DAY ONE BRINGS GLOBAL LEADERS TOGETHER TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF FOOTBALL

The Aspire Academy Global Summit 2025 officially commenced yesterday at Subaru Park, home of Philadelphia Union, marking the first time the prestigious gathering has been held in the United States.

Hosted in collaboration with Philadelphia Union and in partnership with Major League Soccer (MLS), among the first days' highlights was a Masterclass by former Liverpool and Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez and a Star Chat with ex-England boss Sir Gareth Southgate.

More than 400 people attended the opening, including members of the Aspire Academy leadership team, international guests, and members of the Aspire in the World Fellows community. They were joined by coaches from MLS and local clubs, as well as student-athletes from the YSC academy, the educational partner of the Philadelphia Union MLS Club. The young players later participated in the practical clinics; a new segment added to the Global Summit program this year.

The attendees were welcomed by Richie Graham, Founder of YSC Academy and Investor of the Philadelphia Union. He emphasised the importance of education and football. “Football’s future is very bright, and it’s inspiring to see everyone come together to contribute to the progress of the game. The commitment to education, development, and collaboration is what will shape the next generation of players and leaders in the game,” he said.

Abdullah Nasser Al-Nuaimi, Acting CEO of the Aspire Zone Foundation, welcomed the delegates and echoed the sentiments of Richie Graham: “At Aspire Academy, our purpose has always been to develop, not only exceptional athletes, but well-rounded individuals who understand the game, its values, and their role within it. Education is at the heart of everything we do, because lasting success in football depends as much on knowledge and character as it does on talent. The Aspire Global Summit embodies this vision; it’s a platform where learning, collaboration, and innovation come together to advance the game for future generations.” Abdullah concluded.

Building on that message, Aspire Academy Director General Ivan Bravo spoke about the Aspire Academy Global Summit’s mission to foster open dialogue and cross-cultural learning within the global football community. "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.”

“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,” Ivan concluded.

The guest of honour for the evening’s Gala Dinner was MLS Commissioner, Don Garber, who talked to the former US international footballer John Harkes. He explained some of the challenges he faced launching professional football in the USA following the 1994 FIFA World Cup and what lies ahead for MLS. “Events like the Aspire Academy Global Summit play a vital role in the progress of football as a sport. They connect ideas, people, and purpose, reminding us that the game’s progress depends on collaboration as much as competition.”

The Commissioner was presented with a gift from Aspire Academy to thank him for his contribution. The Summit also took the chance to recognize some of its key partners with presentations made to Jay Sugarman, the Owner of the Philadelphia Union, Richie Graham, Alfonso Mondelo, Senior Technical Director of Competitions at MLS and Essa al Sulaiti, TV Director at Alkass Sports Channel.

Earlier in the day the program began with a Masterclass with Rafa Benitez, former manager of Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Chelsea, along with his long-time assistant coach Francisco ‘Paco’ de Miguel Moreno. Rafa Benitez highlighted three areas where the game has changed in recent years: an increased use of video analysis of player performance, more statistics available to coaches and improved GPS capability. For his part, Francisco ‘Paco’ de Miguel Moreno stressed the need for techniques used for senior players to be made suitable for the elite youth teams to ensure continuity.

This was followed by the first Star Chat of the 2025 Summit with Sir Gareth Southgate, former England National Team Manager. He reflected on the challenges he faced during his coaching career and how he approached and overcame them. He added that events like the Global Summit play a crucial role in advancing football.  “The most important thing for developing football is developing coaches. We are all constantly learning, regardless of how long we have been in the field. Bringing people together to share experiences and ideas helps us all grow, especially as we look ahead to the World Cup and the continued evolution of the sport. Having an amalgamation of clubs and federations together at initiatives like the Aspire Academy Global Summit,  working and cheering for 11 years now, helps develop them further and gives them more confidence.”

The day’s second Star Chat was with Columbus Crew coach Wilfried Nancy Star Chat, who spoke to former professional player Bradley Wright-Phillips, who played over 200 matches for MLS side New York Red Bulls. Frenchman Wilfried Nancy offered an insight into his football philosophy, spoke about innovation and authenticity in coaching: “Coaching is about clarity, resilience, and connection; helping players fail, learn, and grow within structure and freedom. You have to fail; everyone fails. Life is about failure, and we have to learn to bounce back from it. It’s normal to face adversity, and if you don’t, it’s because you’re not trying. Coaching is about empowering players to read the game, adapt, and find solutions, while as a coach staying clear, open-minded, and true to yourself.”

Following his Star Chat, Wilfried Nancy and Bradley Carnell led an on-field practical clinic with the YSC Academy, offering young players a chance to see coaching philosophies come to life in practice for the first time ever, with top coaches and football leaders.

A series of shared workshops also provided the clubs and participants with practical, hands-on learning experiences led by Aspire Academy’s technical experts and international partners. The sessions focused on applied performance science, data-driven coaching, and youth development frameworks, allowing attendees to translate theory into actionable strategies.

Day One also featured two expert-led roundtables tackling the topics of “Fixed tactical philosophy versus contextual adjustments” and “From injury to peak performance.” The day’s roundtables featured representatives from world-renowned clubs and federations — including AFC Ajax, Tottenham Hotspur, Sporting Club de Portugal, and Philadelphia Union.

The Global Summit will continue with three more Star Chats featuring former Italian World Cup Winner Alessandro Nesta, two-time FIFA Women's World Cup winner Carli Lloyd and Ron Jaworski, former professional American football quarterback and workshops focused on performance innovation and player development.