World Football Summit

What World Football Summit does

World Football Summit (WFS) is a privately held event and media platform, operated under NEXUS FOSTERING PARTNERSHIP, S.L., that convenes the global football industry's executive decision-makers through a portfolio of recurring international conferences and supporting digital properties. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Madrid, the company runs three flagship events — WFS Madrid (the annual anchor, scheduled for 15-16 September at La Nave Madrid), WFS Mexico City (a third-edition Americas event drawing 2,000+ professionals from 50+ countries), and WFS Riyadh (a new Middle East entry scheduled for January 2027 at Misk City, Saudi Arabia). The portfolio is complemented by WFS Awards (an annual recognition programme since 2017, now in its 10th edition), The Most Inclusive Match (a purpose-driven inclusion initiative co-produced with Integrated Dreams and now in its fourth edition across European clubs), WFS StartCup (a startup competition), the WFS Community network, and the WFS Media Hub (a digital content platform distributing reports, blogs, panels, and podcasts).

The underlying technology is a content and community platform layered on top of an in-person event business, rather than a unified software product. Revenue mechanics center on three streams: event ticketing and attendance fees, sponsorship and branding partnerships (the largest and most strategic revenue line, anchored by tier-1 partners including DAZN, TikTok, Deloitte, AWS, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Nike, Adidas, Toyota, Qatar Airways, and Riyadh Air), and the WFS Awards programme. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and partnerships are negotiated through direct enterprise engagement. The customer base spans sports governance bodies (FIFA, UEFA, AFC, CONCACAF, CAF), major European leagues, top football clubs, consumer brands, broadcasters, and technology providers — a horizontal segmentation approach targeting the entire football industry value chain.

WFS positions itself as the premier neutral convener of the football business, monetizing the network effects of bringing the industry's most senior stakeholders into recurring physical and digital touchpoints. The company is founder/owner-operated with 1-10 employees, no disclosed outside funding, and a small but expanding geographic footprint spanning Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia Pacific.

Name

World Football Summit

Legal name

NEXUS FOSTERING PARTNERSHIP, S.L.

Website

https://worldfootballsummit.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

World Football Summit is a Madrid-based event and media platform, founded in 2016, that runs flagship football industry conferences in Madrid, Mexico City, and Riyadh alongside the WFS Awards programme, serving governing bodies, leagues, clubs, brands, and broadcasters globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Industry Events & Business Networking

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Training, Enablement & Talent Development Summits (THAHAMAH)

Keywords

• Sports industry events
• Football industry networking
• Business conference services
• Sports sponsorship programs
• Corporate event management

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Event ticketing and attendance: Revenue generated from selling tickets to WFS events and summits. Attendees include industry professionals from clubs, leagues, federations, brands, and media.
2. Sponsorship and branding partnerships: High-impact visibility opportunities across physical and digital assets at WFS events. Partnerships include speaking opportunities, exhibiting options, and lead generation through B2B agendas with decision-makers.
3. WFS Awards programme: Award ceremonies recognizing professionals and organizations in football. Backed by brands and institutions including Common Goal, Deloitte, TikTok, and others.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

World Football Summit organizes large-scale in-person conferences and summits for the global football industry, held in flagship cities including Madrid, Mexico City, and Riyadh. It also runs the WFS Awards recognition programme, The Most Inclusive Match accessibility initiative, the WFS Community network, and the WFS Media Hub digital content platform, collectively serving clubs, leagues, federations, brands, media, and service providers.

Product overview

World Football Summit operates as an event-driven platform offering multiple distinct products: annual conferences (WFS Madrid, WFS Mexico City, WFS Riyadh), the WFS Awards program recognizing excellence in football, The Most Inclusive Match initiative focused on accessibility, the WFS Community network, and the WFS Media Hub providing industry content. The portfolio is structured around in-person events supported by digital community and content components, rather than a unified software platform with modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WFS Awards: Awards programme recognising professionals and organisations in the football industry, created in 2017 and celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2026.
• The Most Inclusive Match
• WFS StartCup

