Hong Kong has burnishing its credentials as a top Asian showcase for football, having recently hosted a series of high-profile events – from Manchester United Tour of Asia 2025 in May to the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025 in July which welcomed Liverpool FC, AC Milan, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. The Saudi Super Cup was also in town in August, involving superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
The World Football Summit (WFS) chose Hong Kong as the destination for its Asia expansion. Organisers brought together investors, innovators and passionate fans at the AsiaWorld-Expo venue 3-4 September, 2025.
And attendees were able to rub shoulders with iconic players such as former England and Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand, former Chelsea and England captain John Terry and Croatia’s all-time top scorer Davor Šuker.
Anthony Lau, Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB)’s executive director, said: “The World Football Summit is one of the world’s most influential football conventions. Being the host city, Hong Kong demonstrates its increasingly influential role on the global sports scene as an ideal host city for both sports events and MICE events for the sports industry.”
HKTB also aranged immersive tours of Hong Kong for the visiting stars and Summit guests, enriching their business travel experience.
WFS proved a platform for sharing future-shaping insights from the industry’s senior executives and thought-leaders. Topics covered included international expansion, Asia’s growing influence in the global game, youth development, grassroots pathways, digital transformation, investment, technology, AI, sustainability and community impact.
Jan Alessie, co-founder and MD of WFS, hailed Hong Kong as the most strategic choice for the summit’s Asia expansion. “With our debut in Hong Kong, we’re not only bringing that same energy to Asia – we’re building a platform for long-term collaboration, investment, and innovation in the region’s game. We believe Hong Kong can become a bridge between East and West for football, driving growth and unlocking new opportunities for the game across the region.”
