The global football industry is gearing up for another milestone event. This time, the spotlight shines on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as it prepares to host the second edition of World Football Summit Asia in December 2023. We at World Football Summit are humbled and thrilled by the journey that awaits us.
Given Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a leading force in global sports, hosting WFS Asia here perfectly aligns with our mission to connect key regional football stakeholders with their international counterparts.
Saudi Arabia: The Rising Global Sports Powerhouse
When you think of Saudi Arabia, one might not immediately associate it with football. But the Kingdom is making strides in establishing itself as a global sports powerhouse. The country’s recent successful bids for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, along with attracting world-renowned talents such as Cristiano Ronaldo, are telling signs of its ambitions.
Our partnership with the Saudi Conglomerate Aljan & Bros and its event subsidiary SAT Events is a testament to this ambition. Together, we will host not only the upcoming summit but also the next four editions, cementing Saudi Arabia’s place in the global football landscape.
The words of Ajlan Bin Abdulaziz Alajlan, Chairman of Ajlan & Bros, resonate with our mission. He said,
“Bringing an event like World Football Summit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia perfectly aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030… We look forward to our partnership with World Football Summit, the premier platform for the football industry, and have high expectations for what we can achieve together over the upcoming years.”
Ajlan & Bros aims to create value to everyone, achieving three types of impacts:
- Positive economic impact
- Personal impact through their employees and clients
- Social impact through maintaining their heritage and legacy.
Founded in 1979 as a small shop in Riyadh, today it has become one of the most recognized Saudi companies, with 12.000 employees and presence in more than 15 countries.
This partnership symbolizes a shared commitment to harnessing the power of sport to unite people from all corners of the globe, create valuable commercial partnerships, and boost corporate tourism. It’s about growing the game sustainably and investing in the base of the football pyramid.
The Future of WFS Asia: An Annual Fixture on the Global Football Calendar
Since the inaugural World Football Summit in 2016, we’ve attracted over 22,000 attendees across 16 events and built a global community of 80,000+ sports industry executives. But numbers only tell part of the story. The true measure of our success lies in the connections made, the insights shared, and the progress sparked at these gatherings.
With the support of the Saudi Ministry of Sports, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), the Saudi Professional League, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), WFS Asia 2023 aims to unite all key stakeholders to foster growth and collaboration in the football industry, and become the leading of event of the football industry in the region
So, as we embark on this journey towards Riyadh for the second edition of World Football Summit Asia, we invite you to join us. Let’s explore the potential of the Asian football market together, leveraging our shared passion for the beautiful game to shape its future.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about football; it’s about people. It’s about how the world’s most popular sport can bridge gaps, create opportunities, and inspire us all to aim higher.
See you in Riyadh!
