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Voices that shape the Future of Football

World Football Summit brings together the most influential figures across the global football ecosystem—visionary leaders, bold innovators, and changemakers who are redefining how the game is played, governed, and experienced.

Top voices at World Football Summit

Top voices at
World Football Summit

Grace

Ahrens

Executive Director – Women in Soccer

Grace

Ahrens

Grace Ahrens is the Executive Director of Women in Soccer, an organization committed to creating opportunities for women and people with underrepresented gender identities who work (or want to work) in soccer. Growing up in Mexico and with over 10 years of experience in workforce development, branding and media, she brings a deep understanding of diversity and expertise in driving inclusive solutions.

Hammad

Albalawi

Head of the Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup™ 2034 bid unit at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation – Saudi Arabian Football Federation

Hammad

Albalawi

Hammad Albalawi leads Saudi Arabia’s FIFA World Cup 2034 bid, aiming to host the first 48-team tournament in a single nation under the slogan “Growing. Together.” Previously, he was Assistant Deputy Minister for Strategic Planning & Investment at the Ministry of Sport, overseeing the National Sports and Football Strategies. He also led the privatization of state-owned sports assets, boosting investment appeal and managing IP projects like the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Lisa

Baird

Commissioner- NWSL.

Lisa

Baird

“Lisa Baird was named commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League in February 2020. Most recently, she served as the chief marketing officer for New York Public Radio, a position she had held since 2018. Prior to her time with WNYC, Baird spent nearly a decade as the chief marketing officer of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. From 2005-2007, Baird served as senior vice president of marketing and consumer products for the National Football League.”

Giorgio

Chiellini

Head of Football Institutional Relations – Juventus Football Club

Giorgio

Chiellini

I’m a professional former football player, transitioning now in the management position. Part of Common Goal and other social initiatives.

Didier

Drogba

Founder Didier Drogba Foundation

Didier

Drogba

Didier Yves Drogba Tébily is an Ivorian retired professional footballer who played as a striker. He is the all-time top scorer and former captain of the Ivory Coast national team.

Al

Guido

President – Elevate Ventures

Al

Guido

President of the San Francisco 49ers on February 15, 2016. Guido oversees all key business initiatives for the team. Guido also concurrently serves as the Chairman and CEO of Elevate Sports Ventures, which – launched in 2018 – works to bring comprehensive business solutions to the sports and entertainment industry that identify new revenue opportunities and bring new, innovative ideas to market.

Gianni

Infantino

President – FIFA

Gianni

Infantino

Before being elected FIFA President, Gianni Infantino was the UEFA General Secretary since October 2009, having joined the organisation in 2000. He led a team of over 400 staff which has helped further strengthen both national team and club football in Europe and UEFA’s role as a respected and credible international governing body.

Dato’ Windsor

John

General Secretary – AFC

Dato’ Windsor

John

Tim

Leiweke

Co-Founder and CEO-Oak View Group

Tim

Leiweke

Tim Leiweke is a leader and veteran in the sports and entertainment industry with more than 35 years experience spanning multiple teams, leagues, and facility developments around the world. No one else has been recognized on both the Billboard Top 100 People in the Music Business and the Most Influential Sports Executives by the Sports Business Journal in the same year.

Mauricio

Macri

President of the FIFA Foundation – FIFA

Mauricio

Macri

Mauricio Macri, former President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019, who also served two terms as Mayor of Buenos Aires and President of Boca Juniors Club on three occasions, is the Executive Chairman at the FIFA Foundation. In his current capacity, Macri is dedicated to leveraging the unifying power of football and the educational opportunities it presents to empower youth, foster positive change, and pave the way for a promising future on a global scale.

Charlie

Marshall

Managing Director- European Club Association- ECA

Charlie

Marshall

In his role as Managing Director of ECA, Charlie Marshall manages the daily operations of ECA and together with the leadership team works hand in hand with ECA’s members and key stakeholders on a wide range of strategic, commercial and political matters. He joined the organisation in November 2018 with a background of high-level international executive experience at the intersection of sports, media and technology.

Juan

Mata

Football Legend & Co-Founder at Common Goal

Juan

Mata

Víctor

Montigliani

President of CONCACAF & Vice President of the FIFA Council.

Víctor

Montigliani

Peter

Moore

Owner – Santa Barbara Sky Football club

Peter

Moore

Currently the Owner of Santa Barbara Sky Football Club, Peter Moore brings his vast experience from many leadership roles in major sports and entertainment brands like Liverpool FC, EA Sports, etc to the local football scene. His passion now lies in building a successful and community-focused club.

Ronaldo

Nazário

Chairman – Real Valladolid C.F.

Ronaldo

Nazário

Ronaldo Nazário de Lima has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of Real Valladolid since 28th of September, 2018. In his sporting career, he won The World Football Championship with Brazil, in 1994 and 2002. He also was awarded three times with the FIFA World Player, and another two times with the Golden Ball.

Cindy

Parlow-Cone

President – US Soccer Federation

Cindy

Parlow-Cone

The first female President of U.S. Soccer, Cindy Parlow Cone was re-elected to a four-year term on March 5, 2022, and is currently one of only seven female Federation presidents across FIFA’s 211 member associations.

Heidi

Pellarano

Chief Commercial Officer – CONCACAF

Heidi

Pellarano

Responsible for leading the Commercial division. In this capacity, Pellerano is responsible for developing and managing strategic partnerships to maximize the commercial opportunities of the organization. She has direct oversight of the departments of Strategy, Business Development, Partnership Marketing, Digital and Emerging Technologies, Media Distribution, and Broadcast Productions. She is also a member of the executive leadership of the Confederation.

Khalida

Popal

Founder & Director – Girl Power Organisation

Khalida

Popal

Khalida Popal – Football Pioneer, Activist & Author Khalida Popal is an award-winning Afghan football pioneer, activist, and founder of Girl Power Organisation. She has dedicated her career to promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls through sports. As the former captain and co-founder of the Afghanistan Women’s National Team, she became a leading voice for Afghan women’s rights in football.

Ralf

Reicher

Co-CEO – ESL Gaming.

Ralf

Reicher

Ralf has grown up loving to compete. In video games, football or any other sport. While still going to university he joined forces with his brothers and friends and founded the now world-renowned clan, SK Gaming. Making a name of himself in the community he came across a group of young entrepreneurs from Cologne with whom he founded and grew ESL to the largest esports company in the world. Ralf’s belief that video games as the most exciting entertainment medium available today.

Sir Martin

Sorrell

Executive Chairman – S4 Capital

Sir Martin

Sorrell

«WPP-founder Sir Martin is a global leader in the marketing and communications industry and his talk will be one of the must-see events at this year’s summit. Sir Martin turned WPP into the world’s largest advertising and marketing services company in a remarkable 33-year stint at the helm of the company before moving on to launch S4 Capital in 2018.

Muhammad

Yunus

Peace Nobel Laureate 2006 & Chairman – Yunus Sports Hub

Muhammad

Yunus

Recipient of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, Professor Muhammad Yunus is the founder of the first institution who offered microcredits, and the father of the social business movement – two concepts that have now been replicated in most of the countries around the world. Over the last 40 years, Muhammad Yunus has created a large network of experts, now present in over 150 countries, helping to solve social issues and improving the lives of millions of people through social business in all the major industries.

Top football voices Leading the future of the game

Top football voices
Leading the future of the game

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