Latest news with #WorldFootballSummit
Zawya
12-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
World Football Summit Monterrey Confirms Mexico's Rise as Global Football Business Hub
World Football Summit (WFS) ( concluded its second Mexican edition yesterday in Monterrey, bringing together over 1,700 football industry leaders, executives, and pioneers from 40 countries to explore the extraordinary opportunities shaping the future of football in Latin America and North America. The summit's timing was particularly significant, taking place exactly one year before the inauguration of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The two-day summit, held June 9-10 at Pabellón M, positioned Monterrey as a central hub for football business conversations in the Americas, particularly as the region prepares for the transformative impact of the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Strategic Timing for Regional Transformation WFS Monterrey addressed the pivotal moment the football industry faces in the America's, with the 2026 World Cup promising a $5 billion economic impact and unprecedented infrastructure development across the region. The summit explored how Mexico's football industry, projected to reach $1.044 billion by 2029, can leverage this momentum alongside the booming Latin American sponsorship market valued at $745 million across Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina, to name a few of its major markets. "Exactly one year before the 2026 World Cup kicks off, Monterrey has proven itself as the epicenter of the most important conversations about the future of football in the Americas," said Jan Alessie, Co-Founder and Managing Director of World Football Summit. "The incredible response we received, with over 1,700 industry leaders from 40 countries participating, demonstrates that this event has become fundamental to understanding where the global football industry is heading. The decisions and partnerships forged here will directly influence how the sport develops across the region as we approach this historic World Cup." World-Class Speaker Lineup Drives Strategic Discussions The summit featured an exceptional lineup of industry leaders, including: Davor Šuker, Croatian football legend Jurgen Mainka, Chief Tournament Officer Mexico, FWC26 Mauricio Culebro, President of TIGRES UANL Pedro Esquivel, President at Club de Futbol Monterrey (Rayados) Hector Gonzalez, Chief Operating Officer at Club América Alejandro Hutt, Host City Manager at FWC26 Monterrey Arturo Pérez, President at Toluca Olek Loewenstein, Global President of Sports at Televisa Univision Isabella Echeverri, Board Member at Common Goal USA Iñigo Riestra, General Secretary at the Mexican Football Federation Héctor Herrera, Mexican Football Player Mariana Gutiérrez, President of Liga MX Femenil Grace Ahrens, Executive Director, Women in Soccer Fernando Palomo, Host at ESPN Furthermore, the support of the Mexican political ecosystem was made evident through the participation of top tier representatives, including: Samuel García - Constitutional Governor of the State of Nuevo León Rommel Pacheco - Minister of Sports of the Mexican Government Melody Falcó - General Manager at Instituto Estatal de Cultura Física y Deporte Martha Herrera - Secretary of Equality and Inclusion for Nuevo León Maricarmen Martinez - Secretary of Tourism State of Nuevo León Melissa Segura - Secretary of Culture State of Nuevo León Recognizing Regional Excellence Through WFS Honors A highlight of the summit was the WFS Honors ceremony, recognizing outstanding contributions to football development across six categories: WFS Honor for Leading Women in Sport - Mariana Gutiérrez Honor for Transformative Partnerships Shaping the Future of Sport - Club Tigres UANL&DC Comics Honor for Local Grassroots Strategy to Develop Sport - Club de Fútbol Monterrey Honor for Outstanding Leadership in Sport - Don Valentín Diez Morodo, Deportivo Toluca FC Honor for Social&Community Impact Through Sport - Blue Women, Pink Men WFS Honor for Legacy&Greatness - Davor Šuker Strategic Partnerships and Regional Collaboration The event, co-organized with Soccer Media Solutions, showcased strong institutional and commercial support, with key participation from the Government of Nuevo León, FWC 26 Monterrey, Mexican Football Federation, UN Tourism, and LALIGA. Strategic commercial partners included OCV Monterrey (Monterrey Convention and Visitors Bureau), PM SHOP, Caliente MX, Codetur, and Senn Ferrero, with 25 companies exhibiting their products and services at the event. Building on Mexico's Growing Football Business Ecosystem WFS Monterrey builds on the success of the inaugural Mexican edition held in Mexico City in June 2024, demonstrating the country's rapidly expanding role in global football business. The summit addressed critical topics including private equity investment growth, women's football development, local talent academy programs, fan engagement through technology and data analytics, and cross-border collaboration opportunities. Key Focus Areas Explored: Maximizing the 2026 World Cup's economic impact and infrastructure legacy Private equity's growing interest in Latin American football Women's football development and commercial potential Multi-club ownership models and governance challenges Broadcasting rights strategy in the digital age Sustainable practices and long-term sport legacy Technology integration and fan engagement innovation Looking Forward The success of WFS Monterrey reinforces Mexico's position as a bridge between North and South American football markets, with Monterrey emerging as a key strategic location for industry development. The summit's outcomes will contribute to shaping investment, development, and collaboration strategies across the Americas as the region prepares for its starring role in the 2026 World Cup. WFS continues its global expansion with upcoming events in Hong Kong (September 3-4), Madrid (October 15-16), and Riyadh (December 10-11), further cementing its position as the world's premier football business platform. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Football Summit. About World Football Summit: World Football Summit is a leading international organization for the football industry. Through its platform, we organize events across four continents that bring together key stakeholders from the ecosystem, fostering business opportunities, collaboration, and innovation in the sector. Thousands of professionals representing companies and institutions from around the world actively engage with WFS.
