Industry experts and inspirational leaders head to Jeddah this month for World Football Summit’s latest unmissable gathering.
\nSince 2016, the organisation has brought football’s finest together across the globe. This unmatched networking event will be held in Saudi Arabia for the first time from December 12-13, providing unique insights about, and access into, the country’s rapid sporting development.
\nMore than 1,000 representatives and stakeholders are expected to hear 130+ speakers take part in panel discussions, while valuable business opportunities abound in The Expo Area.
\nWFS Co-Founder and Director Jan Alessie has overseen a team who\u2019ve organised 18 events, establishing successful partnerships with top brands and building a community of more than 100,000 football professionals. He talked Sport360 through this month’s essential gathering in The Kingdom.
\nQuestion: Please introduce us to December’s WFS Asia event, and what will be on offer in Jeddah?
\nAlessie: World Football Summit Asia celebrates its first edition in KSA on December 12-13, and it will gather the global ecosystem of football industry professionals. Our second edition of WFS Asia aims to bring together more than 1,000 representatives and stakeholders from the football ecosystem.
\nThe event will feature 130+ speakers, with 70 per cent of attendees being decision-makers from leading football properties and sports businesses. Normally, the core of our events relies upon three pillars:<\/p>\n
Building a powerful network
\nCreating unmatched business opportunities
\nConnecting top-tier sports industry talent<\/p>\n
The guests at the WFS event in Saudi Arabia can expect insightful panels discussing how the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, is strategising to become a leading sports hub. The event is an excellent opportunity for global networking and business development; it showcases the increasing interest of European entities in the region and aims to connect the global football industry, fostering its growth and professionalisation.
\nQuestion: How important is it to hold an event of this kind in Saudi Arabia, at the present time?
\nAlessie: The decision to host WFS Asia in Saudi Arabia highlights the country’s growing prominence as a global sports powerhouse.
\nThe Kingdom has already secured the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and FIFA Club World Cup and has attracted top talents on the field such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar or Karim Benzema and on the business front like Esteve Calzada or Peter Hutton.
\nMoreover, Saudi Arabia is the sole contender for hosting the 2034 Men\u2019s FIFA World Cup. Alongside football, the nation has made significant strides in other sports, including LIV, eSports, for which they will start hosting an annual eSports World Cup in 2024, and more.
\nAll in all, given Saudi Arabia’s aspiration to establish itself as a leading force in global sports, it made perfect sense for World Football Summit to organise an event here, connecting key regional football stakeholders with their international counterparts. As a matter of fact, we just published a special report analysing the markets with the highest potential in football, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was clearly identified as one of those markets.
\nThe report is available on our website and stay tuned to the World Football Summit Podcast where will go into greater detail about how KSA is unlocking this potential.
\n View this post on Instagram A post shared by World Football Summit (@worldfootballsummit)
\nQuestion: How has WFS Asia been tailored to the Saudi Arabian\/Asian market?
\nAlessie: Undeniably, Saudi Arabia is becoming the epicenter of a cultural and economic shift in the football industry.
\nAs such, we are giving a special degree of visibility to stakeholders of the entire region so they can share more insights into their sports business strategy in the future. This includes panels with leading figures, participation of local sports organisations, and visibility of initiatives taking place in the market.
\nIf you look at the list of speakers, many of them work in top-tier leading institutions like the Roshn Saudi League, brands like Riyadh Air, or clubs like Al Nassr. Again, this will be a perfect scenario to understand more about the KSA\u2019s ambition around football.
\nQuestion: What opportunities are on offer to WFS Asia attendees?
\nAlessie: In terms of tickets, we have three options available on our website (www.asia.worldfootballsummit.com): Our standard Corporate Pass; a special pass for Female Leaders in Football; and for those who cannot travel to Jeddah, there is a streaming pass available to follow the panels from anywhere in the world.
\nThen, once registered, attendees will encounter endless networking opportunities.
\nThrough the WFS App one can get in touch with any attendee of the event, there will be lounges available for networking coffee and booths with some of the largest brands in football.
\n View this post on Instagram A post shared by World Football Summit (@worldfootballsummit)
\nQuestion: What can attendees expect from WFS Asia’s speakers and panels?
