The inaugural World Football Summit (WFS) Rabat 2025, held in collaboration with Evosport (a subsidiary of UM6P) and the Royal Moroccan Federation of Football, concluded after two productive days of discussions about the state of football in Africa and its connection to global trends.
The summit, hosted on April 9 and 10 at UM6P’s Rabat campus, gathered over 1,077 football industry leaders from 70 countries, including representatives from 65 clubs, leagues, and federations. Under the theme “Where football innovation meets legacy,” the event highlighted Morocco and Africa’s growing influence in shaping global football, particularly with the 2030 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal approaching.
Jan Alessie, Co-founder and Managing Director of World Football Summit, praised the event, stating: “What we’ve witnessed in Rabat has been truly historic. The quality of discussion and the level of engagement exceeded expectations. This summit has not only showcased Morocco’s leadership in football but has opened pathways for African football to develop through global partnerships.”
Hicham El Habti, President of UM6P, emphasized the summit’s alignment with Morocco’s broader goals: “WFS Rabat is a natural extension of our commitment to innovation and continental collaboration. Hosting this summit strengthens Africa’s capacity to lead and build ecosystems of excellence.”
The WFS Honors Ceremony, hosted by Mimi Fawaz, celebrated notable contributors to football development. The Academie Mohammed VI was recognized for its Local Grassroots Strategy. Frederic Kanoute received the WFS Honor for Exemplary Achievements in Football & Beyond, while OCP Group was awarded for their community impact. The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) was honored for advancing women’s football in Morocco, and the African Club Association (ACA) received the WFS Honor for Uniting African Football.
Discussions throughout the summit focused on key challenges and opportunities in the football ecosystem. Topics included talent retention, financial models, technological advancements, and regulatory governance. Notably, Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Moroccan Football Federation, outlined Morocco’s vision for football development leading up to the 2030 World Cup. Shehu Dikko, Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, addressed sustainability in African football, while FIFA’s Gelson Fernandes shared insights on strengthening governance. CAF’s Samson Adamu also discussed innovations in competition formats.
The summit attracted participation from influential organizations such as FIFA, CAF, and ECA, alongside ministers from Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, as well as executives from major football entities like LALIGA, FC Barcelona, and the NBA. These discussions centered around cross-continental collaboration in sports governance.
Key summit partners, including Royal Air Maroc and TAQA, played a significant role in the event’s success, underscoring the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing sports development.
Looking ahead, the WFS global series will continue with events in Monterrey (June 2025), Hong Kong (September 2025), Madrid (October 2025), and Riyadh (December 2025), furthering global collaboration in the football industry.
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