World Football Summit (WFS) has been selected as an official partner of the Industry Summit taking place during the inaugural edition of The Messi Cup, a global football initiative led by Leo Messi and produced by 525 Rosario.
A New Global Football Platform in Miami
Held in Miami from December 9–14, 2025, The Messi Cup is more than a tournament. It’s a live event series and digital-first platform that will bring together the world’s top U16 players from some of football’s most iconic clubs, combining elite competition with culture, entertainment, and education.
Designed to coincide with Art Basel Miami, the first edition will turn the city into a global meeting point for sport, creativity, and innovation. Matches will be staged at Inter Miami CF’s facilities, with the final and closing celebrations on December 14 at the Chase Stadium
Industry Summit at Faena Forum
In the middle of the tournament, on Friday, December 12, the Messi Cup Industry Summit will take place at Faena Forum, bringing together leaders from across football, business, media, and culture.
The Summit is conceived as a space for meaningful dialogue, where decision-makers, innovators, and investors will explore the forces transforming global football while sharing insights with the young athletes who represent its future.
Alongside discussions on governance, investment, technology, and athlete development, the Summit will also aim to give tomorrow’s players a deeper understanding of the ecosystem that surrounds their sport.
With nearly a decade of experience connecting key stakeholders across the global football industry, World Football Summit has been chosen to collaborate with 525 Rosario in the design and execution of the Summit’s content and speaker strategy.
Since 2016, WFS has hosted more than 30 international events, bringing together over 25,000 executives and 2,500 speakers from more than 100 countries, including top leaders from FIFA, UEFA, LaLiga, Serie A, Premier League, and some of the world’s most influential clubs, brands, and investors.
A shared commitment to football’s positive impact
The most recent edition, WFS Madrid 2025, welcomed over 2,500 attendees and 150 speakers — consolidating its position as the leading platform for dialogue, networking, and innovation in global football.
Drawing on this experience and its extensive global network, WFS will help ensure that The Messi Cup Industry Summit delivers a world-class programme that reflects the diversity, ambition, and purpose of today’s football industry.
“Partnering with The Messi Cup is a natural extension of what WFS stands for — connecting people, ideas, and opportunities that drive the game forward,” said Jan Alessie, Co-Founder and Managing Director of World Football Summit. “We’re proud to contribute our experience to an initiative that celebrates football’s next generation and the values that make it truly global.”
“The Messi Cup was born from a belief that football has the power to connect generations and shape the future far beyond the pitch,” said Tim Pastore, CEO of 525 Rosario. “Through this partnership with World Football Summit, we’re creating a platform where the next generation of players can not only compete at the highest level, but also learn, be inspired, and see what’s possible when sport, culture, and innovation come together.”
For Leo Messi and 525 Rosario, The Messi Cup marks a new chapter in their commitment to inspire young people through football, blending competition, education, and creativity to create long-term value for communities and brands alike. For World Football Summit, this collaboration represents an opportunity to expand its mission of connecting the global football industry and promoting a more sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven game.
Together, both organisations will aim to deliver an event that celebrates the game’s universal appeal while highlighting the opportunities that emerge when sport, culture, and business converge.