SFS 26 program presented in Milan: Turin becomes the hub for international football business

Milan, October 29, 2026 – The official program for the Social Football Summit 2026 (SFS 26), scheduled for November 10 and 11 at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, was presented today at the headquarters of Lega Calcio Serie A in Milan. Two days dedicated to the football industry and sports business, featuring representatives from leading leagues, clubs, institutions, corporate partners, and key sports innovation players.

The press conference brought together Luigi De Siervo, CEO of Lega Serie A; Paolo Rozera, Director General of UNICEF Italy; Gianfilippo Valentini, Founder and CEO of Social Football Summit; Ivan Ortenzi, Chief Scientific Officer of the event; and Vincenzo Filetti, Director of SFS ExtraTime. The agenda presented in Milan focuses on governance, innovation, sustainability, new revenue streams, and the international growth of the sector.

LEGA CALCIO SERIE A AS GLOBAL PARTNER: COMMITTEES AND STRATEGIC NETWORKING

Lega Calcio Serie A serves as Global Partner of SFS 26, as part of a long-standing collaboration that reinforces the Summit’s role as a platform for discussion and professional relationship building. Alongside public panels, the event will host working sessions and committees organized by Lega Calcio Serie A, featuring club executives from CFO & Finance, Marketing & Sponsorship, Digital, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) divisions.

Lega Serie B will also organize dedicated meetings and private sessions for its member clubs. The dialogue among management, leagues, technology partners, investors, and corporate leaders will generate tangible networking, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing opportunities between Italian football and key European markets.

OVER 250 SPEAKERS AND LEADERS FROM SPORTS INSTITUTIONS

The program brings together over 250 speakers, including sports executives, institutional leaders, former players, and sports business professionals. Confirmed names include Javier Tebas, President of LaLiga; Romy Gai, Chief Business Officer of FIFA; Luigi De Siervo, CEO of Lega Calcio Serie A; Michele Uva, UEFA Executive Director for EURO 2032 Italy; Paolo Bedin, President of Lega Serie B; and Federica Cappelletti, President of Serie A Women.

Prominent names on the official speaker list also include executives from Italian clubs and figures from international football, making the agenda a comprehensive exchange of sports, operational, and commercial insights.

The institutional presence is further highlighted by the involvement of Ezio Simonelli, President of Lega Calcio Serie A, and UNICEF Italy, represented at the press conference by Director General Paolo Rozera. Other featured participants include Umberto Calcagno, President of the Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC), and Fabrizio D’Ascenzo, President of INAIL. The conversation extends to leading federations and leagues from other sporting disciplines.

The agenda will compare experiences from football with those of other sports, including basketball, volleyball, tennis, padel, cycling, and ice hockey. Speakers include Angelo Binaghi, President of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP); Cordiano Dagnoni, President of the Italian Cycling Federation (FCI); Maurizio Gherardini, President of Lega Basket Serie A (LBA); Frank Leenders, Director General of FMMS at FIBA; Massimo Protani, President of Lega Basket Femminile; and Mauro Fabris, President of Lega Pallavolo Serie A Femminile. The international perspective is broadened by contributions from Caroline Waldheim (Swedish Football Association), Angelica Lindeberg (Swedish Women’s Hockey League), and Pedro Malabia Sanchis (Liga F)—voices from different federations, leagues, and markets widening the global dialogue on sports business.

FROM THE PREMIER LEAGUE TO THE BUNDESLIGA: CLUBS FROM EUROPE’S TOP LEAGUES

SFS 26 will feature representatives and executives from major European leagues: Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Portuguese Primeira Liga, and French Ligue 1. Participating clubs highlighted in the program include Arsenal FC, FC Bayern München, AS Monaco, Nottingham Forest, Atlético de Madrid, Real Betis, Sevilla FC, SC Braga, and Anderlecht, along with representatives from Italian football and other international markets.

Executives from foreign clubs and leagues include Mark Cocker (Arsenal FC), Marie Schuster (FC Bayern München), José Ángel Risco Oliva (Sevilla FC), Fausto Scaldaferri (Real Betis), António Gomes de Menezes (SC Braga), and Bernardo Azevedo (Liga Portugal).

Club panel discussions will examine international brand expansion, revenue diversification, infrastructure, commercial partnerships, and fan-base engagement. This European dimension positions the Summit as a cross-border venue for analyzing distinct management models and strategies.

SEVEN STAGES, WORKING GROUPS, AND OPERATIONAL DISCUSSIONS

The Summit will feature seven stages and dedicated discussion zones—three of which are open to the public—complemented by working groups, professional roundtables, and private sessions. Key topics on the agenda include financial sustainability, artificial intelligence, the data economy, tech innovation, infrastructure, fan engagement, and global growth.

TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA, AND NEW REVENUE MODELS

Key figures from the media, communications, and content industry will participate, including Alex Bysouth (BBC Sport), Irati Prat del Pozo (MARCA), Martin Volkmar (ran/ProSiebenSat.1, Germany), Renato Maisani (Footballco Europe), Johann Crochet (RMC Sport), Andrea David Rizzi (YouTube Italy & Portugal), and Valentina Lualdi (IMG).

A prominent role will be played by Sky Sport, long-standing partner of the Social Football Summit, confirming its multi-year collaboration for the 2026 edition. The broadcaster will be represented by prominent sports journalism figures, including Gianluca Di Marzio, Marina Presello, Luca Marchetti, Federico Zancan, and Valentina Mariani, contributing to conversations on key industry trends and covering the event.

The program will also feature Michele Dalai and Federica Zille from DAZN, as well as Monica Bertini from Sport Mediaset, underscoring the growing importance of broadcasters, publishers, digital platforms, and media professionals in the evolution of the Football Industry.

Among the headline highlights is Alessandro Del Piero, who will take the stage on November 11 for the panel “Alessandro Del Piero and TikTok: Storytelling of a Legend,” exploring modern approaches to sports content creation. Through archive imagery, creative content, and original formats, the former Juventus captain will demonstrate how TikTok can revitalize iconic moments from his career, connecting across generations of fans.

In addition to clubs, leagues, and federations, SFS 26 involves major global brands and leaders in technology, marketing, services, and corporate communications. Main Partners within the event ecosystem include Almaviva, Salesforce, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and ADVANT. Dialogues with corporate partners will span panels dedicated to data, AI, digital transformation, and new monetization models, creating concrete B2B networking and collaboration opportunities between business and sport. The event is organized by Social Media Soccer and Go Project.

MOMENTUM: THE BUSINESS OF WOMEN’S SPORT

A central focus will be dedicated to MOMENTUM, the track focused on the economic, commercial, and cultural growth of women’s sport, developed with contributions from Elena Mirandola, Founder of The Breakaway. Confirmed speakers include Federica Cappelletti, President of Serie A Women; Angelica Lindeberg, CEO of the Swedish Women’s Hockey League; Caroline Waldheim, Head of Sustainability & Public Affairs at the Swedish Football Association; and Alessandra Nencioni, General Manager of La Napoli Women.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, SFS EXTRATIME, AND SFS AWARDS

The partnership with UNICEF Italy will highlight the role of sport as a vehicle for social inclusion, education, and community development. The Summit also takes place under the official patronage of major football governing bodies and organizations, including FIGC, AIC, Lega Calcio Serie A, Lega Serie B, and Lega Pro.

SFS ExtraTime returns as the dedicated track for innovation in the Football Industry, connecting startups, universities, corporate enterprises, investors, and football clubs. On November 10, the Reggia di Venaria will host the SFS Awards, celebrating excellence across international football and sports business. A total of 15 awards will be presented to Italian and international clubs during a gala dinner hosted by Giusy Meloni.

OFFICIAL STATEMENTS

Luigi De Siervo, CEO of Lega Calcio Serie A:«The Social Football Summit is the benchmark event where football industry professionals consolidate diverse skills, experiences, and visions to imagine and shape the future of our sport’s business. In a rapidly evolving sector marked by opportunities in technological innovation, new revenue streams, private equity presence, and shifting relationships with fans and commercial partners, anticipating transformation and identifying new avenues for growth is essential. Lega Calcio Serie A confirms its role as Global Partner and brings its core operational activities to Turin, including the Clubs’ General Assembly and several specialized committees in finance, media, marketing, digital, and social responsibility. It is through this dialogue between Italian and international professionals, the sharing of best practices, and the ability to turn ideas into concrete projects that we can define strategies to strengthen the competitiveness of our football and unlock new growth opportunities across the entire Italian sports system.»

Gianfilippo Valentini, Founder and CEO of SFS:«The 9th edition of the Social Football Summit marks another major milestone in the event’s growth and internationalization. Two days at the Allianz Stadium in Turin featuring over 250 speakers, 9 stages, working groups, the assemblies of Lega Serie A and Lega B, and high-value networking opportunities. A program that champions innovation through Extra Time and the Startup Competition, while celebrating industry excellence with the SFS Awards gala dinner at the Reggia di Venaria. All of this is made possible thanks to our sponsors, partners, and our strong collaboration with Lega Serie A, which remain central pillars of this edition. We reaffirm our ambition: creating connections that generate real value, driving innovation, partnerships, and new business opportunities for the entire Football Industry.»

Paolo Rozera, Director General of UNICEF Italy:«Sport has an extraordinary ability to connect with young people, build communities, and promote shared values. Our collaboration with the Social Football Summit provides an opportunity to emphasize that industry growth and innovation must advance hand in hand with social responsibility. Investing in inclusion, education, and opportunities for younger generations means contributing to a fairer future, both on and off the pitch.»

THE EVENT IN TURIN

The media footprint of the Summit will involve leading Italian and international outlets and broadcasters: Sky Sport, DAZN, Sport Mediaset, BBC Sport, MARCA, ran/ProSiebenSat.1, Footballco, and Forbes Italia, through participating journalists, hosts, and industry professionals listed on the official speaker schedule. Host figures for the organization include Marina Presello, Giulia Piscina, and Giusy Meloni—host of the SFS Awards—along with Marco Bellinazzo. The involvement of media outlets reflects individual professional participation as speakers and moderators, rather than formal media partnerships by their respective newsrooms.

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SFS 26 is scheduled for November 10 and 11 at the Allianz Stadium in Turin.

MEDIA KIT: All press materials are available at the following link: https://socialfootballsummit.com/en/media-kit. The kit includes the official press release, photos from the press conference, and dedicated videos for SFS 26, SFS Awards, and SFS ExtraTime.

VIEW THE PROGRAM: The official SFS 26 program will be available online starting Monday, November 2, on www.socialfootballsummit.com.

INFORMATION & TICKETS: : I giornalisti interessati a partecipare all’evento del 10 e 11 novembre all’Allianz Stadium di Torino possono richiedere l’accredito media compilando il modulo disponibile al seguente link: https://www.socialfootballsummit.com/en/media