ESPN Reports 2026 Ballon d'Or Shortlists Released, Host City Change Announced

The shortlists for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, one of the most prominent individual honors in world soccer, have been released, according to a report published by ESPN.

The report states that both men's and women's shortlists are now available, identifying the players considered contenders for the top individual prizes in the sport for the upcoming award cycle.

ESPN's report also notes a change in the host city for the 2026 ceremony, though further specifics on the new location were not detailed in the available summary.

The report additionally references "Vozinha," suggesting developments connected to other award categories presented alongside the main Ballon d'Or trophies, such as goalkeeping or team honors that are typically announced during the same ceremony.

The Ballon d'Or, awarded annually, recognizes the best-performing men's and women's players over the preceding season based on voting from journalists and other football stakeholders. Additional details regarding the full list of nominees, the ceremony's exact date, and the reasoning behind the host city change were not specified in the excerpt available at the time of this report.

EGazette will provide further coverage as more information from ESPN and other outlets becomes available.