Zawya
05-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
New Industry Report Reveals $80 Billion Investment Opportunity in African Football Development
World Football Summit ( the premier global event for the football industry, today released a comprehensive report on the state and future of African football, revealing unprecedented commercial opportunities as the continent prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. The report, developed in collaboration with #AfricaScores intelligence platform, identifies five critical areas where smart businesses can engage with Africa's rapidly evolving football ecosystem: Key Findings: Digital leapfrog: Africa's 650+ million smartphone users by 2025 represent the world's fastest-growing mobile-first football audience Infrastructure surge: The continent requires approximately $80 billion in football infrastructure development by 2030 Women's football untapped potential: Despite dominating AFCON (68 total titles), commercial development remains nascent Next-gen talent pipelines: Ghana, Senegal, and Ivory Coast academies offer ROI through guaranteed talent development and brand alignment Regional maturation: North and West Africa lead commercial development, with fast-rising markets in Mauritania, Mali, and Sudan "African football stands at a critical juncture," said Tlhopie Motsepe, Chairman of Mamelodi Sundowns FC, during WFS Rabat 2025. "The Sky's the Limit is our motto. It's a call to inspire Africans to dream big, rise above limitations, and never let their environment define their potential." Morocco's Leadership Position The report highlights Morocco's strategic approach as a continental model, featuring: Nine stadiums are currently upgraded with smart technologies Comprehensive talent development framework combining education and sport Investment positioning as Africa's technology and innovation hub World Cup 2030 preparation alongside AFCON 2025 hosting. Strategic Opportunities Management Professionalization: Consulting opportunities in financial planning, organizational development, and strategic management Technology Integration: Mobile-first platforms for fan engagement, affordable analytics, and cloud-based solutions Infrastructure Development: Public-private partnerships for stadium development and facility management Talent Development: Academy partnerships and educational integration programs Commercial Evolution: From transactional sponsorship to purpose-driven partnerships The report emphasizes that success requires understanding local contexts while applying global best practices. 'Through World Football Summit's unique position connecting global football stakeholders, we've captured what forward-thinking businesses have already discovered: African football is no longer a developing market story—it's an investment-grade opportunity. This report provides essential, actionable strategies for entering and succeeding in Africa's football ecosystem. The question for global stakeholders isn't 'if' to engage, but 'where' to start their strategic entry—and the answers are right here,' said Jaime Domínguez, Content Director at World Football Summit. Download the full report: LINK ( Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Football Summit. Contact: Jaime Domínguez Communications Director World Football Summit Email: press@ Website: About World Football Summit: World Football Summit is a leading international organization for the football industry. Through its platform, we organize events across four continents that bring together key stakeholders from the ecosystem, fostering business opportunities, collaboration, and innovation in the sector.
South China Morning Post
18-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Football fever can benefit the local game in Hong Kong
An eventful few months in the local football scene will be capped by the World Football Summit, featuring legends of the game and showcasing the role of technology in ensuring the 'world game' remains on top of an increasingly competitive sporting entertainment sphere. Advertisement The city is to host the summit for consecutive years 2025-26-27, beginning in September at AsiaWorld-Expo. This year's event is expected to feature not only former champions but also influential figures from the tech industry including OpenAI CEO and co-founder Sam Altman. Confirmed speakers are said to include Brazilian icon Ronaldo Nazario, Spanish midfield maestro Andres Iniesta and former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Others attending include former Chelsea captain John Terry, former Italian star and manager Fabio Capello and former Italian star Francesco Totti. Brazilian Marta Vieira da Silva, six-time Fifa world player of the year and regarded as the greatest female player of all time, and American two-time Olympic gold medallist Mia Hamm will also visit for the summit. Advertisement The event will position Hong Kong as a premier destination for football enthusiasts. The announcement comes as the city also seeks to build on its Sevens rugby tournament fame and establish itself as a hub for major sporting events to boost its economy.
