Crafting Legacy: Bennett Awards Designs Custom Trophies for the Inaugural World Sevens Football Tournament
2025 World Sevens Award (15 in. maple shield), designed by Bennett Awards
The Ask – A New Kind of Tournament, A New Kind of Award
When World Sevens Football (W7F) launched in 2025, it set out to do more than just organize a competition—it aimed to revolutionize the landscape of women’s football with a high-energy, high-reward, and highly watchable new format. For their inaugural Kick-Off tournament held in Estoril, Portugal from May 21–23, they needed a series of custom awards that matched the bold yet distinguished image of this new global competition. That’s where Bennett Awards came in.
This was Bennett’s first time partnering with World Sevens, and with just a handful of weeks before the tournament, the timeline was relatively tight. The W7F team approached Bennett with a number of award needs for this international tournament—from championship trophies to individualized medallions for standout players, as well as recognition pieces for philanthropic partners. Despite the short notice, Bennett Awards was ready to deliver, leveraging decades of experience crafting custom awards for global events across a wide range of timelines and requirements.
Design, Collaboration, and Turning Constraints into Creativity
The tournament called for a cohesive suite of unique awards that would align with the premium, contemporary brand of W7F. While the time crunch ruled out more intricate sculptural designs, Bennett’s designers remained unfazed. Instead of complex builds, they pivoted toward clean, creative forms with strong visual impact—efficient to produce, yet anything but ordinary.
The centerpiece became the Champions Award, designed as a modern take on the traditional plaque. It was a 15-inch round maple shield, featuring the tournament name engraved into the outer wooden ring with the letteringst the ained to provide contrast and visibility. At its center, a silver aluminum plate was also engraved with the tournament location locationand overlaid with a raised aluminum cutout of the W7F logo, adding texture, depth, and a clear focal point.
For individual athlete athlete awards like Golden Boot, Golden Ball, Golden Glove, and Breakout Player of the tournament, Bennett created smaller 8-inch versions of the shield to maintain consistency across the design family. Three Community Champions—Lisbon-based nonprofits recognized for their impact on girls’ and women’s advancement—also received awards in this smaller format, highlighting W7F’s commitment to social impact.
Additionally, medallions, 4 inches in diameter, were produced for top participants in three different color finishes, providing a celebratory way to recognize all the renowned participating athletes. One award deviated from the shield design—a rectangular maple plaque with a silver plate embossed with the W7F logo—presented to the Rising Sevens Champion, honoring an outstanding youth participant from W7F’s mentorship initiative.
Finally, a last-minute request came in for “Minted Player of the Match” trophies, and Bennett was able to find an awards solution instantly by turning to their Bennett Now line, which provides high-quality, fast-shipping solutions. The sleek Now Cube, featuring a silver engraved plaque, was shipped to the tournament within five business days of proof approval—demonstrating Bennett’s ability to deliver both custom craftsmanship along with rapid execution.
The Final Product – A Unified Look That Delivered a Statement
The final award lineup was as diverse as the tournament itself, yet visually unified. The consistent use of maple wood and brushed silver aluminum created a premium feel, while the shield motif delivered boldness and uniqueness. Whether in players’ hands, on stage, or captured in media coverage, the awards conveyed elegance, purpose, and professionalism. The Bennett designers found the perfect way to speak to the global audience of viewers and participants through these contemporary yet timeless pieces.
More than just trophies, these designs elevated the visual identity of W7F and provided tangible recognition of excellence, sportsmanship, and community impact. The round shape of the champions’ shield departed from traditional award formats, aligning with the sport’s reimagined format, while the raised W7F logo ensured brand recognition in every press photo and highlight reel.
Measurable Impact – Visibility, Engagement, and Legacy
The tournament itself drew massive media attention, with broadcasts on DAZN, mentions in BBC Sport, and features on The Athletic, a New York Times podcast. The awards were frequently seen in player interviews, victory celebrations, and viral social media clips—becoming part of W7F’s visual and emotional storytelling.
The aesthetic appeal of the awards contributed to W7F’s goal of creating a shareable, fan-friendly experience. In an era where digital impressions matter as much as attendance, the visually compelling award designs enhanced the tournament’s brand visibility exponentially.
From an engagement standpoint, the event was a resounding success. Fans and players alike were delighted with this new, imaginative approach to the game. Fans and players alike were overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the whole tournament experience. Bayern Munich took home the $2.5 million championship prize, a figure greater than the combined winnings of the Women's Super League, Champions League, and FA Cup—signaling the uncompromising arrival of W7F as a major player in women’s football.
Social impact was front and center too. Over 100 girls participated in the Rising 7s mentorship clinic, receiving coaching from legends like Tobin Heath and Laura Georges. Three local nonprofits received $10,000 each and platform visibility via the Community Champions initiative—all recognized through awards designed by Bennett.
Behind the scenes, the W7F team expressed deep appreciation for Bennett’s ability to deliver a wide range of custom awards award solutions under pressure—while maintaining a cohesive design ethos that aligned with the tournament’s bold ambitions. As future W7F events roll out across North America, Asia, and Europe, Bennett is proud to have helped establish the visual and emotional language of this groundbreaking tournament.
From concept to execution, Bennett Awards proved once again that custom craftsmanship and creative agility are not mutually exclusive—but essential ingredients for elevating any world-class event.
