BERLIN - FIFA has announced that the winners of its Best awards, including the World Player of the Year, will be revealed on Tuesday in an unexpected statement from the governing body, reported German news agency dpa.
With just one day's notice, FIFA said on Monday that the winners would be named at a special event in the Qatari capital Doha which would be livestreamed.
Real Madrid and Mexican club CF Pachuca will play for the new FIFA Intercontinental Cup in Qatar on Wednesday, the anniversary of the 2022 World Cup final in the country. An expanded FIFA Club World Cup takes place in June.
According to the statement from FIFA, "dignitaries" will be in attendance at the dinner, including FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The favourites for the men's Best Player of the Year voting are Spain's European champion Rodri, who has already won the Ballon d'Or, and Madrid's Brazilian Vinícius Júnior.
Bayer Leverkusen's double winner Xabi Alonso is on the list of nominees for the best coach of a men's team. Women's winners will also be announced, with Spain and Barcelona's Aitana Bonmatí looking for her second straight award.
All award winners have been decided by an equally weighted voting system between fans (via an online vote), the current captains and coaches of all women's/men's national teams and media representatives. - BERNAMA-dpa