\nAlessie: We are proud to welcome more than 130 leaders who will share insights and expertise on how they are shaping the future of football.
\nThe topics that will be discussed include, among many others: Partnerships, fan engagement, sports technology, sustainability, ownership models, and women\u2019s football. In total, our conference concept includes 11 different tracks and our detailed program can be reviewed on our website.
\nWe have made a conscious effort to build a program that touches every angle of the industry and invites some of the ecosystem\u2019s best names.
\nQuestion: How valuable is the synergy at WFS Asia when the best brands in sports and business meet?
\nAlessie: We are going through a period of transformational shift in the football industry that is advancing at an exponential rate.
\nSports fans today have very different behaviors, they are less intense and have fragmented attention. New technologies are changing what happens on and off the pitch dramatically, and new governance models are taking the industry by storm\u2026
\nThe reality is that sports properties will need to rely on business partners that help them keep pace with the amount of change.
\nUltimately, we believe the football industry needs to embrace a commitment to more professionalisation on the business side of things, and the collaboration between football properties and businesses will be instrumental in seeing this happen.
\nQuestion: Walk us through the history of WFS, its goals and what impact the organisation has enjoyed?
\nAlessie: Since its inception in 2016, WFS has successfully attracted more than 24,000 attendees across 18 events and has built a global community of 100,000+ sports industry executives throughout its platforms. Top names in the industry, including Gianni Infantino, Fatma Samoura, Ronaldo Nazario, Samuel Eto\u2019o, Peter Moore and Cindy Parlow-Cone have participated, showcasing the event’s significance in the global football landscape.
\nWe have hosted events all around the world in countries such as Spain, Turkey, South Africa, Malaysia, Czech Republic and we could not be more excited to finally be able to celebrate an event in KSA, given the ambition the country has to become a leading sports hub as I said before.
\nQuestion: If people want to attend WFS Asia, how can they do this?
\nAlessie: Just visit www.asia.worldfootballsummit.com and you can purchase our ticket directly there. We hope to see you all in Jeddah!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Industry experts and inspirational leaders head to Jeddah this month for World Football Summit\u2019s latest unmissable gathering.
\nSince 2016, the organisation has brought football\u2019s finest together across the globe. This unmatched networking event will be held in Saudi Arabia for the first time from December 12-13, providing unique insights about, and access into, the country\u2019s rapid sporting development.
\nMore than 1,000 representatives and stakeholders are expected to hear 130+ speakers take part in panel discussions, while valuable business opportunities abound in The Expo Area.
\nWFS Co-Founder and Director Jan Alessie has overseen a team who\u2019ve organised 18 events, establishing successful partnerships with top brands and building a community of more than 100,000 football professionals. He talked Sport360 through this month\u2019s essential gathering in The Kingdom.
\nQuestion: Please introduce us to December\u2019s WFS Asia event, and what will be on offer in Jeddah?
\nAlessie: World Football Summit Asia celebrates its first edition in KSA on December 12-13, and it will gather the global ecosystem of football industry professionals. Our second edition of WFS Asia aims to bring together more than 1,000 representatives and stakeholders from the football ecosystem.
\nThe event will feature 130+ speakers, with 70 per cent of attendees being decision-makers from leading football properties and sports businesses. Normally, the core of our events relies upon three pillars:<\/p>\n
Building a powerful network
\nCreating unmatched business opportunities
\nConnecting top-tier sports industry talent<\/p>\n
The guests at the WFS event in Saudi Arabia can expect insightful panels discussing how the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, is strategising to become a leading sports hub. The event is an excellent opportunity for global networking and business development; it showcases the increasing interest of European entities in the region and aims to connect the global football industry, fostering its growth and professionalisation.
\nQuestion: How important is it to hold an event of this kind in Saudi Arabia, at the present time?
\nAlessie: The decision to host WFS Asia in Saudi Arabia highlights the country\u2019s growing prominence as a global sports powerhouse.
\nThe Kingdom has already secured the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and FIFA Club World Cup and has attracted top talents on the field such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar or Karim Benzema and on the business front like Esteve Calzada or Peter Hutton.
