WFS Rabat 2025 drives global integration of African football

The inaugural edition of the World Football Summit (WFS) Rabat 2025 concluded on April 10 after two days of impactful dialogue and strategic collaboration. Held at UM6P’s Rabat campus in partnership with Evosport and the Royal Moroccan Federation of Football (FRMF), the summit convened 1,077 football industry leaders from 70 countries, including stakeholders from 65 clubs, leagues, and federations.

With the theme “Where football innovation meets legacy,” the summit underscored Africa’s evolving football identity and its integration into global structures—especially as Morocco prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.

“What we’ve witnessed in Rabat these past two days has been truly historic,” said Jan Alessie, Co-founder and Managing Director of World Football Summit. “This summit has not only showcased Morocco’s growing leadership in global football but has created tangible pathways for African football to accelerate its development through meaningful partnerships.”

“WFS Rabat is a natural extension of our commitment to rethinking development models through knowledge, innovation, and continental collaboration,” added Hicham El Habti, President of UM6P. “We are reinforcing Morocco’s and Africa’s capacity to lead with ideas, shape with values, and build ecosystems where excellence is cultivated and shared.”

Over 1,000 leaders gather at WFS Rabat 2025 to shape the future of football in Africa.

Honors Ceremony Celebrates Pioneers in Football Development

Moderated by Mimi Fawaz, the WFS Honors Ceremony spotlighted individuals and institutions transforming football:

Académie Mohammed VI: Local Grassroots Strategy to develop sport
Frédéric Kanouté: Exemplary Achievements in Football & Beyond
OCP Group: Social & Community Impact through Sport
FRMF: Exceptional Development in Women’s Football
African Club Association (ACA): Uniting African Football

Panels Tackle Talent, Technology, and Governance

Across two days, high-level discussions delved into pressing issues facing African football, including talent retention, financial sustainability, and governance reform. Notable voices included:

Fouzi Lekjaa (FRMF President): Morocco’s vision for the 2030 World Cup
Shehu Dikko (Nigerian Sports Minister): Sustainability in African football
Gelson Fernandes (FIFA Regional Director): Football governance pathways
Samson Adamu (CAF Director of Tournaments): Innovation in competition formats

The summit’s attendees included representatives from FIFA, CAF, ECA, and executives from organizations like LALIGA, FC Barcelona, and the NBA, who participated in dialogues on cross-continental collaboration.Strategic Public-Private Partnerships Power Summit Success

Corporate partners including Royal Air Maroc and TAQA played pivotal roles in the summit’s execution, underscoring the importance of public-private alliances in the sustainable development of sport.Global Momentum Continues with Upcoming WFS Events

The World Football Summit series continues throughout 2025 with editions in: