“The Next Game – Building the Future of Gaming, Esports, and Sports” sets the stage for a gathering of global decision-makers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from August 23-24

Executives from Sony, Activision, SEGA, Bandai Namco, Disney, and LA28 to participate in flagship event at the intersection of sport, esports, gaming, and entertainment.

 The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has officially announced the theme and the first speaker lineup for the New Global Sport Conference (NGSC2025), the leading B2B platform for decision-makers across sports, esports, gaming, and entertainment. Held on 23–24 August 2025 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, NGSC2025 will take place during the Closing Weekend of the Esports World Cup 2025, the world’s largest esports event.

This year’s official theme is “The Next Game – Building the Future of Gaming, Esports, and Sports,” reflecting the rapid convergence of competitive gaming and global sports. The New Global Sport Conference is the flagship event of the Esports World Cup Foundation, designed as the premier global forum where these worlds intersect, and built for leaders focused on the future and committed to meaningful strategic collaboration.

As part of its 2025 programme, EWCF has confirmed the first group of speakers and participating brands representing the forefront of industry innovation and leadership:

• HRH Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Sultan – President, Saudi Esports Federation

• HRH Prince Fahad bin Mansour bin Nasser Al Saud – President, Saudi G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance & Founder of Entrepreneurship Vision (NGO)

• Ralf Reichert – Chief Executive Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation

• Casey Wasserman – Chairman, LA28

• Peter Moore – Owner, Santa Barbara Sky FC & Former Liverpool FC CEO

• Toshimoto Mitomo – Chief Strategy Officer, Sony

• Brian Ward – Chief Executive Officer, Savvy Games Group

• Joshua Taub – Chief Operating Officer, Activision

• Shuji Utsumi – President, SEGA

• Katsuhiro Harada – Executive Game Director & Chief Producer, Bandai Namco Entertainment

• Magnus Carlsen – World Chess Champion

• Danny Tang – Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Hero Esports

• Taewon Yun  – Senior Vice President & Head of Game Strategy, NCSOFT

• Jan Alessie – Co-Founder & Managing Director, World Football Summit

• Je Alipio – Director & Head of Business Development (Games) APAC & MENA, Disney

• Marat Karpeko – Partner, NVO Capital

• Jens Hilgers – Founding General Partner, BITKRAFT Ventures

• Pete Radovich – Vice President of Production & Senior Creative Director, CBS Sports

• Bruce Stein – Co-Founder, aXiomatic

• Kartik Prabhakara – Founding Partner, Aream & Co

• Michael Murray – Producer, Bandai Namco Entertainment

• Mike McCabe – Chief Operating Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation

• Faisal Bin Homran – Chief Product Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation

• Fabian Scheuermann – Chief Games Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation

• Mohammad Al Nimer – Chief Commercial Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation

Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, said, “The 2025 edition of the New Global Sport Conference arrives at a moment of unprecedented change and opportunity for competitive gaming. As the boundaries between sports, esports, entertainment, and technology dissolve, this event becomes the premier global stage for leaders to explore new horizons and create groundbreaking collaborations. At NGSC2025, we’ll challenge conventional ideas, pioneer innovative business models, and unlock powerful possibilities in storytelling and competition. Together, we define the next chapter of how the world plays, competes, and connects.”

The New Global Sport Conference will bring together 1,500 industry leaders and decision-makers from across sports, esports, gaming, and entertainment. The curated programme, featuring world-class experts, challengers, and disruptors through keynotes, panels, strategic roundtables, and private forums, will drive transformative global initiatives and foster collaboration on the growth and future of these dynamic industries.

Additional speakers and full programming details will be announced in the coming weeks.