The World Cup as a Catalyst: Shaping the Next Decade of Football Development
Our latest ASDX session will explore the impact of the recent Men’s World Cup and what its perceived successes, challenges and emerging trends could mean for the future development of the game globally.

Bringing together perspectives from across football, the discussion will consider areas including Head Coach changes and tactical evolution, emerging physical and performance trends, player development pathways, recruitment and scouting, and the geographical challenges and opportunities shaping the next generation of talent.

Speakers will continue to be confirmed over the coming days, with the current line-up including:

Gus Williams – ASD Technical Committee
Gareth Prosser – Former Academy Director, Al-Jazira FC
Gabor Ruhr – Head of Scouting, Norwich City FC
Michael Nanopoulos – SkillCorner
Sasha Sekovanec – Eyeball

As always with ASDX, the aim is to move beyond simply reviewing what happened at the World Cup and instead consider what we can learn from it, what may change as a consequence, and how those lessons could shape football development over the next decade.

This ASDX webinar focuses on Lessons in Leadership: A Global Perspective, bringing together senior leaders from across international football to share insights on leadership, decision-making, and building high-performance organisations. Noel Mooney (FAW) and Matt Crocker (Sporting Director) will offer perspectives from leading national federations, exploring how leaders navigate complexity, drive strategic change, and align performance across entire systems. Chris Loxston (San Diego Wave FC) and Julia Brinkschröder (SV Hamburg Women) will provide club-level insights into building winning cultures, managing stakeholders, and leading in elite environments, particularly within the evolving women’s game.

Peter Cklamovski (Malaysia Men’s National Team) will contribute a coaching and international team perspective, reflecting on leadership on the ground, team culture, and delivering results in high-pressure environments. Throughout the session, participants will explore the realities of leadership in modern football, including managing change, making critical decisions, and creating environments that sustain success across different contexts in the global game.

The ASDX webinar focused on The Future of Football Recruitment, featuring presentations from Merijn Zeeman (CEO of AZ Alkmaar) and Rich Byrne (Commercial Director of Teamworks Player ID) discussing data-driven recruitment approaches, followed by Michael Nananopoulos (Skill Corner) examining MLS transfer strategies and calendar changes. Zoran Krneta, General Manager of Charlotte FC, shared insights about the MLS's shift to a summer transfer window and its impact on club operations. The webinar concluded with Carlo Ludi, Sporting Director of Como 1907 FC, providing an overview of the club's development from Serie C to Serie A, highlighting their focus on youth development and strategic recruitment. Throughout the sessions, participants discussed the evolving landscape of football recruitment, the importance of data analytics, and the challenges clubs face in adapting to new transfer windows and market conditions.