The Copper Box Arena in London is buzzing today as the Baller League’s Season Two finals unfold, promising a spectacle for football fans across the UK and beyond. With the final four teams set to battle for the coveted title, the stage is set for a dramatic conclusion to a season that has already delivered its fair share of surprises, personal triumphs, and heartwarming stories of perseverance.
The action kicks off this afternoon, Sunday, January 11, 2026, with regular season table-toppers M7 FC facing off against Wembley Rangers in the first semi-final at 15:15 GMT. Immediately following, defending champions SDS FC will take on NDL FC in the second semi-final at 16:30 GMT. The winners of these high-stakes clashes will then meet in tonight’s final, with the precise kick-off time still to be confirmed. All matches are being held at the iconic Copper Box Arena, a venue that’s become synonymous with top-tier small-sided football.
Fans unable to make it to London need not worry, as the 2025/26 Baller League finals are being broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports +, with streaming available via Sky Go and the Sky Sports app. For those who prefer online viewing, the Final Four will also be aired live and free from 3pm on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@BallerLeagueUK, ensuring that no one misses a moment of the excitement.
While the focus today is on the teams vying for the championship, the journey to this point has been defined by remarkable individual stories—none more compelling than that of Bilal Sayoud, the league’s all-time top scorer. At 28, Sayoud’s path to the Baller League was anything but straightforward. Just a short while ago, he was juggling a demanding job delivering parcels for Amazon, uncertain if his football dreams would ever materialize. But a timely message from a friend changed everything, offering him a shot at the Baller League trials—a shot he nearly missed due to the pressures of his day job.
"I woke up at 6am, ready for my shift, looked on my phone and was like ‘KSI, Baller League, what's all this?’” Sayoud recalls. He almost skipped the trial, as his Sunday delivery route had ballooned to 102 parcels—far above his usual load. Yet, fortune favored him; already in Shepherd’s Bush for deliveries, he decided to give the trial a chance. “I managed to get through to the initial trial stage, and then I believe it was on a Sunday at Westway (in Shepherd's Bush). For me, Sunday's the best day to work as a courier because the roads are empty, you don't get as many parcels, and I had a game the previous day as well so my body was in bits.”
After a grueling day, Sayoud returned home at 9pm, unsure if his efforts would pay off. By the next morning, he was back on the road, delivering parcels by 6am, still in the dark about his footballing fate. But his persistence paid off. Out of an estimated 45,000 applicants, Sayoud’s talent shone through, impressing both the league’s German organizers and former Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris. “I remember I did one skill right in front of him and he was like, 'oh!'. And then I said, 'Make sure you tell that to JT, mate!'” he laughs, referencing Chelsea legend John Terry, manager of the 26ers—the team Sayoud would ultimately join.
For Sayoud, a lifelong Chelsea fan, the chance to play under Terry was a dream come true. “We've trained at the Chelsea training ground and John Terry treats us like friends, the way he messages us, the way he interacts with us,” Sayoud shares. “You look at these people and you think they're untouchable, but they're just normal human beings, and JT's a serial winner. So when you don't win, you can definitely see the emotions.”
Sayoud’s career has seen its share of highs and lows. As a youngster, he spent time at Tottenham’s academy, sharing the pitch with future first-teamer Luke Amos, before being released at 13. He later earned a spot at the Nike Academy—an achievement in itself, as only two British players were selected from tens of thousands of applicants. Professional terms with Coventry City followed, where he played alongside future England international James Maddison, whom Sayoud calls “the best player he has ever played with.” But after being released at 21, Sayoud found himself in non-league football with Haringey Borough, balancing his passion for the game with the realities of a second job.
It was the Baller League that offered Sayoud a lifeline, both professionally and personally. The league’s unique blend of former Premier League stars, managers like Ian Wright and Alan Shearer, and the backing of influencers such as KSI and Niko Omilana has created an environment where overlooked talent can shine. “Without Baller League, you wouldn't have known players like (one of this season's leading scorers) Stefan Ilic, myself, so many others. So there's talent in non-league, it’s just about enhancing it and exposing it to the right audience,” Sayoud explains.
With the extra income from Baller League, Sayoud has been able to step away from courier work, enjoying more time with his family and focusing on his recovery and performance. “It's allowed me to stop my courier job. I've had more time with my family, more time to recover, and more time to myself, which has been amazing,” he says. “I know there are so many lads working from 6am, going to their [non-league] game at 7:45, doing that again on a Wednesday. It's difficult. and I was stuck in that for four or five years and so to have a routine that I have now I'm more than thankful.”
On the pitch, Sayoud has made history as the first player to score 30 goals in the competition. However, his 26ers team fell just short of making the final four this season, missing out on the opportunity to compete for the title at Copper Box Arena. Still, Sayoud is undeterred, already setting his sights on next season and an even greater goal tally. “For me, having that [scoring record] and then not making top four two seasons in a row is it's a bit disappointing,” he admits. “But I think from a personal level if you had told me before all of this started that two seasons in, I'd be the all time goalscorer in a format like this with so many good players… Honestly, it's a big, big privilege for me, a big honour. Now I've got a target for next season to try and hit 50. First to hit 50. It’s a surreal experience. I would have bitten your hand off if you told me this would all happen before it started.”
As the Baller League finals play out today, fans can expect fierce competition and perhaps a few more stories of unexpected heroes. With the league continuing to grow in profile and reach, and players like Sayoud proving that determination and talent can break through, the future of small-sided football in the UK looks brighter than ever. For now, all eyes are on the Copper Box Arena, where football dreams are being realized in real time.
