The World Football Summit Asia (WFSA) is coming to Malaysia and Asia for the first time and will do so in April 2019 after its successful events in Spain over the last three years.

With the theme ‘Where The Asian Football Industry Meets’ – WFSA aims to become the most prominent international event for the Asian football industry where the most influential figures of the game meet to deliberate the relevant topics and generate business opportunities.

The two-day event, scheduled for 29-30 April 2019 in Kuala Lumpur, is the ideal platform for companies and organisations to mingle with elite and established names in the football industry, thus gaining access to business and networking opportunities. There are three different passes which allows access to the summit. The Corporate pass priced at US$1000, Delegate Pass at US$699 and the US$100 Student Pass which is only limited to 100 applicants.

When this international event, held annually in Madrid for the past three years, decided to internationalise and selected Malaysia as its first Asian host, it underlined the fact that football, without doubt, is the number one sport in this region.

With countries like China, Qatar and India all bidding for the privilege to host this event, Retro Minds Network Sdn Bhd (A fully owned Malaysian-based company) successfully won the rights to host WFSA for the next 10 years. It will expand the brand throughout Asia in the coming years.

The main objective of this summit is to establish a hub for the Asian Football Industry and at the same time provide a platform for football professionals to learn, explore, obtain and generate business opportunities with the diversity WFSA offers.

Director of WFS Marian Otamendi, who was present at the launch of the summit, said she has been impressed with the organisers’ efforts thus far and is really looking forward to the inaugural event next year in Malaysia.

“I would like to thank Malaysia for being the hosts of the inaugural WFSA next year. We are confident that Retro Minds and its partners will be able to organise a world class show. With a large fan base, exceptional football culture and enthusiastic professionals, the prospects of business football in Asia is tremendous. I am convinced WFS delegates from around the world will gain insights from the discussions and establish good networks,” added Marian.

Chief Executive Officer of WFSA, Mr Mohan Rajaratnam, who is responsible for bringing WFSA to Malaysia, is determined to ensure that this summit will make a huge impact on Asian football.

“Presenting this summit in Asia will allow for an exclusive platform for football professionals around the world to leverage on the Asian football industry. WFSA will witness distinguished speakers, high network organisations and exhibitors coming together under the same roof for two days,” said Mohan.

He added, “In order for football to keep developing and growing, we definitely need a programme like WFSA to highlight insights and generate foresight regarding world football especially in terms of sponsorship, player transfers, media rights and sports science to name a few.”

Meanwhile, General Secretary of Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), Stuart Ramalingam, who was also present at the launch, said that FAM has pledged its full support to WFSA and will continue to do so.

“WFSA comes at the right time. In Malaysia, we are witnessing the positive changes in our football scene,” Ramalingam said.  “A programme like WFSA will facilitate professionals in this field to be more equipped with all the relevant knowledge, understanding best practices and developing quality business networks”.

The last edition of World Football Summit, which was held in Madrid, saw the participation of 100+ countries from across the globe. Some of the issues addressed during the Madrid summit were challenges and opportunities in Asian football, the success of FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, digital transformation in sports and financial management in football clubs. About 2,000 delegates are expected to participate in the inaugural WFSA next year.

Some of the influential figures who are due to speak during the summit include La Liga President, Javier Tebas, Chairman of MFL, HRH Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim and FIFA’s Chief Digital Transformation and Innovation Officer, Luis Vicente.

For more information, visit WFSA’s official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/worldfootballsummit/ or log on to their website: http://asia.worldfootballsummit.com.