Football legends Ronaldo Nazario, Andres Iniesta, and Arsene Wenger are set to visit Hong Kong this September for the city’s first-ever hosting of the World Football Summit (WFS), the Post has learned.
The international football and tech conference will take place from September 2 to 4 at AsiaWorld-Expo in Chek Lap Kok. The event will bring together top names from both the sports and technology sectors.
Guests will arrive on September 2 for a welcome dinner and a city tour, while the official summit will be held over the next two days.
A source revealed, “We are excited to share that the WFS will be hosted in Hong Kong for three consecutive years—2025, 2026, and 2027.”
The summit has already confirmed several high-profile speakers. Brazilian football legend Ronaldo, Spanish star Andres Iniesta, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, and ex-England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand will all attend. Other football greats set to appear include John Terry, Fabio Capello, and Francesco Totti.
The women’s game will also be well represented. Brazilian forward Marta Vieira da Silva, who has won the FIFA World Player of the Year award six times, and American legend Mia Hamm, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, will also attend.
Beyond the football world, the summit will feature influential figures from the tech industry. The goal is to bring together leaders in sports, finance, and technology to showcase innovations shaping the future of football.
Tech leaders expected to attend include OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Netflix’s head of sports Gabe Spitzer, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, and Google’s global marketing director Kate Johnson.
The source added that several Asian and local partners have been invited and are awaiting confirmation. “This event is projected to be one of the largest football exhibitions in Asia, positioning Hong Kong as a premier destination for football enthusiasts worldwide,” the insider said.
The summit is expected to draw more than 10,000 visitors, feature over 100 booths, and host 60 speakers.
The announcement comes as Hong Kong pushes to become a regional hub for major sporting events, aiming to support economic recovery and boost global visibility.
Other events lined up include the launch of a temporary museum dedicated to Cristiano Ronaldo at K11 Musea in July and a Manchester United exhibition match against the city’s representative team on May 30 at Hong Kong Stadium.
In addition, four major European clubs—Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and AC Milan—will participate in the Hong Kong Football Festival at Kai Tak Sports Park this July.
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui told the Post in a recent interview that while Hong Kong’s approach to attracting mega-events is quieter than that of regional competitors like Singapore, the city remains highly proactive in securing them.
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