Passion Meets Innovation: Hong Kong's Leap into Football's Future
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 and more than 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, Hong Kong
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?
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Football Summit.
Contact and media accreditation:
Jaime Domínguez -
Communications Director,
World Football Summit
press@worldfootballsummit.com
Marta Lop -
Marketing Director APAC
World Football Summit
marta.lop@worldfootballsummit.com
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.
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The National
3 hours ago
- The National
19 books The National's staff are reading this summer
From award-winning reads and books set everywhere from a sleepy English village to imperial China, to sporting memoirs and business guides, The National 's reading list this summer is rather varied. Our staff share the literary treats they are savouring this season. Below are our favourite reads, arranged by year of release. 1. The Last Bell: Life, Death and Boxing by Donald McRae (2025) After 50 years of covering boxing, Donald McRae's long-awaited sequel to the revered 1996 Dark Trade is less a love letter than it is a confession. McRae never shies away from confronting the grim realities that endure from his first book, whether it be criminality, corrupt judging, doping or the extreme physical and mental toll on competitors. As before, he finds solace in the company of fighters, telling their remarkable stories and trying to understand the mentality of those who inflict and receive trauma for money. Back in 1996 it was James Toney, Mike Tyson, Naseem Hamed and Chris Eubank Sr. For the modern day, it is Tyson Fury, 'Canelo' Alvarez, Oleksandr Usyk and Katie Taylor. By contrasting the virtues of the fighters with the cruelty of their profession, McRae examines his own uneasy relationship with the sport, while also getting to the heart of what makes boxing simultaneously thrilling and appalling. As the American broadcaster Larry Merchant once said: 'Nothing will kill it, and nothing can save it.' 2. The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong (2025) Much like his semi-autobiographical first novel, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, The Emperor of Gladness is not an easy read, either in subject matter or in narrative style. Vuong, a celebrated poet, plays with words and tone in such creatively satisfying ways, you're forced to pay attention and lose yourself in his broken yet enchanting world. Vuong tells the story, set in a fictional town called East Gladness in Connecticut, the US, of Hai, a 19-year-old who at the beginning decides to take his own life by jumping off a bridge. But he's distracted by an 82-year-old woman, Grazina, living near the river who convinces Hai, at least for the night, not to go through with his purpose. The two then form an unlikely friendship, both haunted by their shared troubled pasts – Grazina is a Lithuanian immigrant suffering from dementia, while Hai, the child of Vietnamese refugees, is an addict in remission. Together they play the cards life has dealt them, even if it's pockmarked with loss and pain, in a story that is darkly comedic, and sad but ultimately hopeful. David Tusing, assistant features editor 3. The Singularity by Balsam Karam (2024) The first novel published in English by Balsam Karam, a Swedish author of Kurdish descent, is built for the moment. It's set in a fictional coastal city amid rapid development, divided into zones for the rich and poor, "half obscured by skyscrapers and half left to the desert". On its corniche, two mothers meet – one who has lost her daughter. Blending themes of assimilation and modern parenthood with the plight of refugees, the book is full of twists, turns and lively, experimental prose. It may not be an ideal beach read, but this challenging but rewarding short work will stay with you long after you finish it. William Mullally, arts & culture editor 4. The Shortest History of Migration by Ian Goldin (2024) How and why humans have shifted around the globe is the foundation of every nation, according to this concise yet surprisingly wide-reaching book by Ian Goldin. At about 250 pages, The Shortest History of Migration races through history, yet outlines, clearly and simply, the ways humans and other now-extinct hominids have been on the move since the dawn of time, driven by a shared impulse. From a shared common ancestor, Homo heidelbergensis, which roamed across several continents 700,000 years ago, to Homosapiens (us) venturing to Southern China up to 85,000 years ago, we have always been on the move. History is marked by mass migration, from the abhorrent slave trade that shipped more than 12 million people from African countries to the Americas, to the four million Europeans who emigrated to Brazil in the period between the two world wars. So, why is this relevant? We