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Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
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@ Marta Lop - Marketing Director APAC 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. 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.
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Rio Ferdinand on how his children didn't listen to his footballing advice
As a former England and Manchester United football player, Rio Ferdinand has an exceptional knowledge about the beautiful game. Yet when they were younger, his two eldest sons – both talented footballers themselves – wouldn't listen to their dad's footballing advice, preferring to follow only their coaches' tips and tactics. Advertisement 'Even though I played, when I told them about football when they were 12, 13, 14 years old, they were like 'What do you know?'', he recalls. 'They were listening to their football coach – who'd never played a league game in his life or been a professional – and coming in and saying 'But so-and-so said this dad'.' Footballer dad: Rio Ferdinand (James Cannon/Talking Futures:/PA) It's behaviour echoed up and down the land by kids who think their parents – whoever they are – know nothing, and Ferdinand stresses: 'So it's not just any old parent that thinks 'Oh, my kids don't listen' – even someone who's played at the level I played at, talking to my kids about football, it's the same, they'll listen to someone else. 'Because you're the parent, they see too much of you sometimes, so they don't want to hear it.' Advertisement Fortunately, Ferdinand, 46, says the two boys – Lorenz, 18, and Tate, 16, have started to take his footballing advice as they've got older, and it's served them well – Lorenz is a goalkeeper for Brighton and Hove Albion U21s (currently on loan to Havant & Waterlooville), and Tate is an U21 defender for Brighton too. 'I do think as they mature, they actually start understanding that you've been through this, whether it's education, sport or something else they're interested in, and they do start taking a little bit more notice of you as a parent, because they see the value in what you're saying, and that there's normally a lot of right to it,' says Ferdinand. And while both boys clearly hope their future career is in football, their dad is hoping his three other kids – Tia, 14, Cree, aged four, and Shae, almost two – will talk and listen to him about their future career paths when the time is right. And that's why he's combined his expert football knowledge with his concern for his kids' future to support the Talking Futures Career Transfer Hub, which gives parents access to information on their child's education options, just like football agents have transfer insiders, negotiators and scouts. Advertisement The hub, which has been launched in partnership with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation (the youth and community development charity set up by Ferdinand to create opportunities for young people), was started after a Talking Futures survey of parents revealed 96% feel responsible for helping their teen make decisions about their post-16 options, but over half (56%) don't feel equipped for the job because they're not familiar with newer qualifications like T-levels or HTQs. Plus, 46% say the advice they got when they were young feels outdated, and 39% are unsure about what employers are really looking for today. Ferdinand says: 'I think in most families you can talk about the stuff you like – music, entertainment, football, sports or whatever, and they're good, easy conversations, but a lot of the time when you're talking about education with your kids, as a parent you haven't really got a complete understanding of what's available, and your kids normally don't really want to talk to you about it, and they're not bothered about it as much as you'd like them to be.' Ferdinand – whose eldest three children were with his first wife Rebecca Ellison, who died from breast cancer in 2015, and two youngest are with his second wife Kate – admits he didn't know much about the post-16 education pathway before looking at the Talking Futures website, where he says 'you get filled with so much information, and get a lot of guidance, giving you the right steps available for your kids, but also educating yourself as a parent so you can then enable your kids to understand what's available and the avenues they can go down. Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kate Ferdinand (@xkateferdinand) 'It's about loading yourself up with all the answers for your child and for yourself to make sure no stone's left unturned. So when your kid makes a decision, they're going into it with a full understanding, having exhausted all the avenues and knowing they're ready to go. 'And that's a big confidence booster for a young person – most of them don't have an idea of what they want to do.' Ferdinand says his 14-year-old daughter Tia doesn't know what she wants to do after school yet – although it's unlikely to be anything to do with football, as living in such a fanatical footy household has 'turned her off it', he says with a smile. 'She's not got a clue what she wants to do,' he says, 'so that's why I can talk with complete confidence and understanding of a lot of parents sitting with their kids going 'we don't know what to do'. Advertisement 'So my daughter – do you push her down a certain route? Do you just give her the options? Do you make her understand a bit more what there is to be done? There's all these questions – it's definitely pricked my mind as a parent to approach these now so she's not going into her final year at school in even more unknown territory.' He adds: 'The problem is, for us as parents, we're used to what the post-16 pathway was like back in the day, when it was very limited, whereas now it opens them up to so many different industries and new stuff. 'So I think it's a valuable insight for parents to just have a look at what's available for their kids, and you'll go actually – surprisingly – there's a lot more at the fingertips of these kids. It's just unlocking it with a bit of information.' Rio Ferdinand has partnered with Talking Futures to launch the Career Transfer Hub , giving parents access to information on their child's education options.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Rio Ferdinand claims that £64m striker is 'waiting' for Man United to submit an offer - as Ruben Amorim looks to complete revamped attack
