The unveiling of the Most Attractive Employers in Sport 2026 shortlists continues with the Sports Leagues category, highlighting the competitions that professionals and aspiring professionals across the sports industry would most like to work for.
The 2026 shortlist brings together prominent leagues and tours from football, basketball, tennis, motorsport, ice hockey, American football, golf and rugby—ranging from major domestic competitions to global sporting properties.
The Top 20 Sports Leagues of 2026
Presented in alphabetical order, the shortlisted organisations are:
- ATP Tour (Tennis, Global)
- Basketball Champions League (Basketball, Europe)
- Bundesliga (Football, GER)
- EuroLeague Basketball (Basketball, Europe)
- Formula 1 (Motorsport, Global)
- LaLiga (Football, ESP)
- Lega Serie A (Football, ITA)
- Ligue 1 (Football, FRA)
- MLS (Football, USA)
- MotoGP (Motorsport, Global)
- National League (Ice Hockey, SUI)
- NBA (Basketball, USA)
- NFL (American Football, USA)
- NHL (Ice Hockey, USA/CAN)
- PGA Tour (Golf, USA)
- Premier League (Football, ENG)
- Swiss Super League (Football, SUI)
- Top 14 (Rugby, FRA)
- WNBA (Basketball, USA)
- WTA Tour (Tennis, Global)
Football remains the most represented sport on the shortlist, with seven competitions spanning five European markets and the United States. The Bundesliga, LaLiga, Lega Serie A, Ligue 1 and Premier League are joined by MLS and the Swiss Super League.
Basketball also has a strong presence in 2026. Alongside the NBA, the shortlist includes the WNBA, EuroLeague Basketball and the Basketball Champions League, reflecting the growing appeal of career opportunities across both North American and European basketball.
The ATP Tour and WTA Tour represent global professional tennis, while Formula 1 and MotoGP demonstrate the continued attractiveness of international motorsport. The shortlist is completed by leading properties in ice hockey, American football, golf and rugby.
What Has Changed Since 2025?
There is considerable continuity between the 2025 and 2026 selections, with many of the world’s most prominent leagues retaining their places.
The Basketball Champions League, EuroLeague Basketball, National League, PGA Tour and WNBA join the Top 20 this year, further diversifying the shortlist across sports and markets.
They replace Baller League, EFL, Kings League, Premier Padel and the World Surf League. The changes mean that basketball has increased its representation considerably, while golf and Swiss ice hockey also feature in the category this year.
Some returning organisations are presented under more precise names in 2026: ATP appears as ATP Tour, WTA as WTA Tour, Serie A as Lega Serie A and the Swiss Football League entry is represented by the Swiss Super League.
The final ranking will reveal which of these 20 organisations sports professionals consider the most attractive employer in the Sports Leagues category.
About the Most Attractive Employers in Sport
The Most Attractive Employers in Sport survey, conducted annually by iWorkinSport, asks people working in—or aspiring to work in—the sports industry to identify the organisations they would most like to work for.
The 2026 survey gathered responses from 1,051 participants representing 58 nationalities, reflecting the global nature of the sports industry.
The shortlists recognise the organisations that received the highest number of votes within their respective categories. The names presented above are listed alphabetically and do not represent the final ranking.
The complete ranking will be unveiled during the Most Attractive Employers in Sport Awards ceremony on 16 October 2026.
The study provides valuable insights into employer branding in sport and helps organisations understand how they are perceived by the industry’s current and future workforce. Inclusion in the shortlist reflects respondents’ perceptions and preferences and should not be interpreted as an assessment of an organisation’s internal working conditions or employment practices.
About iWorkinSport
iWorkinSport is the leading global platform dedicated to recruitment, career development and education in the sports industry. It connects employers, professionals and academic institutions through recruitment services, career events, industry intelligence and specialised content.
For further information, please contact info@iworkinsport.com.