\nMoreover, Saudi Arabia is the sole contender for hosting the 2034 Men\u2019s FIFA World Cup. Alongside football, the nation has made significant strides in other sports, including LIV, eSports, for which they will start hosting an annual eSports World Cup in 2024, and more.
\nAll in all, given Saudi Arabia\u2019s aspiration to establish itself as a leading force in global sports, it made perfect sense for World Football Summit to organise an event here, connecting key regional football stakeholders with their international counterparts. As a matter of fact, we just published a special report analysing the markets with the highest potential in football, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was clearly identified as one of those markets.
\nThe report is available on our website and stay tuned to the World Football Summit Podcast where will go into greater detail about how KSA is unlocking this potential.
\n View this post on Instagram A post shared by World Football Summit (@worldfootballsummit)
\nQuestion: How has WFS Asia been tailored to the Saudi Arabian\/Asian market?
\nAlessie: Undeniably, Saudi Arabia is becoming the epicenter of a cultural and economic shift in the football industry.
\nAs such, we are giving a special degree of visibility to stakeholders of the entire region so they can share more insights into their sports business strategy in the future. This includes panels with leading figures, participation of local sports organisations, and visibility of initiatives taking place in the market.
\nIf you look at the list of speakers, many of them work in top-tier leading institutions like the Roshn Saudi League, brands like Riyadh Air, or clubs like Al Nassr. Again, this will be a perfect scenario to understand more about the KSA\u2019s ambition around football.
\nQuestion: What opportunities are on offer to WFS Asia attendees?
\nAlessie: In terms of tickets, we have three options available on our website (www.asia.worldfootballsummit.com): Our standard Corporate Pass; a special pass for Female Leaders in Football; and for those who cannot travel to Jeddah, there is a streaming pass available to follow the panels from anywhere in the world.
\nThen, once registered, attendees will encounter endless networking opportunities.
\nThrough the WFS App one can get in touch with any attendee of the event, there will be lounges available for networking coffee and booths with some of the largest brands in football.
\n View this post on Instagram A post shared by World Football Summit (@worldfootballsummit)
\nQuestion: What can attendees expect from WFS Asia\u2019s speakers and panels?
\nAlessie: We are proud to welcome more than 130 leaders who will share insights and expertise on how they are shaping the future of football.
\nThe topics that will be discussed include, among many others: Partnerships, fan engagement, sports technology, sustainability, ownership models, and women\u2019s football. In total, our conference concept includes 11 different tracks and our detailed program can be reviewed on our website.
\nWe have made a conscious effort to build a program that touches every angle of the industry and invites some of the ecosystem\u2019s best names.
\nQuestion: How valuable is the synergy at WFS Asia when the best brands in sports and business meet?
\nAlessie: We are going through a period of transformational shift in the football industry that is advancing at an exponential rate.
\nSports fans today have very different behaviors, they are less intense and have fragmented attention. New technologies are changing what happens on and off the pitch dramatically, and new governance models are taking the industry by storm\u2026
\nThe reality is that sports properties will need to rely on business partners that help them keep pace with the amount of change.
\nUltimately, we believe the football industry needs to embrace a commitment to more professionalisation on the business side of things, and the collaboration between football properties and businesses will be instrumental in seeing this happen.
\nQuestion: Walk us through the history of WFS, its goals and what impact the organisation has enjoyed?
\nAlessie: Since its inception in 2016, WFS has successfully attracted more than 24,000 attendees across 18 events and has built a global community of 100,000+ sports industry executives throughout its platforms. Top names in the industry, including Gianni Infantino, Fatma Samoura, Ronaldo Nazario, Samuel Eto\u2019o, Peter Moore and Cindy Parlow-Cone have participated, showcasing the event\u2019s significance in the global football landscape.
\nWe have hosted events all around the world in countries such as Spain, Turkey, South Africa, Malaysia, Czech Republic and we could not be more excited to finally be able to celebrate an event in KSA, given the ambition the country has to become a leading sports hub as I said before.
\nQuestion: If people want to attend WFS Asia, how can they do this?
\nAlessie: Just visit www.asia.worldfootballsummit.com and you can purchase our ticket directly there. We hope to see you all in Jeddah!<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/352048"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=352048"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/352048\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":352050,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/352048\/revisions\/352050"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=352048"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=352048"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=352048"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}