What this room looked like in 2025
SPEAKERS
PHIL MURPHY
Former Governor of New Jersey
TAD BROWN
HARRIS BLITZER SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
NJ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITYTIM SULLIVAN
DIANNA RUSSINI
THE ATHLETIC
TOM GORKE
GOOGLE
QUIM DOMÈNECH
DAZN
XTIM O’MAHONY
DARREN ROVELL
CLLCT MEDIA
JOAQUIN DURO
NBCUNIVERSAL TELEMUNDO
BRUCE REVMAN
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 NYNJ HOST COMMITTEE
CHARLIE STILITANO
TEG SPORT NORTH AMERICA
STEVE PARISH
CRYSTAL PALACE FC
SUZANNE VRANICA
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
ELIOT HAMLISCH
AMTRAK
JENNY TAFT
FOX SPORTS
JEREMI GORMAN
FANATICS
RADHIKA DUGGAL
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
RICKY ENGELBERG
MAXIMUM EFFORT
SARAH JONES SIMMER
NWSL
YAEL AVERBUCH WEST
GOTHAM FC
LEX CHALAT
SOCCER FORWARD - US SOCCER FEDERATION
FOX SPORTS
ROBERT GOTTLIEB
RYU YOKOI
UNILEVER NORTH AMERICA
DANIELLE BROWN
DISNEY
AGENDA
8:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. | Fireside Chat
The Global Game Summit | Fireside Chat: NJEDA with HBSE
Moderator: Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico
Panelists include:
Tim Sullivan, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
Tad Brown, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment
9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. | Panel I
Streaming the Global Game – The Future of Soccer Media
Streaming services have become the primary destination for global soccer fans. This panel will explore how platforms are transforming soccer viewership, from real-time match coverage to personalized fan experiences.
Moderator: Dianna Russini, The Athletic
Panelists include:
Quim Domènech, DAZN
Tim O'Mahony, X
Joaquin Duro, NBCUniversal Telemundo
Tom Gorke, Google
9:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Panel II
The Future of Soccer – Investment, Growth, and Global Expansion
Soccer’s global growth is accelerating, creating new opportunities for investors and team owners. This panel will explore strategies for expanding the game in the U.S. and globally.
Moderator: Darren Rovell, CLLCT Media
Panelists include:
Charlie Stillitano, TEG Sport North America
Bruce Revman, FIFA World Cup 2026™ NYNJ Host Committee
Alexandra (Lex) Chalat, Soccer Forward – US Soccer Federation
Steve Parish, Crystal Palace FC
10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. | Panel III
The Marketer’s Perspective – Building Global Brands with Soccer
Top CMOs discuss how they are leveraging the global game to engage with fans and build their brands while shaping the future of soccer culture.
Moderator: Suzanne Vranica, The Wall Street Journal
Panelists include:
Radhika Duggal, MLS
Robert Gottlieb, FOX Sports
Eliot Hamlisch, Amtrak
Ricky Engelberg, Maximum Effort
Ryu Yokoi, Unilever North America
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Panel IV
The Women’s Game – Growth, Investment, and Cultural Momentum
The global rise of women’s soccer is transforming the landscape of sports, media, and business. From record-breaking World Cup viewership to a surge in investment and athlete-led storytelling, the women’s game is rewriting the playbook. This panel explores the cultural and commercial momentum behind the sport’s growth, the role of technology in driving visibility, and the athletes and executives leading the charge.
Moderator: Jenny Taft - FOX Sports Host/Reporter
Panelists include:
Sarah Jones Simmer, NWSL
Danielle Brown, Disney
Jeremi Gorman, Fanatics
Yael West, Gotham FC
Kathy Carter, Former LA28
12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. | Panel V
Tech and Data in Soccer – Enhancing Performance and Fan Experience
This panel discussion explores how AI, wearables, and data analytics are improving performance on the field and revolutionizing fan engagement off it.
Moderator: Arda Ocal, ESPN
Panelists include:
Bo Han, Transmit
Amir Gelman, WSC Sports
Paddy Woods, CoreWeave
Austin Noronha, Sony Ventures
Sean Conroy, Genius Sports
1:30 - 2:15 p.m. | Panel VI
Beyond the Brief – Marketing Innovation at the Crossroads of Sports, Tech & Culture
As global tournaments like the FIFA Club World Cup redefine how fans engage, leading marketers are rethinking the playbook. This session will spotlight how brands are navigating the convergence of sports, media, and technology — from immersive fan experiences to cross-industry collaborations, IP licensing, and data-driven creative. Expect real-world insights from executives shaping the future of sports marketing through cultural fluency, content innovation, and unexpected partnerships.
Moderator: Katie Deighton, The Wall Street Journal
Panelists include:
Elizabeth O’Brien, IBM
Ian Schafer, Ensemble
Bettina Garibaldi, FIFA World Cup 2026™ NYNJ Host Committee
Sebastian Tomich, The Athletic
Nick Kelly, ENCORE Sports and Entertainment
1:30 - 2:15 p.m. | Panel VI
From the Pitch to the Future – Athletes on Soccer’s Next Frontier
The summit closes with the voices that matter most: the athletes. In this high-energy finale, current and former pros share how the game is evolving—from global growth and media visibility to NIL, investing, and brand building. What does the future of soccer look like through their eyes? And how are they shaping it?
From ownership stakes to streaming deals and cultural impact, these athletes aren’t just playing the game — they’re changing it.
Moderator: Adam Crafton, The Athletic
Panelists include:
Sara Whalen Hess, Pro Athlete
Junior Moraes, Pro Athlete
PRESS
And 30+ leaders from across soccer, media, and technology.
PAST PARTICIPANTS AND MEDIA PARTNERS INCLUDE
