🎞️ That’s a wrap! The last trip of the year is done. It was amazing to be back in Riyadh, where so many worlds came together to talk about one thing: Football 🤩 🙏 I had the honor of sitting on a panel with Luis Vicente (APEX Capital), Zineb Rechiche (ZYA), Ben Harburg (Cadiz CF), and moderator Zubair Timol (Meltwater). We discussed the ‘Future of AI in Sport’. And guess what? We’re looking at robots battling it out on the field anytime soon 🤯 🙃 Just kidding. While we all agreed that AI will play a crucial role in which leagues, clubs, and players will lead in the future, I firmly believe that we, as humans, love watching other humans attempt the “superhuman”. AI robots just can’t compete with that. 🤖 However, AI already has a massive impact today. All social media algorithms are AI driven. At 433, we deal with it every day and understand how to leverage it. We create content with the help of AI and foresee AI playing an even bigger role in personalizing football content, which will be reflected in the 433 app📱 🏟️ The examples from the other people on stage were fantastic. How a club like Cadiz CF can outperform “higher-ranked” clubs by offering more at the local content level than competitors, and how new football concepts like Baller League can grow rapidly by using new insights and innovative possibilities. They see the same thing happening as we do at 433. The next generation consumes content differently, and this need is being met quickly, more personally, and faster with the help of AI 🚀 ⚽ So, I don’t expect robots to take over the field, but new innovative football concepts and club strategies will definitely shake up the rankings both on and off the pitch. What do you think? 😁
Congrats on a successful year, Lucas! I would have loved to listen to this talk, however, here are my thoughts: The key to AI in sports is combining human creativity and strategic thinking with AI's analytical intelligence, which will then drive innovation, reduce costs, and enhance fan engagement 📈 🙌 🗣️ For example, AI can automate tasks like data analysis and content creation. LALIGA's partnership with Microsoft and Globant is a great example, where AI generates real-time multilingual subtitles for live matches, enhancing accessibility and global fan engagement (https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/content-management/laliga-tech-globant-and-microsoft-partner-on-genai-in-sport-broadcasting/5184981.article). 💰 On the financial side, AI can optimize club operations through AI-powered ticketing systems, such as those from Olocip, which integrate data from ticket sales, marketing, and financial operations to provide unified insights and optimize ticketing strategies (https://olocip.com/en/ai-ticketing-sports/). Ultimately, the synergy between humans and AI will transform the sports industry, driven by this collaboration rather than robots playing football 🤪
Great take, Lucas! I couldn’t agree more with your points about how AI is shaping football both on and off the pitch! Building on your insights, here’s my perspective: • Enhancing, not replacing: AI won’t put robots on the field—it’ll empower players, coaches, and staff to perform at their best while keeping the human element fans love. • Hyper-personalized fan engagement: AI will make fan experiences deeply personal, tailoring content, offers, and interactions in ways that deepen loyalty and global reach. • Leveling the playing field: Smaller clubs using AI to focus on local strategies will continue to challenge traditional powerhouses, reshaping league dynamics. • Revolutionizing stadiums: From seamless ticketing to real-time upgrades, AI will transform live game experiences. • Shaping the next generation: New formats like Baller League show how AI can engage younger audiences and redefine how football is consumed. AI isn’t about replacing the human spirit—it’s about amplifying it. The future will be smarter, more connected, and more dynamic for both clubs and fans.
Lucas Bugter I loved Riyadh, the London of the Middle East 💯
Business Development Director at 433 | Coach & Speaker | Founder Showhero
1dLast but not least: thanks again team World Football Summit for a great organization and Kabir Nagpal thanks for the mental support!! 😂😂