Football fever peaked in the city as the World Football Summit (WFS) chose Hong Kong for its expansion in Asia, highlighting the city’s capability as a global sports hub and an ideal venue for major sporting events.

The summit, held at AsiaWorld-Expo, gathered over 3,600 attendees who are movers and shakers of the football industry from 60 countries and regions across Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and Chinese Mainland to shape a sustainable, inclusive and professional football ecosystem for the future. Football icons such as former England and Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand, Croatia’s all-time top scorer Davor Šuker, Fabio Capello Legendary Italian football manager, Pierluigi Collina, Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, attended in person, charting the business future of the sport along with the field’s global decision-makers and thought-leaders, investors, innovators and passionate fans.

More than 80 speakers shared forward-looking insights on topics such as the sport’s international expansion, Asia’s growing influence in football, youth development, grassroots pathways, digital transformation, technology including artificial intelligence, investment, sustainability and community impact.

The summit also ignited the local football scene. The Hong Kong Football Association’s youth development programmes that empower the next generation of footballers in Hong Kong were in the spotlight. Fan engagement took the sport to a fever pitch in town, with a football festival featuring exhibitions from clubs and brands, skill challenges, street football-style mini tournaments, official WFS merchandise, and live panels with the football legends.