World Football Summit comes to Hong Kong as it's first-ever edition in the city
World Football Summit gathers Cannavaro, Ferdinand, Terry and other icons of the beautiful game to prove Asia's potential in its first event in the city.
HONG KONG, HONG KONG, June 23, 2025 / EINPresswire.com / -- The future of football is being written in Asia. It starts in Hong Kong.
World Football Summit (WFS) is set to redefine the global football landscape with its inaugural Hong Kong summit on September 2nd-4th, marking a pivotal moment where technology, culture, and strategic vision converge at the heart of Asia's football revolution.
As the Asian football market surges to a remarkable USD 7.187 billion, with digital engagement breaking records and investment opportunities expanding, this summit represents a critical junction in the sport's global narrative. The Asian Football Confederation has witnessed a 20% growth in digital followers, with website page views exploding by 258%—a testament to a market on the brink of unprecedented transformation.
'Our Hong Kong summit transcends a traditional conference,' explains Jan Alessie, Co-founder and Managing Director at World Football Summit. 'We're creating a global platform where football's most innovative minds will explore how East and West can reshape the beautiful game's future.'
The inaugural WFS Hong Kong, proudly supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, is designed to provide a platform where football legends meet tech innovators. Where East meets West. Where digital transformation isn't just discussed—it's demonstrated.
Part of the lineup reads like a football hall of fame, given the caliber of the legends that have confirmed their participation so far.
● Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United legend
● Fabio Cannavaro, 2006 Ballon d'Or winner, member of the 2006 WC winning team
● John Terry, Chelsea FC legend
● Romy Gai, Chief Commercial Officer, FIFA
● Javier Zanetti, Inter Milan Vice President and legend
● Carles Puyol, Barcelona legend and member of the 2010 World Cup winning team
● Davor Suker, former Croatian FA President, 1998 WC Golden Boot
● Fabio Capello, former football coach and player
● Pierluigi Collina, former famous referee and Chairman at FIFA Referee Committee
In addition to these global football icons, prominent local leaders will also be taking part in the event. These include:
● Dr. Allan Zeman, Chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group
● John Sharkey, CEO of Kai Tak Sports Park
● Crystal Wong, Vice President – Asset Management at K11 Concepts Limited
The full lineup of speakers will dive deep into the most critical questions facing football:
How do digital technologies redefine fan experiences? What are the new investment models in sports?
Hong Kong: a new hub for sports development?
The general summit themes are razor-sharp:
● Fan Engagement in the Digital Age
● Football's Cultural Crossroads
● East and West: Reimagining Football Relationships
● Digital Transformation and Innovation
'Hong Kong represents a unique gateway between global football markets,' added Filipe Gonçalves, Chairman at Asia Partners IFBD, WFS strategic partner in Asia. 'This summit is not just an event—it's a strategic bridge connecting diverse football ecosystems, positioning Asia at the forefront of the sport's next evolution.'
From broadcasting innovations to sustainable business models, from talent development to cross-continental investments, the WFS Hong Kong summit will provide an unparalleled platform for connection, insight, and strategic thinking. With an expected attendance of over 4,000 international industry professionals, more than 50 exhibitors and over 100 speakers, the event promises to be a defining moment in football's global evolution.
A dedicated fan zone will transform the event from a conference into a celebration. Interactive experiences, egaming, football skills competitions, classic memorabilia—this is where strategy meets passion.
Global football summit brought to Hong Kong for the first time, proudly supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board
World Football Summit Hong Kong 2025 is proudly supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. With the tremendous support, WFS is aimed to elevate the city's positioning as a premier destination for global sports business and innovation.
By supporting WFS, the Hong Kong Tourism Board reaffirms its commitment to attracting world- class international events and leveraging the power of football to enhance the city's global appeal, economic development, and regional influence within the Greater Bay Area. This partnership highlights the shared vision of making Hong Kong a central hub for the future of the sports industry in Asia and beyond.
Event Details:
● Date: 2nd-4th September,2025
● Location: AsiaWorld-Expo, HongKong
● Focus: Connecting the global football ecosystem
● Expected Attendance: 4,000+ international professionals
The future of football is being written. Will you read it or write it?
Contact and media accreditation:
Jaime Domínguez - Communications Director, World Football Summit
[email protected]
Marta Lop - Marketing Director APAC, World Football Summit
[email protected]
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.
About Asia Partners IFBD
Asia Partners IFBD is a premier investment IP company specialising in the sports sector. We focus on investing in innovative intellectual property (IP) concepts and collaborating with top- tier players in the industry. Our extensive network and expertise allow us to work alongside the best football players and organizations.
