Shaw and other big names omitted from FifPro Women’s World XI shortlist

The FifPro Women’s World XI shortlist, released on Monday, raised eyebrows when several well‑known players were missing.

Voted for by 6,511 women’s footballers from 64 nations via an online system, the 26‑player list is the only award decided solely by fellow players, giving it a reputation for prestige.

Among the most talked‑about omissions was Manchester City’s leading scorer Khadija Shaw, who finished third in the Ballon d’Or.

Other surprise exclusions were Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga, Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay, Barcelona’s Caroline Graham Hansen and Denmark captain Pernille Harder.

Conversely, England’s Ella Toone, Chloe Kelly and Aggie Beever‑Jones were named to the shortlist, prompting a note of surprise.

All shortlisted players must have featured in at least 20 matches between 4 August 2025 and 16 August 2026, and the final World XI will be announced on Monday, 9 November at 13:00 GMT.

The final XI will comprise one goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards with the most votes in each position, plus an additional outfield player with the next highest vote total, regardless of position.

Votes for a player listed in multiple positions are combined, and the shortlist’s controversial nature is not new.

Further interviews and content are available on the BBC Women’s Football Weekly feed.