At a Soccerex press conference in Mexico City on Wednesday, a panel of distinguished guests announced the plans for the Soccerex Americas Forum 2016 and confirmed the first selection of VIPs set to attend the event, including Carlos Alberto Torres, captain of the legendary 1970 FIFA World Cup winning Brazil team, lifting the trophy in Mexico’s famous Azteca Stadium.

The Soccerex Americas Forum, held in partnership with leading sports marketing agency Global W Mexico and the Mexico City Government (CDMX), will be taking place at the Camino Real Hotel in Mexico City on 11-12 May. The event will bring together over 700 senior decision makers from the global football industry, with international experts delivering over 10 hours of top level business insight through a programme of conference panels and presentations and over 24 hours of unrivalled networking opportunities provided through an exhibition, featuring over 40 companies and a series of networking and social events.

Duncan Revie expressed his excitement at holding the first Soccerex in Mexico in partnership with the team at Global W Mexico and announced that the Americas Forum will see David Dein, one of the founders of The Premier League, look at the secrets of establishing league growth alongside representatives from MLS, Liga MX and LaLiga, who are partners of the event.

Revie also confirmed that the Forum will include a star studded session looking at the development of players, both in Mexico and globally, which will feature Gerard Houllier, former Liverpool FC Manager and now Head of Global Football, Red Bull, alongside Gaizka Mendieta and Carlos Alberto Torres. Torres is an ambassador for Soccerex and confirmed his attendance at the Forum via a specially recorded video message at the press conference.

Some of the topics to be addressed at the Forum include digital marketing, international growth, player transfers and the Hispanic influence on football business in the US.

Other topics to be addressed at the Forum include the impact of digital marketing in football, the international growth of the game, player transfers and the Hispanic influence on football business in the US.

Rodrigo Lopez Jurado welcomed Soccerex to Mexico and announced that Movistar will be partners of the event. He also spoke with former players Kikin Fonseca and Gaizka Mendieta about their experiences of Soccerex events and the impact they felt it could make on Mexico’s football industry.

With the support of key figures like Fonseca and Mendieta and football clubs such as Inter Milan, Manchester City, Manchester United, Barcelona and Valencia already signed up to join leading international brands such as Telefonica and Fox Sports, the Americas Forum will be a must attend event for anyone interested in doing business in the football industry.

For more information on the Soccerex Americas Forum, please go to www.soccerex.com/americas, call +44 (0)20 8987 5522 or email enquiry@soccerex.com.

Source: Soccerex

Ahead of the Soccerex Global Convention 2015, Soccerex has confirmed the final line up of event partners and supporters. Brands such as Qatar’s leading communications company Ooredoo, market leader in enterprise application software SAP and  leading international media like Eurosport have all signed up for the three day football business event. 

The Soccerex Football Festival – 5th - 6th September, the Old Granada Studios– will take place in partnership with Marketing Manchester and with the support of Global Games, Football Freestyle Federation, Urban Cage Soccer and UK Footgolf Association.

The Soccerex Global Convention then kicks off at Manchester Central Convention Complex on 7th September with programmes of conference content, exhibition stands and networking activities over the next three days. The Convention is held in partnership with Marketing Manchester and with the support of international event host partner The Asian Football Development Project (Asian Forum). 

Other event partners include global insurance experts, Lockton, and leading sports broadcaster talkSPORT as well as FIFA Master Alumni who will be the academic supporter to the Convention. Major Events International (MEI) will be the commercial supporter of the event.

The Convention is staged with the institutional support of LaLiga, The Football League, French Football Federation, Ligue de Football Professionnel and the European Sponsorship Association (ESA) and can count on the support of international legal experts Pinsent Masons, logistics specialists DB Schenker International, leading global hoteliers, Radisson, world’s leader in visual communications Getty Images, Sports PR, communications and sponsorship activation consultancy Macesport, production distribution company Boulder Creek International, leading international law firm Maples and Calder, LawInSport, industry’s leading international sports business and financial advisory firms APC Sports Consulting Limited , Mobile Media Content, Red Touch Media USA, UK Trade & Investment, Qatar Stars League, Qatar Football association and Football Medical Association.

The Convention will consist of a number of top companies giving in depth insights into the business  of football with the likes of Matchvision, Pro Soccer Development, Solive, Tifosy, Social Chain and Triple IT all having presentation slots for what is widely acknowledged as the world’s leading football business event.

Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie commented: “We are very proud to work with our host partners Marketing Manchester and all the different event partners and supporters of the Global Convention. We are very grateful for their immense support, without which we would not be able to deliver the events we do”.

