Insights

Next event: Madrid, 15-16 September

Next event: Madrid, 15-16 September.

Exclusive interviews, professional analysis, and long-form features with football industry leaders, alongside the latest updates on WFS events and initiatives.

The Game of Life: Ornella Desiree Bellia on Resilience, Football, and Why She’s Attending WFS Madrid

September 10, 2026

Michele Kang Makes History as First Woman to Win the WFS Award for Best Executive

September 3, 2026

Raphaël Lestienne: “The more refined the technology, the less fans and organizers feel its presence”

September 3, 2026

Report: Football 2016-2026, Chapter 10: ESG and Social Impact

September 3, 2026

Report: Football 2016-2026, Chapter 9: Performance, Science and Talent Development

August 27, 2026

CMG’s Maria Karlsson De Cecco on Why Former Players Belong in Football’s Boardrooms

August 27, 2026

Report: Football 2016–2026, Chapter 8: Football, Geopolitics and Global Power

August 20, 2026

Meet the WFS Awards 2026 Finalists

August 20, 2026

Keko Martínez: from second division pitches to planning over €500 million in wealth

August 20, 2026

Keko Martínez: de los campos de Segunda a planificar más de 500 millones de euros en patrimonio

August 20, 2026

Report: Football 2016–2026, Chapter 7: Commercial Strategy & Intellectual Property

August 13, 2026

Javier Tebas Opens Up in the Inaugural Edition of New Interview Series “The Fan Behind…”

August 11, 2026

El presidente de LaLiga Javier Tebas inaugura nueva serie de entrevistas “The Fan Behind…”

August 11, 2026

Report: Football 2016–2026, Chapter 6: Competition Formats & Alternative Models

August 6, 2026

MATINAL founders on why football needs to “separate culture from performance”

August 6, 2026

WFS and Substack team up to champion a new era of sports media

August 5, 2026

Formula 1’s Liam Parker to Speak at WFS Madrid 2026, as F1 Becomes First “Guest Sport” of the Summit

July 30, 2026

GIS x WFS Scholarship Partnership at WFS Madrid 2026

July 30, 2026

New Report: Football 2016–2026, Chapter 5: Broadcasting, Rights and Distribution

July 30, 2026

Report: Football 2016–2026, Chapter 4: The Business Case for Women’s Football

July 23, 2026

Simon Chadwick: “World Cup 2026 will be remembered as a structural tipping point: a US-style operating model is now programmed into FIFA’s DNA”

July 22, 2026

Report: Football 2016-2026, Chapter 3: The Stadium Economy

July 16, 2026

“AI will change everything about football… except the 90 minutes”

July 16, 2026

Pedro Pinto returns as MC for WFS Madrid 2026

July 16, 2026

New Report: Football 2016–2026 – Chapter 2: From passion project to asset class

July 9, 2026

The Female Leaders Programme will reach new heights at WFS Madrid’s Tenth Anniversary edition

July 9, 2026

Thibaut Courtois to Discuss Athlete Investment at WFS Madrid 2026

July 2, 2026

New Report – Football 2016–2026: The Decade that Rewrote the Rules

July 2, 2026

WFS Awards 2026: Official jury revealed

June 25, 2026

SAOT: From Officiating Tool to Commercial Asset

June 25, 2026

Less than a month left to apply for the WFS Awards 2026

June 18, 2026

World Cup Stadiums: What FIFA requires and what cities are left with

June 18, 2026

10 lessons WFS Mexico City taught us about the future of football

June 11, 2026

WFS Mexico City Day 2: Fan identity, new audiences and the 365-day stadium

June 5, 2026

WFS Mexico City Day 1: The biggest World Cup in History, fan data and ROI

June 4, 2026

The World Cup that built nothing

May 28, 2026

One week for WFS Mexico City: speakers, topics, brands and everything you need to know

May 25, 2026

Common Goal CEO Mary Connor: “If Common Goal was a Federation it would be the third in the World”

May 21, 2026

How the NBA built a sports economy in Africa and what football can learn from it

May 21, 2026

New Report: LATAM football assets

May 14, 2026

Marc Spiegel: “Liga MX is unique because it has a major commercial engine in the US”

