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.
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
Jan
Aleesie
Marian
Otamendi
Marian
Otamendi
Paloma
F. Niembro
Paloma
F. Niembro
Cristina
Morena Sánchez
Cristina
Morena Sánchez
Paco
Roche
Paco
Roche
Zayd
Shehadeh
Zayd
Shehadeh
Jan
Aleesie
Jan
Aleesie
Marian
Otamendi
Marian
Otamendi
General Inquiries
For general questions about World Football Summit, our events, or the platform reach us at:
Partnership Inquiries
For brands, organisations, and institutions interested in partnering with WFS, send us an email at:
Media Inquiries
For press requests, interviews, and media-related information drop us a line at:
Press & Brand Resources
Official World Football Summit materials for media and institutional use.
Mission
Vision
Values
At World Football Summit, we don’t just talk
about football’s future, we actively shape it.
Join our international team as we connect continents,
industries, and ideas to drive the game forward.
Jan Alessie
Cofounder & Managing Director – WFS
Our passionate team is at the forefront
of shaping ‘the football we want,
the football we need’. Will you join us?
Marian Otamendi
Cofounder & CEO – WFS
At World Football Summit, we don’t just talk about football’s future, we actively shape it. Join our international team as we connect continents, industries, and ideas to drive the game forward.
Jan Alessie
Managing Director – WFS
Our passionate team is at the forefront
of shaping ‘the football we want,
the football we need’. Will you join us?
Marian Otamendi
Co-funder & CEO – WFS