From Madrid to the World: 10 Years Connecting the Football Industry

World Football Summit was born in Madrid in 2016, at a moment when football was beginning to change faster than the structures surrounding it. The industry was growing in scale, complexity and global reach, but its conversations remained fragmented. Clubs, leagues, federations, brands, investors and innovators were all moving in the same direction, yet rarely sharing the same room.

The idea behind WFS was simple: create a space where the entire football industry could come together and speak openly, across sectors, interests, and geographies. What started as a single event in Spain quickly revealed a clear reality. The industry was increasingly demanding a common platform where ideas could meet, be challenged, and move forward.

timeline

Over the years, that initial annual gathering in Madrid evolved into a global series of summits, expanding to new regions while keeping the same principle at its core: remain open, neutral, and inclusive. By giving the same relevance to established institutions and emerging players, to global organisations and specialised voices, this approach firmly established WFS’s credibility across the industry.

Today, World Football Summit is not defined by a single event or location. It is a global meeting point for the football industry, where connections translate into business growth and where the essence of the game remains central to that expansion.

Meet The team

Jan

Aleesie

Cofunder & Managin Director

Jan

Aleesie

Jan Alessie is the Co-founder and Managing Director of World Football Summit (WFS), a global platform for the football industry. Since its inception in 2016, WFS has hosted over 27 events across four continents, bringing together leaders from clubs, leagues, and organizations to discuss the future of football. Alessie oversees the company’s operations, strategic partnerships, and international expansion.

Marian

Otamendi

CEO

Marian

Otamendi

Paloma

F. Niembro

Project Director

Paloma

F. Niembro

Cristina

Morena Sánchez

Marketing & Business Development Director

Cristina

Morena Sánchez

Paco

Roche

Communications Director

Paco

Roche

Zayd

Shehadeh

Commercial Director

Zayd

Shehadeh

Jan

Aleesie

Jan

Aleesie

Jan Alessie is the Co-founder and Managing Director of World Football Summit (WFS), a global platform for the football industry. Since its inception in 2016, WFS has hosted over 27 events across four continents, bringing together leaders from clubs, leagues, and organizations to discuss the future of football. Alessie oversees the company’s operations, strategic partnerships, and international expansion.

Marian

Otamendi

Marian

Otamendi

General Inquiries

For general questions about World Football Summit, our events, or the platform reach us at:

📩 info@worldfootballsummit.com

Partnership Inquiries

For brands, organisations, and institutions interested in partnering with WFS, send us an email at:

📩 partnerships@worldfootballsummit.com

Media Inquiries

For press requests, interviews, and media-related information drop us a line at:

📩 press@worldfootballsummit.com

Press & Brand Resources

Official World Football Summit materials for media and institutional use.

Mission

To connect, inspire, and drive the global football industry forward by creating platforms for business, knowledge sharing, innovation, and purpose-driven impact.

Vision

To shape a more sustainable, inclusive, and innovative football ecosystem by empowering professionals, fostering meaningful partnerships, and amplifying initiatives that leave a lasting legacy for the sport and society.

Values

We promote values that define our essence: Connection, Innovation, Integrity, Purpose, Excellence, Community, Inclusion, and Sustainability.

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