May 7, 2026

Vuelve el programa de becas de WFS y Johan Cruyff Institute

May 7, 2026

New report: how MLS stopped being a destination and became a market

April 30, 2026

Back in play: Wera Kuri kicks off community pitch renovation in Mexico City with Comex, WFS and Zucaritas

April 30, 2026

The WFS Properties Programme: a dedicated experience for clubs, leagues and federations

April 23, 2026

Kike Levy: “Football is the infrastructure for community, identity and belonging”

April 23, 2026

WFS and FutbolJobs Renew Strategic Partnership to Scale the JobMatch Experience

April 16, 2026

Introducing the WFS half-time report: “The end of the captive fan”

April 16, 2026

N3xt Sports CEO Mounir Zok on the AI readiness gap in sports: “AI is exposing structural weaknesses in how data is treated”

April 9, 2026

The WFS Awards introduce Best Content Creator, presented by TikTok

April 9, 2026

The WFS Awards 2026 are open for applications

March 26, 2026

The Most Inclusive Match made history in Toulouse — and it is not stopping there

March 24, 2026

Five factors that explain why culture is football’s new competitive advantage

March 19, 2026

The Most Inclusive Match: what three editions have built, and what comes next

March 18, 2026

WFS Mexico City 2026 will be a part of the programme of Sports Weeks MX

March 12, 2026

Women’s football in Mexico: Eight Years of a League that is Changing the Game

March 11, 2026

Fan Intimacy and the Power of a Nickname: Two Approaches to Fan Data From Mexican Football

March 5, 2026

Women’s Football in Mexico: The Numbers Changing the Conversation

February 26, 2026

Inside TUDN’s Playbook for Broadcasting the Biggest World Cup in History

February 19, 2026

WFS Mexico 2026 Tickets Now Live: Super Early Bird Until March 13

February 12, 2026

10 Years of World Football Summit: Expanding the Business, Honouring the Essence

February 11, 2026

The 2026 WFS StartCup is officially underway: get your applications ready !

February 5, 2026

From Raw Data to Narrative: How Bundesliga and AWS Use Storytelling to Drive Engagement

February 3, 2026

Every Seat Counts: How Arsenal and Brentford Digitalised Passion Without Losing Their Soul

January 27, 2026

The Access Gap: How Rio Ferdinand Built a Media Business on Trust Broadcasters Can’t Buy

January 20, 2026

A Look Into the Commercial Playbook Behind World Sevens Football’s Rapid Success

January 14, 2026

World Football Summit Reveals First Dates for 2026 Global Calendar

January 9, 2026

How TikTok, LiveScore and OneFootball Are Moving Beyond Algorithms to AI-Powered Hyperpersonalisation

January 5, 2026

What WFS Events Conversations Revealed About The Football Industry’s Priorities 2025

December 29, 2025

The Numbers Behind Saudi Arabia’s Football Transformation

December 17, 2025

Global fan behavior and data strategies dominate WFS Riyadh Day 2

December 11, 2025

The evolution of Saudi Football takes the global stage at Day 1 of WFS Riyadh

December 10, 2025

World Football Summit announces the winners of the WFS Riyadh honours by Arena E+V 2025

December 9, 2025

WFS Riyadh set to welcome 2,500+ leaders as Saudi Football takes global stage

December 8, 2025

The future of football

November 27, 2025

Farkhunda Muhtaj, Footballer and Activist, Named Ambassador for WFS Riyadh’s Female Leaders Gathering

November 26, 2025

“This year will be bigger” — WFS Riyadh host Mo Islam on Saudi football’s transformation and rising expectations

November 18, 2025

New Balance x Atalanta B.C : Inside the Partnership Playing the Long Game

November 13, 2025

World Football Summit Partners with M.A.Sports to Lead Expansion in Saudi Arabia

November 13, 2025

One Month To Go: WFS Riyadh Returns to connect Saudi and Global Football

November 12, 2025

UEFA’s Nadine Kessler on how Women’s Champions League will double revenue and boost reach

October 30, 2025

¡Menos ruido, más ingresos!

