Explained: Why Muslim Players Receive A Different POTM Award At FIFA World Cup 2026

Published 25 June 2026 · sports

Explained: Why Muslim Players Receive A Different POTM Award At FIFA World Cup 2026 Published By, Last Updated: June 26, 2026, 04:32 IST FIFA has

Explained: Why Muslim Players Receive A Different POTM Award At FIFA World Cup 2026 Published By, Last Updated: June 26, 2026, 04:32 IST FIFA has removed Michelob ULTRA branding from POTM presentations for Muslim players at the 2026 World Cup to respect religious sensitivities regarding alcohol sponsorship. FIFA Makes Major Change to Player of the Match Award for Muslim Stars at World Cup 2026. (Picture Credit: X/@FIFAWorldCup) The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has introduced a notable change to the Player of the Match (POTM) award presentation for Muslim players at the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026. At this year’s tournament, fans vote online to decide the winner of the POTM award, which is by beer brand Michelob ULTRA. Traditionally, the winning player receives the trophy after the match and poses for photographs in front of a backdrop featuring the sponsor’s branding.

These images are later shared across FIFA World Cup social media platforms. However, FIFA has adopted a different approach for Muslim players because alcohol consumption is prohibited in Islam and in several Muslim-majority countries. When a Muslim player wins the POTM award, the usual Michelob ULTRA branding is removed from the presentation backdrop. This adjustment has been made for Canada’s Ismael Koné, Qatar’s Mahmoud Abunada, Ivory Coast’s Yan Diomande, Iran’s Ramin Rezaeian, Egypt’s Emam Ashour, Jordan’s Ali Olwan, Morocco’s Ismael Saibari and Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi. Instead of displaying Michelob ULTRA logos, the backdrop used during their award presentations features the words ‘Superior Player of the Match’ alongside the FIFA World Cup emblem. Although the trophy itself remains virtually identical, the Michelob ULTRA branding is not visible.

Beer company Budweiser served as the official Player of the Match sponsor at the previous two FIFA World Cups. During the 2018 tournament, Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy famously declined to accept the award after his standout performance against Uruguay because of its association with an alcohol brand. Similar accommodations have also been made in domestic football. In the Premier League, the Player of the Match prize previously included a bottle of alcohol, prompting several Muslim players, including Yaya Touré, to turn it down. The award has since been replaced with a more neutral prize, while non-alcoholic champagne is now commonly used during trophy celebrations. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Harshit Bisht Senior Sub-editor Harshit Bisht is a sports journalist with CNN-News18 since July 1, 2024, and covers cricket with a sharp eye for records, trends, and match analysis.