Enrique Vega
WORLD FOOTBALL SUMMIT
[email protected]
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
WTO grants Chinese request for panel on Canadian tariffs, trade official says
BERLIN (Reuters) -The dispute settlement body of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has agreed to a request from China for a panel regarding additional import duties imposed by Canada on certain Chinese products, a Geneva-based trade official said on Monday. (Writing by Friederike HeineEditing by Ludwig Burger)
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Nio (NIO) Could Climb 33% as Goldman Sachs Lifts Rating and Price Target
Goldman Sachs upgraded Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio (NIO, Financials) to Neutral from Sell and raised its 12-month price target to $3.80 from $3.70, citing recent cost-cutting measures and a decline in share price. The updated target implies a potential upside of about 9% from current levels. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Signs with NIO. Goldman Sachs analyst Tina Hou noted that Nio's efforts to reduce operating expenses by 20%25%including project cancellations, staff reductions, and streamlined operationscould support margin improvement of 4%10% over the next three years. Nio has faced challenges, including widening losses, a 21% year-to-date share price drop, and heightened competition from Tesla (TSLA, Financials) and BYD. Despite the upgrade, Goldman Sachs remains cautious. It cited weak demand, a high debt load, and reduced delivery expectations as ongoing risks. Nio's cash and investments declined from $5.7 billion to $3.6 billion in Q1 2025, underscoring balance sheet concerns. Wall Street maintains a Hold consensus on Nio stock, with two Buy, seven Hold, and one Sell ratings over the past three months. The average analyst price target is $4.58, suggesting a 33% upside. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NFL offseason power rankings: No. 27 New York Giants have a coach and GM on the hottest seat
Other NFL team previews: 32. Titans | 31. Saints | 30. Browns | 29. Panthers | 28. Jets Nobody had to put New York Giants coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen on the hot seat. Their boss did. Advertisement The Giants went 3-14 last season. Giants co-owner John Mara decided Daboll and Schoen deserved another season, but he didn't seem too excited about it. 'It better not take too long because I've just about run out of patience,' Mara said. "That'll be a good sound bite for you tonight, huh?" Mara's meeting with the media after the announcement that Daboll and Schoen would return was weird. It seemed apologetic. He said he knew it was "not the most popular decision" among Giants fans. His meeting with the media was to "face the music." His assessment of the 2024 Giants was that "we stunk this year." The tone was so funereal you'd have guessed Mara was forced into the decision, instead of being the one who made it. "I'm going to have to be in a better mood this time next year than I am right now," Mara said. Advertisement That set the tone for the Giants season. It's all about whether Daboll and Schoen can survive again. It won't be easy. The owner is on edge. The fan base was already there. The Giants' solution at quarterback was signing two veterans who weren't wanted back by their previous teams and drafting a quarterback who will need some work. On top of it all, the Giants have the toughest schedule in the NFL, and by a pretty wide margin based on the projected betting win totals of their opponents, via Sharp Football Analysis. It seems like Daboll and Schoen are dead men walking into a season with a roster that would need some help to get out of last place in the NFC East. So why bother bringing them back at all? Can New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll (left) and general manager Joe Schoen (right) show enough improvement this season to keep their jobs? (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Mara acknowledged the results weren't good enough, but gave Schoen credit for a good 2024 draft class and solid additions in free agency. Mara liked the way players still respond to Daboll, and he was the NFL's Coach of the Year just three seasons ago. It seemed in a way like Mara felt forced into being patient after the team went through four coaches, counting an interim, in six years after Tom Coughlin stepped down under pressure. The duo will need to show some progress this season, even if the record isn't that much better. Advertisement Jaxson Dart is the best path to showing that progress. Dart is an interesting first-round pick out of Ole Miss. He will take some time to learn an NFL offense, but he has enticing skills. Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston were signed before Dart was picked, and presumably Wilson will begin the season as the starter. If the Giants aren't much better than last season, the biggest question will be when to give Dart a shot. The reality is that decision will be made by a coach and general manager who are in self-preservation mode. Whatever is best for their survival will play a role in that decision. The Giants have a really good defensive line, a secondary that has gotten an influx of talent, a future star in receiver Malik Nabers and not much else. There's still a long way to go before the Giants are contenders again. Daboll and Schoen need some results this season to stick around for those better days. Offseason grade The Giants had a good draft last year and got top grades for their draft class this year. The Giants got the second-best consensus grade among draft analysts. Defensive end Abdul Carter didn't fill a need, because the Giants already had a strong defensive line, but he was an easy pick at No. 3 overall. The Giants traded up for quarterback Jaxson Dart in the first round, and he provides some hope for fixing a broken quarterback situation. The big free agent additions were cornerback Paulson Adebo and safety Jevon Holland, who should make the secondary better. Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston were signed to be stopgap solutions at quarterback, and neither is too exciting. Overall, it's clear to see the Giants' roster improving, and that will accelerate if Dart is a hit. Advertisement Grade: B+ Quarterback report The Steelers showed zero desire to bring Russell Wilson back. The Browns chose to sign 40-year-old Joe Flacco over matching the two-year, $8 million deal Jameis Winston got from the Giants. The Giants didn't have many great options at quarterback in free agency, and those two veterans will probably deliver predictable results. Wilson played pretty well for a few weeks for the Steelers last season but faded by the end, a reminder that his game isn't aging well as he approaches 37 years old. Winston is what he is, a sometimes exciting player who can't avoid turnovers. The odds of either starting through the season are long. Jaxson Dart should start at some point this season. He is a good athlete with a strong arm. Consistency can be an issue, but in college he was good at pushing the ball downfield and creating explosive plays. If the Giants get off to a slow start, it will be tough to resist the urge to speed up Dart's timetable and put him into the lineup. BetMGM odds breakdown From Yahoo's Ben Fawkes: 'The New York Giants signed QBs Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston this offseason, before drafting Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart in the first round in the 2025 NFL Draft. They're hoping to have the short- and long-term solutions at QB, but there's also a chance they have neither. With a win total of just 5.5 at BetMGM, the Giants' schedule is brutal – New York is favored in just one game and has the toughest schedule according to opponent win totals in the NFL. Will the defense be good enough to overcome the team's likely offensive shortcomings?" Yahoo's fantasy take From Yahoo's Scott Pianowski: "Malik Nabers is currently the WR7 off the board in Yahoo drafts. The market might be missing an opportunity here. New York's quarterback room is complicated, but at least things are upgraded from last year's medley of Daniel Jones, Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito. And the Brian Daboll scheme will force the ball to its best players — Nabers was second in the NFL in targets last year despite missing two games. Normally the goal with your early picks is to target the best players on the best teams, but Nabers is likely too big to fail. If you sneak him in the second half of your first round, you've done well." Stat to remember Malik Nabers, the sixth pick of last year's NFL Draft, was second in the NFL with 170 targets last season. Only Ja'Marr Chase, who won the receiving triple crown, had more with 175. Chase played two more games than Nabers, who played 15 games and had 10 or more targets in 10 of them. He had seven in his first game and never fewer than eight the rest of his rookie season. In other words, Nabers was the epicenter of the Giants' offense from his first day on the job. He was productive too, with 109 catches for 1,204 yards. The Giants did nothing to upgrade the receiving room in the offseason, meaning that there is little to keep a healthy Nabers from the rare level of 200 targets this season. As long as the Giants' quarterback play is reasonable, Nabers could lead the NFL in receptions and yards. Advertisement Burning question How will the Giants use all their pass rushers? Once Travis Hunter went with the second pick of the NFL Draft, the Giants didn't have much choice but to take Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter at No. 3. He was clearly the best player available, and would have been a reasonable first overall pick. But it did create some questions. The Giants already had two top edge rushers in Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. The Giants could use all three at once, pushing one of them inside. But the Giants don't want to limit any of those three talented players to less than 70% of the team's defensive snaps. Something has to give, though it is a good problem to have. Those three rushers along with elite defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II make up one of the best defensive lines in football, regardless of how the playing time is divvied up. Best-case scenario When the Giants made the playoffs in Brian Daboll's first season as coach, they caught a lot of breaks. The Giants won plenty of close games and then beat a similarly lucky Vikings team in the playoffs. Theoretically that could happen again, but it's unlikely. It's a roster that still has questions at secondary, offensive line, running back, receiver outside of Malik Nabers and linebacker outside of Bobby Okereke. And, of course, that lingering question at quarterback. Jaxson Dart could prove himself to be the answer at QB and if that's the only positive thing to happen for the Giants this season it would be a reason to celebrate. It's hard to envision the Giants being a playoff team. Maybe that will cost Daboll and Joe Schoen their jobs. But if Dart shows some promise, that might be enough for New York to feel good about its direction going forward and stick with the plan. To many Giants fans, that's not the best-case scenario. Advertisement Nightmare scenario The Giants' schedule is brutal. NFL analyst Warren Sharp had it as the toughest in the league based on sportsbooks' win totals, and the eye test confirms it. The Giants are favored in only one game all season (Week 5 at New Orleans). It's possible the Giants are buried by November, and there would be a lot of pressure on ownership to make a midseason change at coach and GM. It's possible Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen never get to experience Jaxson Dart starting a regular season game, if everything goes wrong. And it could. Outside of the obvious quarterback issues, the offensive line could be a problem again, the lack of playmakers other than Malik Nabers is glaring and a defense that was 28th in DVOA last season might not be much better. Trying to figure all of that out against the toughest schedule in the NFL will be a chore. The Giants went 3-14 last season, and they could easily be that bad again. Though if that happens, at least Giants fans would get their wish and see the team reset at coach and GM. The crystal ball says On one hand the Giants are getting better. They had a good offseason last year and this year's draft and free agency seemed to be strong as well. But there are still many holes, which speaks to how much work the roster needed even as the Giants made the playoffs in 2022. The Giants should want Jaxson Dart to sit as long as possible, though it will be tough to resist putting him in as the losses pile up. The team has a Week 14 bye, and giving Dart the final four games to show what he can do seems right. What happens in those final four games will be crucial in determining the future of the franchise, including the job status of the coach and general manager. The Giants are in for another losing season, and that seems more likely than not to be bad news for Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen. Dart might be able to save them, and reinvigorate the fan base, by showing some promise late in the season.