October 29, 2025

The wait was worth it: WFS Madrid becomes our biggest event ever

October 17, 2025

WFS returns to Madrid with a line-up of top industry leaders spanning clubs, leagues, brands and institutions

October 8, 2025

From Juventus to Club América, Global Football Shines at the 2025 WFS Awards with Nasser Al-Khelaïfi Named Best Executive

October 2, 2025

WFS Case Studies

September 18, 2025

Asia – Pacific Women’s Football

August 6, 2025

A $380B Opportunity: How Football is Becoming the World’s Largest Longevity Platform

June 26, 2025

Passion Meets Innovation: Hong Kong’s Leap into Football’s Future

June 20, 2025

The Unstoppable Rise of Inclusive Football: A Movement, Not a Moment

May 7, 2025

Women’s Football in 2025: The Business Evolution of a Global Game

May 6, 2025

Performance and Ramadan: How football clubs are adapting to tradition inside and outside the pitch

May 5, 2025

The numbers behind the 2026 World Cup

May 4, 2025

Betta Maggio: “We are excited about football´s role in building awareness around the possibility of creating a better world”

April 30, 2025

Why 2025 Is the Perfect Time for Brands to Invest in Women’s Football

February 19, 2025

Saudi Pro League and World Football Summit Join Forces to Showcase Football’s Evolution at WFS Asia 2024

November 25, 2024

Growing. Together: SAFF and World Football Summit Unite to Drive Football Innovation

November 9, 2024

The FBA and World Football Summit formalize an Academic Partnership

May 10, 2024

Supernovas: Raising dreams on a field of opportunities

May 9, 2024

WFS Freestyle Challenge: Everything you need to join the competition

May 6, 2024

Parma Calcio 1913’s Blueprint for Modern Football

April 25, 2024

Football outside the pitch: How the sport is trying to make a better world

April 4, 2024

2024 WFS Awards: Confirmed categories and how to apply

March 26, 2024

WFS Riyadh 24 Panels Report

March 18, 2024

Sustainability in Football Report

March 18, 2024

Sportainment & Venue Experiences Report

March 18, 2024

Paving the way for female football professionalisation: Mercury/13 and the Como Women case

March 5, 2024

Sustaining football: When sustainability isn’t just about the environment

February 22, 2024

Stadiums are being filled up. With, or without sports being played in them

February 15, 2024

Dr. Vicki Ross’ plan for the professionalization of Costa Rica’s football

February 8, 2024

In the United States, football is going pop

January 31, 2024

The only way up, is left: How innovation is driving growth in football

January 25, 2024

Football is going global. And this is how it is doing it

January 18, 2024

Leagues around the world want to grow by telling you a story. And it goes a little beyond football matches

January 11, 2024

2023: The year the football we want and need was born

December 28, 2023

Football & Tourism Report

December 20, 2023

«You Can See It, Now What?» – Lessons from 11 Female Leaders in Football

November 23, 2023

Global Football Report – Discovering Football’s Emerging Frontiers

November 15, 2023

Naming Rights Landscape in Latin America

November 13, 2023

Empowering the Future of Sports: Students & a Thriving Industry

November 11, 2023

Governance & Ownership Models in Football

November 8, 2023

The Future of Football: Storytelling, Team Valuations, and Learning from American Leagues

October 30, 2023

Interview with Rick Parry, Ex CEO of Liverpool FC and former head of the FA Premier League

October 18, 2023

Unlocking the Potential of Sport Metaverse Digital Twins

October 18, 2023

More Than Just a Business: The Non-Financial Impact of Sports

October 14, 2023

More Than Just a Business: The Non-Financial Impact of Sports

October 14, 2023

The Rising Star: Saudi Arabia’s Ambition to Dominate the Global Football Scene

October 12, 2023

Unlocking the Future of Sports Content: A Digital Revolution

September 28, 2023

Meet the 2024 WFS Awards Winners!

September 13, 2023

Evolving Fan Engagement Experiences: An interview with Paul Hunt of Genius Sports.

September 13, 2023

The future of IP in football as a source of competitive advantage

September 7, 2023

Find Out Who the WFS Awards 2024 Finalists Are

September 6, 2023

The Uncomfortable Truth About Football: Why We’re Changing the Game

September 5, 2023

World Football Summit y Andalucía, a la conquista del fútbol internacional

September 4, 2023

Kickstarting Sustainability: How ClimateTrade is Leading Football Against Climate Change

August 29, 2023

The Football Fan Experience in the Age of Web3

August 1, 2023

Connecting Football Players & Brands Through Autentic Marketing Content

July 31, 2023

Empowering Women in the Football Industry: Introducing the Female Leaders Initiative

June 21, 2023

Saudi Arabia confirmed as host for WFS Asia!

