Published on December 25, 2025
By: Tuhin Sarkar
The Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025 have closed an unforgettable chapter in the evolution of phygital sports. Hosted under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the event marked an unparalleled fusion of physical and digital competition. Over six action-packed days, Abu Dhabi hosted more than 850 participants from 60+ countries, with fierce battles across 11 disciplines including Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, esports, Phygital Fighting, drone racing, and VR gaming.
Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025 was not just a sporting event; it was a vision of the future. It set a global standard for what sports can look like in the digital age, where technology and human skill come together to create immersive and multi-dimensional experiences. The competition showed the world that the future of sports isn’t confined to a physical arena, but seamlessly integrates both the physical and digital.
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The Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025 featured 11 disciplines that blended traditional sports with futuristic technologies, including Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, esports, Phygital Fighting, and Phygital Shooter. These unique formats tested competitors in both the physical and digital realms. For example, Phygital Football powered by ADNOC saw the México Quetzales – Armadillos FC clinch the Phygital Football title, defeating Troncos FC 2-4 in a thrilling final that captivated crowds throughout the week. Likewise, in Phygital Basketball, the LIGA PRO TEAM triumphed in a 29-23 victory over Moscowsky.
Other high-stakes competitions included Phygital Fighting.FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, where Kuznya dominated, winning all four of their matches. Meanwhile, xGoat emerged victorious in the Phygital Shooter.CS 2 final, overcoming Dontsu Esports 2-0 in an intense digital shootout.
In the drone racing category, Drone Racing One wowed spectators by completing 50 laps of a challenging circuit, showcasing the high-tech thrill of phygital racing.
Beyond traditional sports, Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025 brought esports and VR gaming into the spotlight. The esports events featured top teams and intense matches across a variety of games, including MOBA Mobile.MLBB and MOBA PC.Dota 2. In a thrilling final, ONIC defeated Aurora Gaming in the Mobile.MLBB championship, while teamWin overcame Vikings 2-0 in Dota 2.
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The Battle Royale tournament, featuring Fortnite, saw Kami + Swizzy crush their opponents ZYRO + RAPID in the final. In VR gaming, the HADO competition proved to be one of the most exciting events, where Team Rock claimed the victory.
The digital revolution didn’t stop there—Phygital Dancing.Just Dance was an engaging crowd favorite, with Ivan “myakekcya” Vlasov taking home the crown. These events proved that esports and VR gaming are no longer just niche interests but are now integral parts of mainstream competition.
Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025 perfectly illustrated how technology and sports are converging to form an entirely new ecosystem. With events such as Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, and drone racing, the Games were a showcase of the groundbreaking possibilities that arise when sports embrace digital innovations. Technology was not merely an accessory at this event—it was the cornerstone upon which the competitions were built.
With immersive experiences that brought together digital avatars, VR environments, and physical action, the event revealed a new way of experiencing and consuming sports. It also showcased how athletes and fans alike can now engage with sports in ways that were unimaginable just a decade ago.
As the host city, Abu Dhabi solidified its position as a global leader in the future of sports. This landmark event wasn’t just about showcasing phygital sports, but also about demonstrating the UAE’s commitment to innovation and technology. The event was a triumph of vision, execution, and global collaboration, bringing together athletes, clubs, and partners from around the world.
In his remarks, Saif Al Noaimi, CEO of Ethara, remarked on the complexity of delivering an event on such a grand scale: “Delivering an event of this scale and complexity required close coordination across multiple disciplines, venues, and partners. The Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025 showcased competitive excellence, but also operational innovation and audience engagement at the highest level.”
Similarly, Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International, praised the event’s impact: “What we saw over six days was not just competition, but the emergence of a global ecosystem where sport, esports, technology, and innovation coexist on one stage. Abu Dhabi set a new benchmark for scale, delivery, and ambition.”
The success of Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025 is not just about the event itself. It signals a transformative shift in how we view and experience sports in the 21st century. By embracing phygital sports, the UAE is not just shaping the future of competition, but also setting the stage for the next generation of athletes, fans, and sports industries.
The Phygital Sports Summit, which took place during the event, provided a platform for discussing the future of sports, technology, and innovation. The summit brought together industry leaders, athletes, and tech visionaries to discuss the convergence of physical and digital realms. The dialogue held here will help define the future trajectory of phygital sports and shape the policies that govern it.
The Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025 wasn’t just a flash in the pan; it was a statement. The event demonstrated how sports and technology can work in harmony, paving the way for the next generation of competition. As Abu Dhabi continues to innovate and lead the way in phygital sports, the rest of the world is watching closely, eager to follow in the footsteps of this global hub for next-generation sports and entertainment.
As Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, pointed out, “The success of this edition shows what is possible when vision, technology, and execution align.” The Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025 will undoubtedly serve as a springboard for even bigger, more ambitious events in the years to come, setting a new standard for what’s possible in the world of sports.
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