Rio Ferdinand believes that Victor Osimhen is 'waiting' for Manchester United to come in with an offer for him this summer. The Nigeria star looked to be close to joining Al-Hilal from Napoli after spending the season on loan with Galatasaray and pipping Jose Mourinho 's Fenerbahce side to the Super Lig crown. However reports suggest that the move to the Saudi Pro League is now off, leaving him once again back to square one seemingly. Meanwhile, United are looking to continue their summer rebuild after completing the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves last month. The Red Devils, who endured their worst-ever Premier League campaign last term, have been working on a deal to sign Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo. Even with those two additions, signing a No 9 is still a priority, given the confidence and quality issues that plagued Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee last season. Ferdinand believes that the perfect man for the job is Osimhen, who is understood to have a release clause of £64million. The Nigeria star looked to be close to joining Al-Hilal from Napoli after spending the season on loan with Galatasaray 'No.9, they already know who I want,' he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents. 'The comments know, the people know who I want, who I would go and get: Osimhen! 'It looks like he's turned down Al-Hilal… he must be waiting for Manchester United. 'I don't know if Manchester United are going to come. That's the problem.' Ruben Amorim's men have also been linked with a move for Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres, who has a stunning record in Portugal since his arrival two years ago. But his 54 goals and 12 assists in 52 matches don't appear to have impressed the United legend much. Ferdinand shared his view that the Swedish striker is 'not the guy' for the Old Trafford club. 'I don't think he's the guy,' said Ferdinand on his podcast earlier this month. 'I've not watched him loads [but] I've watched him probably three times really, really closely. 'And three times I've gone, "He ain't getting that opportunity in the Prem". When I see him physically matched, what else is there? 'Is there enough - after he's physically matched - to get him a goal?' Gyokeres has a €100m (£84m) release clause in his Sporting contract, but he is understood to have reached a gentleman's agreement with the club at the start of the season over a reduced asking price. The forward was promised that he could leave Sporting this summer for €60m (£51m), plus €10m (£8m) in add-ons, to take the overall transfer fee down to £59m. However, according to Portuguese outlet Record, Sporting's board are now seeking in the region of €80m (£67m) before allowing Gyokeres to move on.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Rio Ferdinand reveals Bruno Fernandes' admission after Man United captain rejected £700,000-PER-WEEK deal to join Al-Hilal
Rio Ferdinand has revealed he may have left Manchester United this summer if he was in Bruno Fernandes shoes and taken the lucrative money on offer in Saudi Arabia. Fernandes was heavily pursued by Saudi side Al-Hilal in the first transfer window this summer, with his suitors having made him their priority signing ahead of the Club World Cup. They were prepared to give the Portuguese playmaker a tax-free contract in the region of £700,000-a-week plus bonuses for him to move to the Middle East. Manchester United were also set to earn around £100million in the sale, but Fernandes rejected Al-Hilal's overtures to stay in England for now. Fernandes would have tripled his wages at Al-Hilal and speaking about the midfielder's decision, Ferdinand says he would have found it hard to resist but praised his loyalty for doing so. 'If I was him, I think I'd have found it difficult to say no. I've got to be honest, the former Red Devils defender told The Mirror. 'The one thing it says to me, there's a loyalty. And I think that word gets banded about quite a lot, but we don't really see it often from the club's point of view and the players. 'And listen, I understand it's a business. But I think he looks at this as pure, "I've got unfinished business at United. There's stuff I want to do here. Yes, I've been paid well here. The fans love me." But I think he's in the game of wanting to give back after all he's received. So I've got nothing but respect for him. I would have understood him leaving if he left, 100 per cent. 'But the fact that he stayed and said, listen, there's stuff for me still to do here. I think it's a testament to him as a person, but also another reason why the managers comfortably give him the armband.' During the Al-Hilal bid, Mail Sport revealed that Fernandes' agent, Miguel Pinho, spent three days at the Four Seasons hotel in Riyadh last week, where he held face-to-face talks with club officials. And earlier this month, Fernandes revealed why he decided against the move. 'The president of Al Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it,' he said. 'There was a waiting period for me to think about the future. As I have always said, I would be willing to do it if Manchester United thought so. 'I spoke to coach Ruben Amorim who, throughout that period, was very annoying to me not to go! The club said they would not be willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave, that it was not a financial issue. 'It [Al-Hilal's] was a very ambitious proposal. The president was a fantastic person. We never discussed the amount [initially]. With my agent? Of course. 'Then, I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career. She was someone who always supported me a lot. 'It was an easy move, even at a family level. I had Joao Cancelo there, my children are used to playing with him in the national team, we have a great friendship. 'But I want to maintain myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions, and I feel capable of it.'