The Soccerex Global Convention kicks off with the Football Festival on 5-6th September, with the conference starting on Monday 7th September. A packed international exhibition and a programme of networking and social events such as the half time networking lounge sponsored by bottoms up beer, social evenings sponsored by Prestige Hospitality, official sales agent for the UEFA Euro 2016 Hospitality programme and the VIP dinner sponsored by Global W Mexico. Another networking social event is “SoccerMatch” which is the platform for the football industry to share ideas, discover new contacts and do business and is sponsored by Yuuzoo. The CSO Zone is playing a bigger part in this year’s Convention and will be sponsored by Terres Des Hommes.

For full information about Soccerex please visit www.soccerex.com/global // call +44 (0)20 8987 5522 // email enquiry@soccerex.com

Major League Soccer (MLS) commissioner Don Garber is to speak at the Soccerex Global Convention 2015, which takes place at the Manchester Central Convention Complex, 7th-9th September. 

Garber will discuss MLS’ journey from its launch as a 10-club league in 1996 to one of the fastest developing leagues, attracting global stars such as Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, David Villa and Kaka.

Garber will also provide insight on the league’s international sponsorship and broadcasting deals, including a new multi-million dollar deal with Sky.

With MLS leading the way in respect to fan engagement, Garber will highlight the importance of digital media as a vehicle for connecting with soccer fans globally and the commercial benefits of being at the forefront of enhancing match day experience.

Garber has turned the league’s fortunes around since taking on the role of commissioner in 1999, bringing it out of a threatening period of financial underperformance and into one of stability and growth. 

Under Garber’s guidance, the league has expanded to 23 teams across America and Canada, and is well on the way to achieving its goal of 24 teams by 2020, with new franchises awarded to Atlanta and Minnesota. 

In 2015, Soccerex enters its 20th year and MLS celebrates its 20th anniversary. 

“As we begin the countdown to our 20th anniversary, it is only fitting that Don and MLS are involved in the year they celebrate the same milestone,” said Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie.

“Both our organisations have enjoyed significant growth during this period and I congratulate Don on the fantastic job he and his team have done in creating such a dynamic and forward thinking league. 

“Don’s insight into MLS’s expansion plans will prove fascinating; I am delighted he has agreed to part of this year’s event and his involvement is indicative of the top level right’s holders that will be featuring in this year’s programme.”

The Global Convention will consist of a thought provoking conference programme packed with business insight, alongside a market-leading international exhibition and extensive networking. A programme of social events completes the schedule for what is widely acknowledged as the world’s leading football business event.

For more information on Soccerex please visit http://www.soccerex.com/events/global-convention/2015, call +44 (0)20 8987 5522 or email enquiry@soccerex.com

The date of the Soccerex Asian Forum has changed from the 14 to 15 April to the 3 and 4 May, the organisers announced today.

The change was made after the decision by the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) to bring forward their congress to April.

“The aim of the Soccerex Asian Forum is to promote the development of football and football business in Asia, through providing a platform for the whole world of football to gather in Jordan. The rescheduling of the CONCACAF Congress meant that it would be very difficult for many of the decision makers from this important region, and the industry worldwide, to attend the Asian Forum,” said Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie.

“We have long enjoyed a good working relationship with CONCACAF and were delighted to welcome a significant CONCACAF delegation, led by President Jeffrey Webb, to two of our events in 2014.

“With this in mind, following discussion with our partners, we have taken the decision to move the Asian Forum to the new dates of the 3 and 4 May 2015. 

“The event will still be held at the same fantastic location on the banks of the Dead Sea and will continue to be hosted in conjunction with the Asian Football Development Project”.

Soccerex Asian Forum will now start just two days after the AFC Congress in Bahrain draws to a close. The close proximity of the Congress in both date and location – Jordan is just a short flight from Bahrain – means that a significant AFC presence is expected at the Asian Forum.

For more information contact Soccerex on +44 208 987 5522 or enquiry@soccerex.com

HRH Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan has announced that he will stand for the presidency of FIFA, in a bid that could bring Sepp Blatter’s 17 year reign to an end.

“This was not an easy decision,” Prince Ali said in a statement. 

“It came after careful consideration and many discussions with respected FIFA colleagues over the last few months.”

His decision comes soon after the culmination of FIFA’s investigations into allegations of corruption in its bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which failed to identify any culpable wrongdoing and led to the resignation of Michael Garcia, the lawyer hired by FIFA to investigate the allegations. 

Prince Ali has pledged to run a positive campaign and to steer FIFA away from the controversies of recent years.  “The message I heard, over and over, was that it is time for a change. 

“It is time to shift the focus away from administrative controversy and back to sport.”

Prince Ali became vice president of FIFA in 2011. He is also president of the Jordan Football Association and the West Asia Football Federation, which he founded in 2001. 

If elected, Prince Ali would be the first FIFA president from the Asia region and only the second from outside Europe, after Brazil’s Joao Havelange.

At just 39 years old, Prince Ali is a contrasting candidate to FIFA’s 79 year old candidate Sepp Blatter, who announced in September 2014 that he would run for a fifth term. 

At Soccerex Global Convention in September, Prince Ali spoke out in favour of time limits for presidential terms 

Blatter is a formidable opponent who has weathered many a storm without any apparent loss to his power or personal reputation. 

The only other candidate in the race is Jerome Champagne of France, who also announced he would stand in September 2014. 

The deadline for presidential candidates to come forward is the 29th January. All candidates must be nominated by five FIFA members, of which there are 209. 

The election takes place by secret ballot on May 29th.

Soccerex has announced that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Royal Jordanian Airlines, PepsiCo and the Jordan Tourism Board have committed to the Soccerex Asian Forum, which takes place from 13-14 May on the banks of the Dead Sea in Jordan, in partnership with the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP).

Royal Jordanian Airlines – voted Airline of the Year by Air Finance Journal in 2007 – is now the official airline partner of the Forum. PepsiCo, the official sponsor of the AFC, and the Jordan Tourism Board have signed up as official event supporters. 

Pepsi (PepsiCo) will act as official drinks supplier of the event while the Jordan Tourism Board will sponsor a social evening taking place at the Marriott Dead Sea Spa & Resort on Tuesday 13 May.

“We are very excited to bring this impressive selection of global brands to the event,” said Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie. “These are first-class organisations that bring the sport and the community together, and we believe will help Jordan and the rest of the continent become a destination for the global industry and soccer fans alike for many years to come.”

The local organising committee of the 2015 Asian Cup will be partnering with Austrade, the Australian Trade Commission, to host Café Australia, the networking hub at the heart of the exhibition hall. 

Australia is joined by India, Korea and other Asian federations, demonstrating the Asian Forum’s status as a significant gateway to Asia for the global industry. In addition to national associations, a number of premier footballing institutions including FIFA, The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, The FA, La Liga, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona, the Japan Football Association and Galatasaray, have signed up for the event.

The AFC is also involved in the content of the event, updating delegates on the delivery of the Cup in a panel dedicated to major events. AFC Vice-President Moya Dodd will provide an outlook on the issues surrounding women’s football in Asia.

The Forum, held in partnership with the AFDP founded and chaired by HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, brings together leading figures from the world of Asian football as well as other international football experts to discuss the development of the game across Asia. The conference agenda includes a review of the opportunities and challenges facing Asian football.

The presidents of 12 national football associations have so far confirmed their attendance at the Soccerex Asian Forum, which takes place on 13-14 May on the banks of the Dead Sea in Jordan. 

These officials are the ultimate decision makers for football in major middle eastern, Asian and western markets. And with FIFA introducing new regulations on the selection of host cities for future world cups, they administrators will also have a say in some of the biggest decisions in world football. 

Leading the list of FA presidents will be HRH Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein, (Jordan), Sunil Gulati, (USA), H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, (Qatar) and Chung Mong-gyu, (Korea), alongside FA presidents from the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Palestine, Yemen, Lebanon, Kyrgyz Republic, Papua New Guinea and the Honorary President for Norway. According to Soccerex, many more are expected to confirm shortly. 

“The quality and quantity of the attendees singing up for the Forum is truly outstanding. As the key decision makers behind commercial and development projects for their own FAs as well as international matters such as future World Cup host selection, these presidents are amongst the most important footballing administrators on the planet,” said Duncan Revie, CEO of Soccerex.

Other senior representatives from Asia attending include AFC Vice-President and Football Federation Board Member Moya Dodd, All-India Football Federation General Secretary Kushal Das and Singapore FA General Secretary Winston Lee, as well as their counterparts from Turkmenistan and Bangladesh. 

Other premier footballing institutions represented include FIFA, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, The FA (UK), La Liga, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona, the Japan Football Association and Galatasaray. 

Organised in partnership with the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP), the Forum is a unique platform for businesses looking to expand their network and to present themselves to these industry leaders. 

Chaired by HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, the event brings together the leading figures from the world of Asian football as well as other international football experts to discuss the development of the game across Asia. The conference agenda will include a review of the opportunities for growth and the challenges facing Asian football.

