RIYADH: More than 150 speakers and 2,500 attendees from over 80 countries are preparing to descend on Misk City for the World Football Summit Riyadh on Dec. 10-11.

Participants will gather at Misk City for WFS Riyadh, the platform that aims to connect Saudi Arabia’s leading football officials and figures directly with high-profile individuals and companies from the global industry.

It will be the second year in row that the event will be held in the Saudi capital, with the World Football Summit Asia having also been hosted by Jeddah in late 2023.

Football is Saudi Arabia’s most popular sport, and as part of Vision 2030 the game has become a driver of social and economic development, particularly with the 2034 FIFA World Cup set to take place across 15 stadiums in the Kingdom.

A year on from FIFA’s confirmation of Saudi Arabia bid, WFS Riyadh 2025 will take place as football’s development across the Kingdom continues to accelerate. From the Saudi Women’s Premier League launch to the privatisation of three clubs opening doors to global investment, the past year has seen significant progress, which will be explored at the conference.

The event will be hosted by Mo Islam, presenter of The Mo Show. The agenda will address football’s most relevant topics through panel discussions, roundtables and fireside chats.

Over the summit’s two days, panels will explore the evolution of Saudi football, the long-term impact of hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup, the growth of international club partnerships, innovation in technology, and the role of inclusion and sustainability in the game’s future.

Confirmed speakers include Mai Alhelabi (CEO, local organization committee — Asia Cup 2027), Saleh Al-Shehri (footballer, Al-Ittihad), James Bisgrove (CEO, Al-Qadsiah Club), Esteve Calzada (CEO, Al-Hilal), Adlene Guedioura (former professional player), Ben Harburg (chairman, Harburg Group), David Henry (CEO, Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City), Peter Hutton (Saudi Pro League), Basim Ibrahim (sport investments director, Ministry of Investment), Omar Mugharbel (CEO, Saudi Pro League), Magda Pozzo (chief commercial officer, Udinese Calcio), Ralf Reichert (CEO, Esports World Cup Foundation), Javier Tebas (president, LALIGA), and Mohammed Wasfy (CEO, Right to Dream Egypt and FC Masar), among others.

Meanwhile, the Female Leaders Gathering, now in its third year, has established itself as an essential platform for advancing women’s leadership in football. This dedicated space within WFS Riyadh brings together women executives and athletes to discuss gender equity, leadership pathways, and the evolving role of women in the sport. The gathering will be led by Farkhunda Muhtaj, captain of the Afghanistan women’s national team and advocate for women’s rights through sport, who joins as ambassador of the initiative.

Other highlights include Brazilian freestyler Ricardinho attempting to break his own Guinness World Record for the longest time keeping a football in the air without it touching the ground. Ricardinho currently holds the record at 49 hours and 3 minutes, and his objective at WFS Riyadh is to reach 50 consecutive hours of ball control in the air.

Jan Alessie, co-founder and managing director of World Football Summit, said: “What stands out is the genuine interest from both sides; Saudi leaders wanting to share their progress and vision, and international stakeholders wanting to understand and engage effectively.

“The strength of this year’s speaker lineup and the backing from leading global and regional partners reflects that appetite,” he added. “In just three years, WFS Riyadh has consolidated as the platform where these partnerships happen naturally. We’re pleased to continue playing that role and committed to maintaining this long-term presence in the Kingdom.”

WFS Riyadh 2025 is supported by Pioneer Events as main partner and backed by leading regional and international football properties, with the Saudi Pro League as institutional partner and LALIGA as corporate partner. The event will take place at Malfa Hall, in Misk City, the first nonprofit city of its kind.