This strategic partnership represents a significant milestone in the development of sports in the region, perfectly aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which aims to position the Kingdom as a premier global sports hub.
Game-Changing Alliance: World Football Summit Partners with Saudi Media Company (SMC) to Elevate Football Industry in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Region
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is poised to enhance its status as a premier sports destination in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 by hosting the third edition of the World Football Summit Asia.
The inaugural WFS Asia 2023 attracted around 1,400 key decision-makers, and this upcoming edition is anticipated to surpass that success, aiming to be one of the largest gatherings in the history of WFS. SMC, a prominent media entity in Saudi Arabia with a strong market presence, will serve as the Exclusive Commercial Partner for WFS, ensuring a highly impactful event for the nation. The involvement of the Saudi Ministry of Sport, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), and the Saudi Pro League will ensure comprehensive representation of the local football landscape, alongside major brands such as Aramco, KAFD, Al Nassr, and Al-Hilal.
The World Football Summit (WFS), recognized as the leading global platform for the football sector, is excited to unveil a significant partnership with SMC, a key player in Saudi Arabia’s media and sports landscape. This collaboration represents a crucial step in the region's sports development, perfectly aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative to position the Kingdom as a top-tier sports hub.
Event Highlights:
- Date: December 2-3, 2024
- Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Scale: Expected attendance surpassing 2,000 industry leaders, making it one of the largest WFS events to date
- Global Representation: Over 300 clubs, leagues, and federations from 80+ countries
- Media Coverage: More than 70 international media outlets to cover the event
- Thought Leadership: Insights from 150 top experts in football, sports, and entertainment
- Awards Ceremony: The prestigious World Football Summit Awards to be hosted in Asia for the first time
"We are proud to partner with SMC in hosting the Asian edition of WFS in Riyadh. Given Saudi Arabia's aspiration to establish itself as a leading force in global sports, and the success of our first edition, it made perfect sense for World Football Summit to bring back our event to the Kingdom, connecting key regional football stakeholders with their international counterparts."
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| Game-Changing Alliance: World Football Summit Partners with Saudi Media Company (SMC) to Elevate Football Industry in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Region |
Jan Alessie, Co-Founder and Director of World Football Summit
A Synergy of Strengths: The Althari Group (TAG) Bridging Geographies
This strategic partnership, facilitated by our esteemed Strategic Partner, The Althari Group (TAG), synergistically combines the unique strengths of our respective organizations. The Althari Group (TAG) is a globally renowned strategic advisory firm, specializing in catalyzing transformative engagements, fostering resilient partnerships, and pioneering impactful investments within the dynamic landscape of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We, at WFS, are honored to collaborate with TAG, collectively amplifying the Saudi sports renaissance and solidifying the Kingdom's position as a prominent global sports hub.
Jan Alessie praised TAG for their contributions to see the partnership become a reality: "We are incredibly grateful to TAG, our strategic partner in Saudi Arabia, for their pivotal role in securing this partnership. TAG has been instrumental in leading our strategy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Their deep understanding of the region and unwavering support have been pivotal in helping us navigate this dynamic market. Sultan Althari, Founding Partner at TAG, has been instrumental from the very beginning. The depth of his expertise and breadth of his network within the sports world were key in helping us identify SMC as the perfect partner. TAG's involvement is not only helping us achieve our ambitious goals for this event but is also crucial in building the WFS brand in Saudi Arabia. With TAG’s strategic guidance, we are confident that this will be our most successful WFS event to date."
- A proven track record as the premier networking platform in football
- A global community of 120,000+ sports industry executives
- Eight years of experience in organizing high-impact industry events
- A leading content engine that drives thought leadership in football
- Strong partnerships with top-tier organizations such as SAFF, Saudia Airlines, Serie A, Bein and SBA.
- A commitment to attracting global attention to Saudi Arabia's sports industry.
- Expertise in sports facilities management, sponsorship, and digital advertising.
Last year’s summit in Jeddah was a historic moment for Saudi Arabia and WFS, enabling the event to establish its annual presence as the premier industry event. It was also a significant milestone for Saudi Arabia’s national strategy, enhancing the Kingdom’s global sports presence and capturing the nation’s growing enthusiasm for football.
Speakers during the groundbreaking WFS Asia 2023 reflected this spirit, as they included:
- Adwa Al Arifi, Assistant Minister of Sports Affairs for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Peace Nobel Laureate
- Lamia Bahaian, Vice President at SAFF
- Hammad Albalawi, Head of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation FIFA World Cup 2034 bid unit
- Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John, General Secretary at the Asian Football Confederation.
- Clarence Seedorf, Football Legend and Serie A ambassador
- Carlo Nohra, Chief Operating Officer Saudi Pro League
- Ralf Reichert, CEO eSports World Cup