seem to delight in inflicting violence on one another, and at the time of writing there are wars and invasions raging across the planet, with the brutality framed around notions of difference and otherness. What this book helps to underscore is that, despite an insistence that we are all different, science highlights how we are all intertwined, with even the long-vanished Neanderthals and Denisovans still lingering in our DNA. It is a fascinating look at how we all follow similar patterns and share common ambitions, and as such is a message that feels vitally important right now. Sarah Maisey, deputy Luxury editor 5. Stakeholder Whispering by Bill Shander (2024) There are plenty of books out there on client relations, but this one more than delivers. In Stakeholder Whispering, Bill Shander offers a compelling look at a simple truth – what people ask for is often not what they actually need. Through clear examples and structured insights, Shander shows how to shift from simply taking orders to uncovering the intent behind them. For anyone working with clients, colleagues or senior executives, the book provides smart communication tools to help you not only get better answers, but also learn how to ask the right questions. In a crowded field, Stakeholder Whispering stands out for being thoughtful, practical and refreshingly empathetic. Laura Koot, managing editor 6. Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, its Cover-up, and his Disastrous Choice to Run Again, by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson (2024) Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson's book on the unravelling of Joe Biden's re-election campaign last year is meticulously researched and compelling. The 'original sin' of the book's title was, according to the authors, Mr Biden's decision to stand in 2024, one that was compounded by efforts to disguise what they term as his 'cognitive diminishment'. The authors assembled a vast cast of sources and interviews – they estimate that about 200 people took part, including White House officials and others who had a ringside seat – to lay out their findings and support the book's provocative title. The body of evidence presented on Tapper and Thompson's pages is almost vertigo-inducing, but their conclusion is by turns unsettling and thought-provoking. The authors refer to the Watergate scandal as an example of a large-scale, presidential-level cover-up, before declaring that what happened in 2024 was entirely different to that. Chumming the waters in such a fashion may appear to sensationalise what happened last year, but it also forces the reader to reach their own judgment about what it all means for the future of US politics. Nick March, assistant editor-in-chief 7. Good Material by Dolly Alderton (2023) Overwhelmed by the events unfolding around the world, I needed to pick up a title that provided an escape from the news. Dolly Alderton's Good Material, about an amateur comedian who is blind-sided after his long-term girlfriend breaks up with him, is a sweet romantic comedy that provides just that. Even though, personally, I preferred the female perspective on heartbreak – which only comes in much later – it also offers a very real look at how men process a breakup. In a light-hearted and wholesome read, Alderton's ability to keep her characters real and relatable is refreshing, and even though this was the first book I read by this author, I look forward to checking out more of her works. Aarti Jhurani, sub-editor, features 8. How to End a Story: Collected Diaries, 1978–1998 by Helen Garner (2021) While reading the Australian writer Helen Garner's autobiographical works, I have copied out long paragraphs to myself in recent months from this and her other diary volumes (Yellow Notebook; One Day I'll Remember This). Garner seems to think she's a so-so talent but her brilliance shines through. Hers is a rich inner life. Her observations on everything – domesticity, betrayal, humour, jealousy, Sydney life, Melbourne life – might make you want to look up the publisher to get her email address and send her a thank you note for putting this stuff down. Hers are the sort of journals you want to return to, to savour again some of the startling, piercing paras on self-examination, and also the zingers: "I wish I could have a clean heart. Mine's like an ashtray." 9. The Appeal by Janice Hallett (2021) An untimely death sends shockwaves through a sleepy English village – and threatens to upend an eagerly awaited amateur dramatics production for good measure. It might sound like the plot of a classic Miss Marple murder mystery, but Janice Hallett's The Appeal offers an inventive twist on the beloved whodunit genre, or in this instance, more of a "did they do it?" Traditional prose takes a backseat as the reader is asked to piece together an intriguing puzzle by way of a collection of letters, emails and text messages being combed through by two young law students charged with solving a suspected miscarriage of justice. The digital dialogue helps to increase suspense as the list of potential killers mounts up, with no shortage of unreliable narrators to contend with. The novel storytelling device makes for an engrossing page-turner and has served as a template for the author's subsequent bestsellers. Chris Maxwell, deputy national editor 10. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (2021) Mother-daughter relationships aren't always perfect and they are most certainly full of complexities. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner is a moving and beautifully written memoir that explores grief and identity as Zauner – best known as the lead singer of indie pop band Japanese Breakfast – shares her experience in dealing with the loss of her Korean mother while reconnecting with her cultural heritage. The book resonates deeply with anyone who has faced loss or struggled to bridge cultural gaps in their family. Zauner's honest reflections are interwoven with rich descriptions of Korean food, highlighting how meals become a powerful thread linking her to memories, love and identity. More than a story about mourning, it's also a celebration of family and resilience. Evelyn Lau, assistant features editor 11. The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You, by Dina Nayeri (2019) When this book was published in 2019, the global refugee crisis had reached unprecedented levels, with more than 70 million people forcibly displaced, according to the UN. By April of this year, that figure had soared to 122 million, equal to the 12th most populous country in the world. The scale of the problem is staggering. Dina Nayeri does not offer policy solutions. Instead, the author's compelling message is that refugees deserve dignity and the freedom to tell their stories in full – not have them reshaped to meet western expectations of gratitude. Blending her personal memoir with investigative reporting, Nayeri recounts her own journey from Iran to the West while weaving in stories from other displaced people across Europe. She shines a light on the emotional toll of asylum interviews, the dehumanisation of refugee camps and the pressure to express thankfulness in exchange for sanctuary. With anti-immigration sentiment rising in many western nations, this book is especially relevant in 2025. It powerfully challenges the idea that survival must come at the cost of silence or submission. The sequel to the British historian's award-winning The Silk Roads picks up where its predecessor left off, on the premise that the history of civilisation is riddled with western bias. Frankopan's mission is to change perspectives, driving readers to look at Persepolis and Babylon, rather than Rome and Athens, as the focal points of antiquity. 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Although it is a romantic tale, it never veers into sentimentality and there are many sharp reminders of the appalling suffering inflicted upon the Greek people during these years. Even its moments of comedy are balanced by the reality of war: when we meet Bunny Warren, a British spy parachuted on to Cephalonia, we are amused by his attempts to communicate with the island's villagers by speaking ancient Greek. His murder by communist rebels later in the book is a sombre moment. In our fraught times, Captain Corelli's Mandolin is an important reminder of the price ordinary people pay during war. Declan McVeigh, leader writer 18. King, Warrior, Magician, Lover by Robert L Moore and Douglas Gillette (1990) Do you know what it takes to be a mature, well-rounded man? 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Khaleej Times
5 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
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Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli welcomed as "good news" on Friday the discovery of large methane gas reserves in the Himalayan nation in a joint study with China. "The news that there are 112 billion cubic metres of gas... is good news," Oli said in a Facebook post. The Department of Mines and Geology said the gas was discovered in the western district of Dailekh. "This is an initial estimate. Lab tests of the samples will give more information on the characteristics of the reserve," Prakash Luitel, a geologist at the department, told AFP. The study was conducted with the government-run China Geological Survey. "The final report is expected in December. We will then get better information for the next stage," said the mines and geology department's spokesman Mukunda Bhattarai. He said drilling was done at a depth of up to 4,013 metres (13,166 feet). Petroleum products remain landlocked Nepal's top import despite Kathmandu boosting energy production in recent years through a dam-building spree. Nepal spent more than $1.5 billion on petroleum products over the past 10 months, accounting for nearly 16 percent of total imports, according to central bank data.