Zawya
15-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Critical Minerals Africa Group (CMAG) Appoints APO Group Founder, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, to Advisory Board
APO Group ( the award-winning pan-African communications consultancy and leading press release distribution service, is pleased to announce that its Founder and Chairman, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard ( has been appointed to the newly formed Advisory Board of the Critical Minerals Africa Group (CMAG). With its mission being to position Africa as a leader in critical minerals, CMAG ( is dedicated to advancing responsible sourcing and sustainable development of Africa's critical mineral resources, while ensuring that local economies benefit from the continent's mineral wealth. With approximately 40% of the world's essential minerals reserves estimated to be held in Sub-Saharan Africa alone, the region plays a key role in the global energy transition and advanced technologies. Pompigne-Mognard's appointment to the Advisory Board follows the announcement of a strategic partnership between APO Group and CMAG aimed at raising the global prominence of Africa's critical minerals sector. The partnership leverages APO Group's public relations and strategic communications expertise and CMAG's industry leadership. Complementing this, Pompigne-Mognard's ability to connect clients with key stakeholders from governments, private companies, and organisations of all sizes will be invaluable in showcasing Africa's role in the global essential resources supply chain and elevating the profile of Africa's critical minerals sector. Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the CMAG Advisory Board. His vast network across industries, governments, and institutions, his deep understanding of Africa's media and technology landscapes, and his extensive business experience will equip him to work alongside fellow Advisory Board members to shape positive perceptions of Africa's critical minerals sector amongst global stakeholders and audiences. A Franco-Gabonese entrepreneur named among the 100 Most Influential Africans in 2023 and 2024, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard serves on multiple high-profile advisory boards and international committees. These include the Senior Advisory Board of the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business and the Leadership Council of the Africa Tech Festival, as well as the Advisory Boards of the African Energy Chamber, World Football Summit, Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF), Bloomberg New Economy Gateway Africa, Sports Africa Investment Summit, EurAfrican Forum, and All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA). He is also a strategic advisor to the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal African Society of the United Kingdom, a strategic advisor to the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce, and a special advisor to the President of Rugby Africa, the governing body of rugby in Africa. Nicolas' wholly-owned company, APO Group, is the premier award-winning Pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service. It serves more than 300 clients, including global giants such as Canon, Nestlé, Western Union, UNDP, Network International, the African Energy Chamber, Mercy Ships, Marriott, Africa's Business Heroes, and Liquid Intelligent Technologies. 'Being appointed to the Critical Minerals Africa Group Advisory Board is an immense honour. CMAG is vital in safeguarding Africa's critical minerals for future generations. In my advisory role, I look forward to supporting all initiatives as CMAG showcases Africa's critical minerals potential in a responsible and sustainable manner,' said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, Founder and Chairman of APO Group. Other members of the Advisory Board include Natznet Tesfay, Executive Director, Head of Insights and Analytics, S&P Global, and Richard Morgan, Former Head of Government Relations, Anglo-American PLC. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group. Media contact: marie@ About APO Group: Founded in 2007, APO Group ( is the leading award-winning pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service. Renowned for our deep-rooted African expertise and expansive global perspective, we specialise in elevating the reputation and brand equity of private and public organisations across Africa. As a trusted partner, our mission is to harness the power of media, crafting bespoke strategies that drive tangible, measurable impact both on the continent and globally. Our commitment to excellence and innovation has been recognised with multiple prestigious awards, including the PRovoke Media Global SABRE Award and multiple PRovoke Media Africa SABRE Awards. In 2023, we were named the Leading Public Relations Firm Africa and the Leading Pan-African Communications Consultancy Africa in the World Business Outlook Awards, and the Best Public Relations and Media Consultancy of the Year South Africa in 2024 in the same awards. In 2025, Brands Review Magazine acknowledged us as the Leading Communications Consultancy in Africa for the second consecutive year. They also named us the Best PR Agency and the Leading Press Release Distribution Platform in Africa in 2024. APO Group's esteemed clientele, which includes global giants such as Canon, Nestlé, Western Union, the UNDP, Network International, African Energy Chamber, Mercy Ships, Marriott, Africa's Business Heroes, and Liquid Intelligent Technologies, reflects our unparalleled ability to navigate the complex African media landscape. With a multicultural team across Africa, we offer unmatched, truly pan-African insights, expertise, and reach across the continent. APO Group is dedicated to reshaping narratives about Africa, challenging stereotypes, and bringing inspiring African stories to global audiences, with our expertise in developing and supporting public relations campaigns worldwide uniquely positioning us to amplify brand messaging, enhance reputations, and connect effectively with target audiences.
South China Morning Post
14-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong scores big as host of World Football Summit
Football legends Ronaldo Nazario, Andres Iniesta and Arsene Wenger are expected to visit Hong Kong in September for a major summit to be held in the city for the first time, the Post has learned. Advertisement The World Football Summit (WFS) will debut in Hong Kong from September 2 to 4 at AsiaWorld-Expo in Chek Lap Kok, with leading figures from the tech sector also expected to attend. Guests are expected to attend a dinner and tour the city on September 2, before the official summit takes place over the following two days. 'We are excited to share that the WFS will be hosted in Hong Kong for three consecutive years, specifically in 2025, 2026 and 2027,' a source said. The event boasts an impressive list of confirmed speakers, including Brazilian icon Ronaldo, Spanish midfield maestro Iniesta, ex-Arsenal manager Wenger and former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand. Advertisement Other prominent figures from the sport who have confirmed their attendance include John Terry, Fabio Capello and Francesco Totti. Brazilian Marta Vieira da Silva, widely regarded as the greatest female footballer of all time with six Fifa World Player of the Year awards, and American two-time Olympic gold medallist Mia Hamm will also be visiting Hong Kong for the summit.
