Philadelphia, USA – 7–9 October 2025
The 11th edition of the Aspire Academy Global Summit concluded in Philadelphia, USA, at Subaru Park — home of Philadelphia Union — in partnership with Major League Soccer (MLS).
This marked the first time the summit was held in the United States, reflecting Aspire Academy’s growing global presence and its leading role in football development worldwide.
The summit stood out as one of the most prominent annual platforms for knowledge exchange and expertise sharing in the field of football development. It brought together a distinguished group of clubs, federations, and experts from across the Aspire in the World Fellows network, which includes more than 50 clubs and federations from different continents. The summit aimed to address key contemporary challenges in football and present innovative solutions to enhance both technical and administrative performance.
Over the course of three days, the summit featured a rich program of keynote sessions, star chats with football legends, specialized workshops, and panel discussions. These explored relevant topics such as managing congested match calendars, leveraging technology to boost athletic performance, and the growth of women’s football.
The summit gathered some of the most prominent football stars and experts, as well as leading figures from international federations and clubs.
In his opening speech, Mr. Abdullah Nasser Al-Naemi, Acting Director General of Aspire Zone Foundation, stated:
“This summit continues our journey of strengthening knowledge and expertise exchange among the world’s leading academies, clubs, and federations. We are confident that the discussions held during this event — from tactical philosophies and athlete performance to exploring the future of women’s football will contribute to the development of the sport and enhance its positive global impact.”
During the summit, Mr. Iván Bravo, Director General of Aspire Academy, emphasized the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences among coaches from different countries, saying:
“We are about sharing and about knowledge exchange. We love to visit new countries and understand the challenges that coaches face. What is the approach to player development? That exchange of ideas and understanding of coaches’ approach in different countries is what makes the Aspire in the World Fellows program so special.”
He added:
“It’s crucial to be able to become a successful coach and provide a clear pathway for players. The program is designed for coaches and technical staff to maximize their understanding, allowing them to continue learning, adapting, and sharing. We hope that by opening it up to all the US soccer coaches, we can expand our horizons even further.”
The summit concluded on 9 October with widespread praise from participants for its organization and content. It succeeded in sparking new initiatives and partnerships and generated innovative ideas in the fields of coaching, technical performance, and management — further strengthening Aspire Academy’s position as a global hub for football development and excellence.