Connecting with the GenZ Football Fan

Welcome back! This week:

• How football properties can engage the GenZ sports fan
• Changing the football industry through resilience
• Join us in our future World Football Summit Events

Have you checked out The World Football Summit Podcast?  Other than the two conversations highlighted this week, the list of episodes also includes:

• The role of Intellectual Property in the strategy of a football club
• How athletes can maximize performance through sleep
• The future of sports partnerships in web3
• How LaLiga is growing football in Africa

How can football clubs connect with the GenZ sports fan?

Shortly after participating in WFS Europe, Bas Schnater, founder of Fan Engagement Consultancy, published a brilliant article with detailed research on how football clubs can better connect with GenZ fans. We welcomed Bas to the World Football Summit podcast to dig deeper into how to engage with the fan of the present and future.

The main conclusions of the study were:

• GenZ fans want to help shape the future, they want to have some degree of influence in the strategy.
• They prioritize psychological well-being.
• Sports organizations need to have a clear point of view on topics that impact society like equality and inclusion, social empowerment, etc.
• Work-life balance is a key factor when considering new opportunities.
• GenZ shows great concern about the environment and climate change.

What we liked most from Bas’ approach is that it gives practical advice for any sports business to implement. So, if you want to know about the theory and the practice, make sure you add this one to your playlist!

Changing the football industry through resilience

“Change does not come overnight. It is about the consistent application of key principles over a long period of time.”

Lindi Ngwenya is the founder of Sisu Sports Management Ltd, and she is looking to create opportunities for women and African athletes all around the world. We welcomed her to the podcast to discuss the overall state of the industry, and no topic was left untouched!

• We talked about the growth of women’s football and how we can unlock the next level of growth for the women’s game. In essence, it is about making it more accessible, creating solidarity mechanisms, and getting players to play more games.
• There is amazing potential for the African football industry. Lindi actually talks about why the projected population growth for Africa is something that football clubs need to take advantage of it if they want to grow. 
• We even had time to talk about leadership, resilience, the role of AI technology in helping grow the sport, and some of the opportunities behind web3.

The team at Sisu Sports Management is also making efforts to provide opportunities for the youth in Africa. They have launched Uburu, a digital platform that looks to help young African athletes get scholarships in the United States. You can find out more about this amazing project on their website or even get in touch with them HERE.

So, if you are into entrepreneurship in sports, leadership, or trying to understand where the football industry is headed, make sure you listen to the entire conversation!

Pre-register for World Football Summit events taking place in 2023

If you are already working on your business plans for 2023, make sure you mark your calendar with the line-up of World Football Summit events. Our Pre-Register forms are now available!

► 9 Jun. 2023 | Istanbul, TURKEY | FOOTBALL INNOVATION FORUM ••• Pre-Register

► 20-21 Sep. 2023 | Sevilla, SPAIN | WFS EUROPE ••• Pre-Register