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Rio Ferdinand feelings clear as Jim Ratcliffe forced to abandon Man Utd project
Manchester United finished 15th in the Premier League this season, and Rio Ferdinand has explained where the Red Devils should realistically look to finish in 2025/26 Rio Ferdinand has said that Manchester United should look to finish in the top six to eight of the Premier League next season. The Red Devils will be eager to quickly forget 2024/25, given they finished a dismal 15th in the league and failed to achieve silverware both domestically and in Europe. And while many managers may have had their future thrown into question given the lacklustre campaign, Ruben Amorim - who was only appointed in November following the sacking of Erik ten Hag - has seemingly been given the benefit of the doubt by the board. The Portuguese tactician was forced to work with a mismatched squad that he inherited when he entered Old Trafford. And, following Ten Hag's spending spree on the likes of Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Light inlast summer, limited funds were available in January for Amorim to start his own rebuilding project. There were also fears of failing PSR regulations if they continued to spend frivolously. As a result, Amorim was only able to bring in Patrick Dorgu from Lecce for £25.1million, as well as Arsenal youngster Ayden Heaven in a deal thought to be around the £1m mark. However, it appears as though Amorim will be backed by the board this summer to recruit suitable players for his system, with United already splurging £62.5m on Matheus Cunha from Wolves in the early transfer window. And while there's still a lot of work to be done in terms of bringing in fresh faces, club legend Ferdinand has given his take on where United should finish next season should Amorim get the players he yearns for. Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football, the 46-year-old said: "I think if you finish 15th this year, United have got to be looking to finish in at least the top eight, top six. "I don't think you should be looking outside of that. And that's from someone who only thought about winning the league at United. So it's a big come-down in that sense." Ferdinand also agreed that Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Project 150 plans were a little far-fetched at present. The INEOS chair and Red Devils minority shareholder had initially planned to see his club win the league by 2028 in line with its 150th anniversary, but the stark reality is that Amorim may need more time than that to work his magic and slowly but surely build United back to the Premier League giants they were under Sir Alex Ferguson. While an insider told the Mirror back in March that Amorim "felt he could get more from the current squad when he came in," they added: "There's no getting away from the fact that overall it's been a really tough watch - and that it's going to take a lot of time and patience to get the team to where they should be. You've got to be brave or foolish to think winning the league by 2028 is doable from where United currently are." This, coupled with continually growing rivals in terms of talent, may force Ratcliffe to abandon his ambitious Project 150 plans altogether as United plan for a less turbulent future. It comes as Ferdinand recently launched his Career Transfer Hub with Talking Futures, with hopes of bridging the gap between teenagers and parents for planning their own futures. Speaking about the initiative, he said: "I think it's about empowering kind of families to talk more about education, especially parents. I think we're comfortable talking about a lot of things, i.e. football, a lot of the time in and around the front room or across the table with your kids, but getting that kind of common ground when you're talking about education, sometimes it's quite difficult, even I've found it difficult at times. "So something like this is definitely a good way in and a good avenue in to kind of having those conversations about what's next in your life, education wise, where do you see yourself going? What paths are you looking at? "And this is a great, I think, avenue for parents to really kind of touch the paper and go, right, listen, here we go, and start walking their kids down the right path, giving them a little bit of autonomy over it, but also guide them a little bit at the same time. So I wish I'd had this when I was younger - although I had football, which I was quite fortunate with." Rio Ferdinand has partnered with Talking Futures to launch the Career Transfer Hub – giving parents access to information on their child's education options just like football agents have transfer insiders, negotiation teams and career scouts. You can find out more here. Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
