Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 26 November 2024: World Football Summit (WFS) and the Saudi Pro League (SPL), Asia’s highest-ranked football league announced a strategic partnership for WFS Asia 2024. The collaboration brings together the premier football business platform and a league that has transformed into a global powerhouse, setting new standards for football development around the world.
The partnership will be showcased at WFS Asia 2024, taking place at Riyadh’s KAFD on December 2-3, where over 2,000 industry leaders will convene to shape the future of football business. This alliance marks a significant milestone in highlighting Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in global football, and directly supports Vision 2030’s ambitious goal of increasing the sports sector’s contribution.
“We are delighted to partner with the World Football Summit,” said Omar Mugharbel, CEO of the Saudi Pro League. “This collaboration serves as a platform to welcome the global football industry to Saudi Arabia, fostering opportunities for shared growth and mutual prosperity.”
“From our humble beginnings with just eight teams to becoming Asia’s top-ranked league today, our journey highlights the transformative power of football in driving both sporting excellence and societal progress. Through this partnership, we are proud to showcase our evolution, share insights from our experiences, and contribute to meaningful dialogues within the global football community.”
The event is expected to draw a diverse crowd, including top executives, players, media representatives, and thought leaders from across the global football ecosystem. With hundreds of high-profile speakers expected to participate, and the involvement of local Saudi Arabian businesses.
WFS Asia 2024 is set to become the flagship event in the World Football Summit portfolio.
The SPL’s remarkable journey of transformation, built on three key pillars – nurturing young talent, securing world-class international players, and improving club governance – aligns perfectly with WFS Asia’s mission to drive innovation in football business.
“The Saudi Pro League’s evolution represents one of the most remarkable stories in modern football,” said Jan Alessie, Co-Founder & Director of World Football Summit. “Their commitment to developing local talent while attracting global stars has created a unique model that deserves industry-wide attention. This partnership will provide invaluable insights for football executives worldwide.”
The key themes for the 2024 edition demonstrate the programs alignment with Vision 2030 as it includes:
Football Technology Integration
Fan Engagement Innovation
Sports Tourism Development
Sustainability in Football
Women’s Football Growth
Youth Development Programs
The event will also feature enhanced networking opportunities, including exclusive roundtable discussions and a gala dinner to celebrate the WFS Honors, facilitating meaningful connections among industry professionals, which will prove to be instrumental in creating long-lasting partnerships and opportunities for Saudi-based businesses.