Khaleej Times
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- Khaleej Times
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The crypto markets have been a bit shaky lately, thanks to even more geopolitical uncertainty. But what I haven't seen before — and what's been filling me with a new sense of pride and wonder — is Bitcoin holding steady. Really steady. In my short time exploring this space, that kind of stability is unheard of. Of course, it could crash by the time this is published, which got me thinking about one of the most common fears people who don't understand Bitcoin still cling to: 'What if it goes to zero?' However, it's a fear I no longer have. Let's rewind. I like to look up older prices of Bitcoin in times of uncertainty. But the prices can't be too old, or I start feeling sorry for myself that it took me so long to start investing. (Imagine buying Bitcoin on February 21, 2014, when it bottomed at $111.60 after the Mt Gox crypto exchange went bankrupt.) Eighteen months ago, Bitcoin was around $42,000 — up dramatically from $25,000 in September 2023. All it takes is a quick glance at the charts to see how dramatically Bitcoin has outperformed other, more traditional investing avenues like the S&P or gold, since its inception in 2009. And lately, it's starting to feel — dare I say — much less volatile, too. For those of us paying attention, that's a big deal. Because what happens when the asset once criticised for its volatility is no longer volatile — just as everyone from Pakistan to the US company GameStop wants it? Michael Saylor, co-founder of MicroStrategy, now Strategy, which is one of the world's biggest Bitcoin holders, said it plainly in a Bloomberg interview this month: 'Winter is not coming back. We're past that phase. If Bitcoin's not going to zero, it's going to $1 million.' His confidence rests on the core principles of Bitcoin, which include scarcity, immutability and resistance to inflation, along with steadily growing demand. More nations are signalling openness to Bitcoin and companies across the globe are adding it to their balance sheets. I didn't really expect this kind of shift. Like many others, I was just curious and figured I'd just sell some to capitalise if the value went up. But starting in summer 2024, I noticed the smartest-seeming people in this space started announcing: they have no plans to sell their Bitcoin. Ever. (To quote Saylor's February post on X: 'Sell a kidney if you must; but keep the Bitcoin.') But how can you use it, I wondered? The answer to that question is becoming obvious. There's an entire financial ecosystem developing around Bitcoin — one where you can benefit from ownership, and its potential growth, without ever having to let go of it. That part takes some mental rewiring, too. You have to forget everything you think you know about finance. I won't pretend to grasp all the technical stuff, but there are a few practical ways people are using their Bitcoin — and they actually make a lot of sense. One is crypto-backed loans. You use your Bitcoin as collateral to get a loan in regular money (or stablecoins), so you can cover expenses or invest while still holding on to your BTC. When you pay back the loan with interest, your Bitcoin is returned to you. It's a simple idea, and platforms like Strike and Milo in the US are already offering these tools. The interest rates will seem very high, but given BTC's forecasted growth, this is no payday loan scheme. I recently heard John Vasquez, a trusted US crypto voice, talking about borrowing at 14 per cent to fund a cash-flow business. He expected to pay it off in 10 months — and felt confident doing it. Then there are people like Mark Moss, founder of Market Disruptors, who spoke at Bitcoin Mena in Abu Dhabi last year. He's built an entire five-year retirement strategy for mere mortals around Bitcoin loans. His theory? Accumulate Bitcoin, borrow against it as it grows and skip tax events by never selling — keeping the principal intact. Some are using these loans to buy real estate or invest in other assets. Others are covering their living costs while their Bitcoin (hopefully) continues to appreciate. Of course, if the market drops, there's always the risk of liquidation, which is scary. Another method that's catching on: earning passive income by depositing Bitcoin on reputable platforms, where it functions like an interest-bearing account. These platforms lend your BTC to institutional borrowers and pay you a portion of the interest. (Just like a bank would with regular money) Sounds good in theory — but it does mean leaving your crypto on an exchange, which many in the space advise against. I'm still figuring that one out. For those who want to ease in, there are crypto-linked debit and credit cards, which let you borrow against your Bitcoin and pay off the balance monthly — just like a regular credit card. I have my eye on that option, although I don't see it yet in the UAE. One product I can see myself using: the new Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card, launching in the US this autumn. It's a partnership between Coin base and American Express, offering four per cent back in Bitcoin on every purchase. Bitcoin as the new air miles? On that one, when I can get it, I'm all in. Bitcoin might still feel fringe or futuristic, but what's clear to me is this: the ecosystem is growing, the tools are evolving, and the more I learn, the more I want to know.