For further details about the Soccerex Asian Forum please read the full conference programme or contact Soccerex on +44 208 987 5522 or enquiry@soccerex.com. 

Soccerex and the Football League have signed a memorandum of understanding, committing to work together to make sure that football continues to develop across the League. 

The agreement gives the Sky Bet Football League a major role at the Soccerex Global Convention, which takes place from 6-10 September in Manchester. 

The Football League, the oldest competition in world football, today encompasses the three top divisions immediately below the Premiership. 

Addressing issues such as club ownership, finance and betting, the League and Soccerex will work together to make sure that senior representatives from every one of the 72 Football League clubs attend the event. The League will also have a significant presence within the exhibition and play an integral part of the conference programme. 

“Networking and knowledge sharing is an extremely valuable component for our development and Soccerex is the best football business event for this,” said Shaun Harvey, CEO of the Football League. 

“We will be working closely with them to ensure a strong turnout from our club members so they can make most of the important opportunities that Soccerex presents.”

Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie said: “Having grown up amidst the excitement and success of the Football League with my dad at Leeds United and Manchester City, I have witnessed what this institution has done for our sport. Signing this MoU signals our intent to work with the best in the business and we look forward to welcoming all of the 72 clubs to Manchester.”

The Football League join an growing roster of names lining up for the Convention that already includes FIFA President Joseph Blatter, FIFA Vice-President Jim Boyce, British Olympic Association Chairman Lord Coe, RFU CEO Ian Ritchie and England and Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton.

The Convention kicks off with the Football Festival on 6-7th September with the conference starting on Monday 8th September.

For more information please visit http://www.soccerex.com/global or email enquiry@soccerex.com

On 21-22 October, the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on the tropical island of Barbados will be the venue of the Soccerex Americas Forum. The event promises to connect the leading administrators and business figures within the Americas with their global counterparts.  

The confederation has plans for a Caribbean Premier League to emulate the success of Mexico's Liga MX, which recorded the fourth highest average attendance of any professional league in the world, and the MLS, which is set to add four new franchises over the next three years.

 “We are proud and privileged to be the host location for this year’s Soccerex Americas Forum,” said Petra Roach, interim president and CEO, Barbados Tourism Authority. 

“As a nation of sporting enthusiasts, we take football very seriously, and thus are delighted to be able to facilitate an event whereby the beautiful game is at the core of the discourse.”

Major events will be an important focus of the conference programme, with the 2016 Copa America and a potential CONCACAF 2026 World Cup bid high on the agenda. 

Sport tourism will also figure prominently, due to the region’s attractive climate and rich sporting culture. The conference programme will also cover league development and player development and retention.

The event will also feature a review of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, with a number of footballing legends appearing.

Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie said: “I am delighted that our first Americas Forum will be held in Barbados, a country with a huge sporting passion. It will provide a great location to start our time in the region and to continue our efforts of strengthening football business within the Americas.  With all the beautiful island has to offer, there isn’t a better backdrop to do business.”

For further details about the Soccerex Americas Forum, please contact Soccerex on +44 208 987 5522 or email us on enquiry@soccerex.com. 

The AFC Asian Cup draw ceremony took place at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday, attended by His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmad Al Thani, president of the Qatar Football Association (QFA).

Qatar was drawn with Iran, UAE and Bahrain in Group C, while hosts Australia face South Korea, Oman and Kuwait in Group A. 

China was drawn with North Korea, Saudia Arabia and Uzbekistan in Group B. Group D is comprised of Japan, Jordan, Iraq and the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 winners.

On the eve of the draw, Sheikh Hamad confirmed his attendance at the Soccerex Asian Forum.

Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie said: “It’s a great honour to welcome Sheikh Hamad to the Asian Forum, with Qatar being an example of the rapid growth of football within Asia; we’re delighted to be able to offer our delegates the opportunity to network and do business with one of the most influential footballing administrators on the planet.”

Re-elected to another four-year term late last year, Sheikh Hamad was at the helm of the association when the country won the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 

One of the central figures behind the development of the commercial aspect of the game in Asia, Sheikh Hamad oversaw a number of major sponsorship deals for the association as well as the Q-League, including agreements with Qatar Airways, QNB Group and Aamal. 

Soccerex Asian Forum, organized in partnership with the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP), takes place on 13-14 May at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre, situated on the banks of The Dead Sea, Jordan.

For more information about AFC Asia Cup visit the www.afcasiancup.com

For further details about the Soccerex Asian Forum please contact Soccerex on +44 208 987 5522 or visit www.soccerex.com