European Leagues

World Football Summit Europe 2024: Shaping The Future of Global Football in Sevilla

In a world where football is evolving at a groundbreaking speed, World Football Summit Europe 2024 emerges as the platform where the sport’s future will be designed. On September 18th and 19th, Sevilla will become the epicentre of global football, hosting an unprecedented gathering of over 2,500 industry leaders, tech innovators, and football legends.

Key Highlights:

Global Gathering: Over 2,500 attendees, including industry leaders, football legends, representatives from football properties such as the ECA, FC Barcelona, or Liverpool FC, and top global brands like Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Turkish Airlines, among hundred others.
Premier Speakers: Featuring influential figures like Giorgio Chiellini, Toni Nadal, Javier Tebas, Maheta Molango and Gaia Pretner.

Comprehensive Agenda: 11 different tracks covering emerging trends such as football technology, investment, sustainability initiatives, women’s football development, and new revenue streams in the digital age.
Sustainability Focus: WFS commits to planting a forest in the region, mitigating the event’s carbon footprint.

World Football Summit (WFS) is set to return to Sevilla for its 8th edition on September 18th and 19th, 2024. Held at the renowned FIBES, WFS Europe 2024 aims to be the most impactful gathering yet, bringing together the football industry’s most powerful voices to discuss and shape the future of the sport.

With a stellar lineup of over 100 speakers, the event will feature industry heavyweights like Giorgio Chiellini, Italian football legend, Toni Nadal, renowned coach and uncle of tennis star Rafael Nadal, Javier Tebas, President of LALIGA, Maheta Molango, from the Professional Footballers Association, and Gaia Pretner, from the European Club Association.

Top Brands and Clubs Represented: The event will see participation from leading global brands including Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Rexona, Turkish Airlines, La Junta de Andalucía, Radisson Hotel Group or The Football Business Academy, all of whom play crucial roles in the intersection of technology, branding, and talent. Major clubs and organizations, such as FIFA, LALIGA, European Club Association, and top European football clubs like FC Barcelona, Juventus, and Liverpool FC, will be in attendance, further cementing WFS Europe as the premier football industry event, capable of gathering the entire football community under one roof.

Mission and Goals: The mission of WFS Europe 2024 is clear: to serve as a gateway for connections that will create a more professional and thriving football industry. Through its comprehensive agenda covering 11 different tracks, the summit aims to foster crucial conversations and collaborations that will shape the future of football.

Interactive Experience: In addition to the main conference, WFS Europe 2024 will feature a dedicated fan zone complete with a food court, cutting-edge technology demonstrations, and even a human foosball installation, providing attendees with unique, hands-on experiences.

Local and Global Impact: As in previous years, the event is expected to catalyze job creation, sports tourism, and visibility for Sevilla and Andalucía as ideal hubs for sports innovation. Moreover, thanks to its “Networking & Streaming Pass,” industry professionals from around the world can join remotely, extending the summit’s reach and impact globally.

Sustainability Initiatives: In alignment with the growing need for environmental sustainability within the industry, the World Football Summit has partnered with Bosquia to plant a forest in the region, mitigating the carbon footprint of the event.

Innovation Showcase: The summit will also spotlight many promising startups, providing them with a platform to showcase their innovative solutions aimed at unlocking new levels of growth in the football industry.

Diversity and Inclusion: Continuing its commitment to diversity, WFS aims to achieve 30% women representation in both the speaker lineup and overall attendee figures. The summit’s Female Leaders in Football gathering has gained notoriety for its impact and the opportunities it creates for ambitious women in the football business.

WFS Awards and Networking Opportunities: A highlight of the summit will be the prestigious WFS Awards, presented by La Junta de Andalucía. The awards will honour excellence across several categories, including Best Executive, Best Digital Transformation Initiative, and Best Women’s Football Initiative. These awards celebrate the individuals and organizations that are driving innovation and growth within the football industry.

In addition to the awards, there will be various exclusive workshops covering topics such as Sportainment, sustainability, and innovation, supported by partners like Common Goal, SportBoost, and LaSource.

Media Opportunities: A dedicated media hub will be available at the Summit where members of the press will be able to interview and connect with high-caliber representatives of the football industry.

Marian Otamendi, CEO at WFS, shared her enthusiasm: “We are at a crucial moment in the industry. With so many changes, ownership dynamics and technological shifts impacting the sport, it is more important than ever for football industry leaders to meet, connect, and collaborate towards building a better football industry. One that is more professional, inclusive, diverse and sustainable.”

Football legend Ronaldo Nazario best summarizes the impact of WFS: “It’s an exclusive and very important event for the future development of football. The organisation, the content, the discussions, a spectacular event.”

For 48 hours, Sevilla will transform into the global center of the football world, as WFS Europe 2024 fosters crucial conversations and connections that will shape the future of football.

WFS Europe 2024 By The Numbers: 2,500+ attendees | 100+ speakers | 11 content tracks | 30% women representation | 1 forest planted

Fast Facts:

WFS Europe celebrates its 8th edition in 2024, and the 23rd World Football Summit event
The event has facilitated millions in business deals since its inception
WFS boasts a global community of 120,000+ football industry professionals
Past speakers include legends like Ronaldo Nazario, Clarence Seedorf, and Samuel Eto’o and relevant characters like Nobel Peace Prize winner Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Fatma Samoura, Peter Moore or Sir Martin Sorrell.

Premier League

Jamie Vardy matches Ronaldo’s record in Leicester 2-1 win over Spurs

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has equaled a Premier League record previously held by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Vardy scored in Leicester’s surprising 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. After Richarlison gave Tottenham the lead in the 33rd minute, Vardy equalized just after halftime in the 46th minute.

Moroccan youngster Bilal El Khannouss then scored the winning goal in the 50th minute, securing the Foxes’ crucial three points and lifting them out of the relegation zone.

With this goal, Vardy became the fifth player aged 37 or older to be involved in 10 or more goals in a Premier League season, as noted by Squawka. The last player to achieve this feat was Ronaldo during his second stint at Manchester United, when he scored 18 goals and provided three assists in the 2021-22 season.

Ryan Giggs reached the milestone in the 2011-12 season, while Teddy Sheringham and Gary Speed were the first to accomplish it.

At 38 years old, Vardy continues to perform at the highest level, having contributed seven goals and three assists in 21 league appearances this season.

Premier League

‘He Can Never Play For Me Again’ – Man United’s Ruben Amorim slams Marcus Rashford

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said he would rather play his 63-year-old goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital in his team than Marcus Rashford unless the out-of-favor forward starts to “give the maximum every day in training and in life.”

England international Rashford was left out of the team for the 11th successive game by Amorim during United’s 1-0 Premier League win at Fulham on Sunday.

The 27-year-old said last month that he was ready to seek a “new challenge” away from Old Trafford after being dropped for United’s 2-1 win against Manchester City at the Etihad on Dec. 15, but Rashford has so far been unable to find a new club during the January transfer window.

And despite strikers Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee scoring just one goal between them since the beginning of December, Amorim said he would not restore Rashford to the team unless he changes his attitude.

“It’s the same, it’s always the same reason,” Amorim said when asked why he continued to overlook Rashford. “The reason is the training, the way I see what footballers should do in training, in life, it’s every day, every detail.

“So if things don’t change, I will not change. It’s the same situation for every player. If you do the maximum, if you do the right things, we can use every player. And you can see it today on the bench, we miss a little bit of pace to go and change the game, move some pieces.

“But I prefer it like that. I will put Vital on before I put a player on that don’t give the maximum every day. So I will not change in that department.”

Amorim, who arrived from Portuguese champions Sporting CP in November, celebrates his 40th birthday on Monday. But after the Fulham win, he said he feels much older after his brief stint at United.

“It’s not 40 … I’m 50!” he said. “After two months at Manchester United, it’s 50. It’s a privilege to spend my 40th birthday here. That feeling of winning and three points is really important for us. You cannot see a great improvement in the team and that is a fact, but to win helps us to improve.

“We’ve had some lack of luck in some games. Today, was not the best match but we managed to win. The important thing is I have a clear idea of what I want to do. Sometimes I’m frustrated. We want to play a different style and we are going to play a different style in the future.”

Serie A

How Samuel Chukwueze Became AC Milan ‘New god’

Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze scored a dramatic late winner as AC Milan defeated Parma 3-2 at the San Siro, etching their name in Serie A history, according to Soccernet.ng.

Milan endured a challenging evening, falling behind twice to a resilient Parma side. However, the hosts displayed immense character to secure all three points in an enthralling encounter.

Christian Pulisic ended his nine-game Serie A goal drought by converting from the penalty spot to cancel out Parma’s opener.

But with the visitors leading 2-1 heading into the second minute of injury time, Tijjani Reijnders produced a composed close-range finish to restore parity.

Then, in the fourth minute of added time, Chukwueze was in the right place at the back post to bundle home the decisive goal, sparking wild celebrations at the San Siro.

According to Opta via Milan News, the Samuel Chukwueze-inspired victory is the first time in Serie A history that Milan won a match by scoring two goals after the 90th minute.

For Chukwueze, the moment could prove pivotal in earning a bigger role under new manager Sérgio Conceição.

The Super Eagles winger, who only recently recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in December, was making his first appearance under the Portuguese tactician.

Chukwueze’s last outing for Milan was on December 29 in a 1-1 draw with AS Roma, during Paulo Fonseca’s final game in charge before being replaced by Conceição.

Since then, Milan have defeated Juventus, Inter Milan in the Super Cup, and featured in clashes against Cagliari, Como, Juventus (again) and Girona in the Champions League — all without Chukwueze.

The Nigerian international now boasts two goals in 18 Serie A appearances this season, surpassing the single goal he managed in 24 league games last term.

Samuel Chukwueze opened his account on October 19, netting the winner in a 1-0 victory over Udinese. He also starred in the Coppa Italia, scoring twice in Milan’s 6-1 demolition of Sassuolo in December.

Milan will next face city rivals Inter on February 2, with Chukwueze hoping to build on his impactful return and help secure another memorable result.