Football legends Ronaldo Nazario, Andres Iniesta and Arsene Wenger are expected to visit Hong Kong in September for a major summit to be held in the city for the first time, the Post has learned. The World Football Summit (WFS) will debut in Hong Kong from September 2 to 4 at AsiaWorld-Expo in Chek Lap Kok, with leading figures from the tech sector also expected to attend. Guests are expected to attend a dinner and tour the city on September 2, before the official summit takes place over the following two days. “We are excited to share that the WFS will be hosted in Hong Kong for three consecutive years, specifically in 2025, 2026 and 2027,” a source said. The event boasts an impressive list of confirmed speakers, including Brazilian icon Ronaldo, Spanish midfield maestro Iniesta, ex-Arsenal manager Wenger and former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand. Other prominent figures from the sport who have confirmed their attendance include John Terry, Fabio Capello and Francesco Totti. Brazilian Marta Vieira da Silva, widely regarded as the greatest female footballer of all time with six Fifa World Player of the Year awards, and American two-time Olympic gold medallist Mia Hamm will also be visiting Hong Kong for the summit. Notably, influential figures from the technology sector are also scheduled to attend, aiming to “unite key players from the football industry alongside major financial and technological entities” and to “showcase cutting-edge football technology poised to influence the future of the sport”. Among the prominent tech leaders expected are OpenAI CEO and co-founder Sam Altman, Netflix head of sports Gabe Spitzer, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek and Google global marketing director Kate Johnson. The insider said several industry partners from Hong Kong and Asia had also been invited and were “awaiting confirmation”. “This event is projected to be one of the largest football exhibitions in Asia, positioning Hong Kong as a premier destination for football enthusiasts worldwide,” the source added. “We anticipate welcoming over 10,000 visitors, featuring more than 100 booths and 60 speakers.” The announcement comes as Hong Kong seeks to establish itself as a hub for major sporting events, partly with the aim of boosting its economy. A temporary museum highlighting the achievements of football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is set to launch in early July at the K11 Musea shopping centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, while Manchester United will play the city’s representative team at Hong Kong Stadium on May 30. Both developments confirm earlier reports by the Post. Last month, it was announced that four of the world’s biggest football clubs – Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan – would participate in the Hong Kong Football Festival at Kai Tak Sports Park in July. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui told the Post in an exclusive interview last month that the government preferred a “quieter” approach in pitching and attracting mega-events compared with regional neighbours such as Singapore. She said Hong Kong played a proactive role in seeking out mega-events.