 10.38 |
| 14 | NAVAI | 5 | 172 | 10.32 |
| 15 | TEAM GHANA | 4.5 | 165 | 7.43 |
| 16 | ORLANDO PIRATES FIVES | 6 | 115 | 6.90 |
| 17 | OAA ESPORTS | 6 | 105 | 6.30 |
| 18 | ALKHDOUR FC | 0 | 148 | 0.00 |
| 19 | GENTLE NEIGHBOURS | 0 | 143 | 0.00 |
| 20 | PGM COVIC | 0 | 125 | 0.00 |
| 21 | CEFL PHYGITAL | 0 | 114 | 0.00 |