Products and services

• WFS Madrid Flagship annual in-person conference held in Madrid, Spain, bringing together football industry leaders for conferences, networking, and discussions. For enterprise attendees from clubs, leagues, federations, brands, media, and service providers.
• WFS Mexico City Annual in-person conference focused on the Americas football market, held in Mexico City. The 2025 edition brought together over 1,700 football industry professionals from more than 40 countries, with a later figure citing 2,000+ professionals from 50+ countries.
• WFS Riyadh Annual in-person conference scheduled for January 2027 at Misk City, Saudi Arabia, expanding World Football Summit's presence in the Middle East football market.
• WFS Awards Annual awards programme recognizing professionals and organisations in football, created in 2017 with the 2026 edition marking the tenth anniversary. Includes multiple award categories presented by major brands and institutions.
• The Most Inclusive Match Flagship initiative by World Football Summit and Integrated Dreams designed to break down barriers and create accessible, inclusive matchday experiences in football, with editions held at major clubs including Real Betis, Atlético Madrid, Real Sociedad, and Toulouse FC.
• WFS Community Network platform bringing together ambassadors, speakers, brands, vendors, media, and rights holders to shape the future of football through ideas, opportunities, and shared ambition.
• WFS Media Hub Digital content platform offering blogs, reports, panels, and podcasts providing insights, analysis, and trends in the global football industry.
• WFS StartCup Startup competition programme associated with WFS events, supporting emerging companies in the football industry.
• WFS Properties Programme Partnership programme offering various opportunities for brands to engage with the World Football Summit ecosystem and football industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,700 professionals from 40+ countries attended WFS Mexico City 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers33 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Integrated DreamsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Integrated Dreams to co-create 'The Most Inclusive Match' initiative, a groundbreaking football initiative making the sport welcoming and accessible for all. The initiative includes accessibility features, diversity programs, and community celebrations at major football clubs.
• Common GoalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommon Goal is a proud member organization and partner in WFS events. The partnership brings purpose and action to WFS Europe and supports the Football for Good award category at WFS Awards.
• Women in FootballcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Women in Football for WFS Europe legacy initiatives and the Best Gender Equality Initiative award category at WFS Awards.
• DAZNcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDAZN is a key brand partner and sponsor of WFS Europe, supporting purpose and action legacy initiatives at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
• TikTokcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTikTok is a brand partner presenting the WFS Award for Best Content Creator at the 2026 WFS Awards, recognizing creators redefining how football is told and experienced in the digital age.
• DeloittecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDeloitte presents the WFS Award for Best Growth Strategy at WFS Awards 2026, supporting recognition of strategic growth initiatives in football.
• Excel Search & AdvisorycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExcel Search & Advisory presents the WFS Award for Best Executive at WFS Awards 2026.
• Ligue de Football ProfessionnelflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLFP partnered with World Football Summit and Integrated Dreams to organize 'The Most Inclusive Match' at Toulouse FC vs FC Lorient in Ligue 1.
• SportsTechXminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSportsTechX presents the WFS Award for Most Innovative Supplier at WFS Awards 2026.
• N3xt SportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerN3xt Sports presents the WFS Award for Best Digital Transformation Initiative at WFS Awards 2026.
• Women in SoccerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen in Soccer presents the WFS Award for Woman in Leadership at WFS Awards 2026.
• StadiumDBminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStadiumDB presents the WFS Award for Best Stadium Experience at WFS Awards 2026.
• Goodform by YouFirstminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoodform by YouFirst presents the WFS Award for Best Fan-Centric Initiative at WFS Awards 2026.
• Senn FerrerominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSenn Ferrero presents the WFS Award for A Career Honouring the Essence of the Game at WFS Awards 2026.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sportico: Sportico (Penske Media) is a sports business news brand that increasingly organises live events and convenes sports business executives. It is a broader incumbent that overlaps with WFS on audience and advertising/sponsorship dollars in the sports business category.

Direct peers

• SportsPro: SportsPro operates a leading sports industry media brand alongside flagship conferences (SportsPro Live, OTT Summit). It competes with WFS for sports business decision-maker attention and sponsorship spend across football, broadcasting, and technology.
• SBC (Sports Betting Community): SBC organises large-scale B2B summits (SBC Summit) bringing together operators, suppliers, and affiliates in the sports betting and football ecosystem. While betting-focused, it draws the same brand and rights-holder audience WFS targets for sponsorship revenue.
• SportBusiness Group: SportBusiness is a long-established B2B sports business media, intelligence, and events business covering multiple sports including football. It is the closest direct peer to WFS given overlapping audiences (leagues, federations, brands, broadcasters) and a comparable mix of summits, content, and consulting services.
• Leaders In Sport: Leaders In Sport runs invitation-only executive events and networks for the global sports business, including Leaders Week London. Its summit format, attendee profile (club CEOs, federation executives, brand leaders), and partnership-driven revenue model closely mirror WFS's playbook.
• Leaders Performance Institute: Leaders Performance operates summits and content targeting high-performance leaders in sport, with overlap to WFS in audience (club executives, federations) and event format. It is a sibling brand within the broader Leaders network that competes for sponsorship and attendee mindshare.
• SportAccord: SportAccord (formerly GAISF) convenes international sports federations and industry stakeholders through its annual convention and Summit series. It is a more multi-sport-focused counterpart to WFS, addressing many of the same federation and governing-body buyers.
• Sportel Monaco: Sportel is a long-running B2B sports media and technology convention held annually in Monaco. It competes with WFS for football broadcasting, distribution, and rights-holder mindshare, particularly in Europe and the Americas.
• SportsTechX: SportsTechX runs industry events, reports, and the SportsTechX community focused on sports technology buyers and sellers. It already partners with WFS on the Most Innovative Supplier award category and competes for the same tech-vendor sponsorship pool.

Emerging players

• Football Benchmark: Football Benchmark provides industry intelligence, benchmarking, and reports on the football business, serving investors, clubs, and federations. It is an emerging, narrower player in the football industry insight layer that WFS also addresses via the WFS Media Hub.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WFSummit
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WorldFootballSummit
• Facebookfacebook.com/worldfootballsummit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/world-football-summit
• Instagraminstagram.com/worldfootballsummit
• TikToktiktok.com/@worldfootballsummit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about World Football Summit