Aspire Academy has announced that the 11th edition of its Global Summit will be held at Subaru Park, the home stadium of Philadelphia Union, on October 7-8, 2025. This marks the first time the summit will take place in the United States.
The event is organized in partnership with Philadelphia Union and Major League Soccer (MLS), both of which are members of Aspire Academy’s “Aspire in the World Fellows” initiative. The summit aims to bring together leading figures from international football for discussions on innovation and expertise in player development.
Ali Salem Afifa, Chairman of the Aspire Academy Global Summit, said: “Aspire Academy is thrilled to be taking the Global Summit to the United States of America for the first time as we continue our commitment to driving innovation and excellence in global football development. This Summit helps us bring together some of the world’s top football experts to share ideas, exchange knowledge, and inspire the next generation of players, coaches, and leaders. It is also an opportunity for Aspire Academy to be ambassadors for Qatar and highlight what our nation has to offer the world.”
This year’s summit will include practical sessions led by Philadelphia Union coach Bradley Carnell, Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy, and Jose Tavares from Porto FC. In addition to these clinics, there will be workshops and roundtable discussions featuring internationally recognized speakers such as Rafa Benitez—former manager of Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Inter Milan—who will deliver this year’s Master Class.
Other notable guests include former England national team manager Sir Gareth Southgate; Carli Lloyd, a FIFA Women’s World Cup winner; Wilfried Nancy; and Alessandro Nesta, a FIFA World Cup winner with Italy.
Roundtable topics will address current issues in football such as tactical philosophy with input from AFC Ajax, Philadelphia Union, and Qatar Football Association; injury recovery with specialists from Tottenham Hotspur and Sporting Club de Portugal; managing congested match calendars with MLS representatives; sports technology trends with Juventus contributors; and new developments in women’s soccer involving organizations like Inter Milan and Brazil’s football confederation.
Since its inception in 2004 as part of Aspire Zone Foundation in Qatar, Aspire Academy has developed into a prominent sports academy focused on elite athlete training and youth development. The academy works alongside other foundation members such as Aspire Logistics and Aspetar hospital to promote healthy lifestyles while developing sporting talent.