May 25, 2023

MEET THE BRANDS THAT WILL BE AT FIF23

May 25, 2023

«Kicking it Secure: The Growing Need for Cybersecurity in the Football Industry»

May 22, 2023

An inclusivity example for other clubs to follow

March 16, 2023

World Football Summit helps organize the world’s most inclusive match

February 21, 2023

The most inclusive game in the world

February 8, 2023

The growth of women’s football as seen by World Football Summit speakers

December 7, 2022

How does Turkish Airlines approach its sports partnership strategy?

November 9, 2022

The role of screens in stadiums to increase fan engagement

October 31, 2022

The science of sleep applied to optimising player performance in the sports industry

August 29, 2022

Sports OTTs in Asia: The future of a world to explore

August 24, 2022

Love.Fútbol: Creating safe spaces for kids to play football

August 18, 2022

5 investment trends in football for 2022

August 17, 2022

Discovering the new frontiers of the eSports industry

August 11, 2022

The SportsTech Revolution: Shaping the future of football

August 4, 2022

We can use the Global Power of Football to Change the World

July 14, 2022

THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUSIVITY IN FOOTBALL

June 23, 2022

Jordan Gardner: «Culture, Stability and, Leadership are the pillars for success in any sports property»

June 9, 2022

Understanding AiSCOUT and how it’s revolutionising football scouting

April 21, 2022

Seven League’s Richard Ayers on football’s digital revolution

April 7, 2022

How ex-Manchester United midfielder Luke Chadwick is putting the fun back in football

March 23, 2022

Performance academies: How AI will save Chinese football

March 1, 2022

Sports sponsorship barometer – A focus on the latest trends in football

February 17, 2022

Understanding performance with Joan Vila, the man that mentored Xavi Hernandez and Carles Puyol at FC Barcelona

January 3, 2022

Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil: «It won’t be the Super League, but there will be change in football»

September 22, 2021

PFA CEO Maheta Molango: «The football industry is at a crossroads»

September 15, 2021

Former Afghanistan captain Khalida Popal refuses to be silenced in fight to free women from Taliban rule

September 14, 2021

Racism in football: Analysing the impact of player protests and social media

May 5, 2021

The impact of Brexit on football transfers in the UK, Europe and beyond

March 18, 2021

Common Goal and Fundação Fenômenos receive WFS Live proceeds to aid COVID-19 fight

August 27, 2020

Noëlla Coursaris: “Sport is competition, but it can also unite an entire village”

March 10, 2020

Esteban Granero: «Technology is crucial for football, but so is preserving the essence of the game»

January 30, 2020

Inside City Football Group’s multi-ownership strategy where 1+1=3

December 5, 2019

The keys to Olympique de Marseille’s unique connection with Africa

November 12, 2019

Liverpool FC CEO Peter Moore on the balancing act of modernising the club while respecting its tradition

October 10, 2019

This is how the J-League plans to challenge Europe’s top football leagues by 2030

May 9, 2019

The Asian Football Industry and its ever-growing expansion

January 31, 2019

Juan Mata: «As long as the passion from fans remains, football will keep growing as a sport and as an industry»

September 3, 2018

The challenges of the Football Industry: Turning Fans into Customers and Stadiums into Entertainment Centers

October 23, 2017

Smart Stadiums: The Football Stadium of the Future

July 20, 2017

El fútbol, mucho más que un deporte

July 19, 2016

WFS Blog Leading stories and industry insights

WFS Blog
Leading stories and industry insights

The Game of Life: Ornella Desiree Bellia on Resilience, Football, and Why She’s Attending WFS Madrid

September 10, 2026

With almost two decades of experience across sports law, football governance and executive leadership, Ornella Desiree Bellia currently serves as FIFA’s Director of Professional Football

The Game of Life: Ornella Desiree Bellia on Resilience, Football, and Why She’s Attending WFS Madrid

September 10, 2026

With almost two decades of experience across sports law, football governance and executive leadership, Ornella Desiree Bellia currently serves as FIFA’s Director of Professional Football