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Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga Earn 2026 Ballon d’Or Nominations

9/9/2026

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Summary

Banda Ballon Nominee

Barbra Banda of Zambia earned a 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or nomination.
Banda scored four goals in a 6-0 WAFCON win over Egypt.
Banda also provided an assist and won a penalty, the first player to affect six goals in a WAFCON match.
Temwa Chawinga of Malawi secured a second consecutive 2026 Ballon d’Or nomination.
Chawinga scored 15 goals and three assists for Kansas City Current.

Summary

Barcelona Nominees

The ceremony will be held in London on 26 October, honoring Sir Stanley Matthews.
France Football created the award in 1956, marking its 70th anniversary in 2026.
Disney+ secured exclusive live streaming rights for all 75 Women’s Champions League matches each season.
Barcelona’s women’s squad contributed eight nominees, the most from any club on the 30-player shortlist.

History

Historical Context

FIFA launched the first Women’s World Cup in Guangdong, China, from 16 – 30 November 1991, featuring sixteen teams and 510,000 spectators across four host cities, with the final drawing 63,000 fans in Guangzhou. The tournament’s success, praised by President João Havelange, spurred the sport’s Olympic debut in 1996 and laid groundwork for today’s global growth.

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Banda Ballon Nominee

Barbra Banda of Zambia earned a 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or nomination.
Banda scored four goals in a 6-0 WAFCON win over Egypt.
Banda also provided an assist and won a penalty, the first player to affect six goals in a WAFCON match.
Temwa Chawinga of Malawi secured a second consecutive 2026 Ballon d’Or nomination.
Chawinga scored 15 goals and three assists for Kansas City Current.

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