How football will travel through different landscape again?
The strategy ,the positionning and the impact of geography in football
How can some countries, leagues or clubs take advantage of this in the future?
Watching football has helped me discover new countries, and I have never known where those Countries are situated geographically.
During the World Cup 2014, I learned that Costa Rica was a South American country. However, after their outstanding performance as an underdog in the FIFA World Cup against the Netherlands, which they lost in the quarterfinal, I suddenly checked where Costa Rica was situated on the big map of the world in my father’s desk room. This made me happy because I was so pleased for them, especially after seeing a black player like Joel Campbell be so good.
I upgraded my geography knowledge because of football before or after every World Cup or continental competition. Or when every time a nation impressed me like Island did in the Euro 2016.
Story 2: When I realized where the small country of football powerhouse is situated: Uruguay
Just noticed that Uruguay is a small country between Brazil and Argentina. I knew the country in 2002 when I was four years old. During that World Cup, they played my country, Senegal, in a challenging game on the 3-3 group stage.
Through the year, I started to understand their football heritage better because being surrounded by the two best in the continent challenged them to do better in football as a nation. The same is valid for soccer clubs like Nacional Penarol in Copa Libertadores, which sharpens their competitive edge and tactical innovations.
Indeed, they have produced impressive world-class strikers such as Forlan, E. Cavani, L. Suarez, and Darwin Nunez. Where did the influence come from?:
Uruguayans ' Italian roots, which are part of their football heritage, and their location in the middle of two footballing giants countries made the South American continent proud.
I just noticed that Uruguay is a small country between Brazil and Argentina. I learned a lot about their football heritage and history, especially immigration: The World Cup was hosted in 1930, and some European nations travelled by boat to reach out.
Context: Does football have a strategic mapping?
We have discussed the globalization of the beautiful game worldwide in recent decades.
This appealed to me early this year, 2024, when I watched a SAUDI league game to see Ronaldo and my countryman Sadio Mané on DAZN on a Friday evening in Toronto, Canada. So, imagine the difference in GMT. I'm not going to lie. I watched the World Cup 2002 in Korea and Japan while in Dakar when I was four years old, and in Qatar 2022 while in Canada for my studies 20 years later, I was obliged to wake up at 6 a.m. to watch the games.
It's crazy, but football is worth it!!!
Later on this year, I always thought about fùtbol on my day off,
I was consulting the map of the world on my phone by identifying cities, and weird thoughts came to mind.
"I just laughed, saying that it's crazy how soccer or sport can prevent some countries and cities from falling off the map( not being on the topic), like a soccer town in England where only their local club keeps them alive, like Leeds United every time they come back to the Premier League."
I was thinking the same way about Saudi Arabia because I never thought I would watch a game from the Saudi league or a classic European football game opposing two giants in Ryiad. Still, I did because Cristiano Ronaldo” effect SIUUUU” moved there. The last time I watched the "Copa del Rey" semi-final and finals of "La Liga" clubs opposed clubs like Real Madrid, Athletico Madrid and Barcelona F.C..., which have been playing in Saudi Arabia since 2019. The Spanish Federation of fùtbol and the Saudi government penned a lucrative deal to host the game there.
I have always believed that a game can be the most lucrative product that football can sell and export. However, outside of football as a product, it can be a service, which I will call "the customization of the Global game."
Explanation: It's about tailoring services to meet different markets' cultural and regional preferences, ensuring relevance and engagement by not being a friendly game as we have seen before but officials one through geographical demands.
That's where the term football business makes sense: when executives decide to pursue profit through strategic positioning, football and geography are reinvented.
Moving from that...
Why did the football league's organization or clubs start to have a corporate office based on geographic strategic position?
You may wonder why professional clubs like Man Utd, Paris and others had some corporate office or megastore of merchandise in some strategic countries.
The Premier League Summer series is the step to move on to "poco a poco," like the copay del rey of La Liga landed to entertain people in Saudi Arabia.
And then what? Every fùtbol fan dreams of having big clubs like Real Madrid, Man Utd, or Barcelona play in their city or country.
Because of its geographical position, we're talking about Morocco again and how it is becoming a key venue for future major football events or games.
I was glad to see Real Madrid playing the Fifa World Cup final against Al Hilal SFC in Morocco in 2022.
Reason why...
The importance of football and geography must be balanced because ignorance will be at its prime without attention to that.
As it connects the game, you barely play with your neighbour before playing outside a football match. That's how it works: the law of proximity. That's why derby games between two foreign cities, countries, or clubs are exciting; rivalries still hold the beautiful game.
Also, we decide to travel not because of the beautiful stadiums or infrastructure but because of the fascinating football players, watching the theatre of the art of the beautiful game, and supporting our national team in a World Cup or our club playing an important match.
Also, people never wonder why the top 5 football leagues are in the circle of the Western countries: English Premier League (U.K.), La Liga (Spain), Bundesliga (Germany), Ligue 1 (France ) and LigaNOS (Portugal)
Let me add Eredivisie (Netherlands)
why?
They stay in because they are connected geographically, share most of the exact boundaries, and share football knowledge because the same managers have been hired in those leagues. They also play against each other in different European competitions. However, the free circulation of people in the Schengen landscape means the ball travels. European players don’t constantly face visa duties to fulfill their dream football opportunities to play in the best teams across Europe.
Let’s break it down here :
1)On the business side, intelligent clubs will form partnerships and connections with countries with promising talents.
Talent and profile types of soccer players have been hot topics because soccer is a subjective sport, and everyone has his view on who is good or not that good.
Ten years from now, we will still discuss who is the best between Messi and Ronaldo.
Thereby Talent in Football, all the professional football clubs and federations know where to find them. It has to be worldwide scouting because fùtbol is a global game; we can see the following gem on every street or city stadium worldwide.
But the biggest problem is that the world of football scouting and development has taken a long time to understand the difference between a player profile and a talent and their needs regarding football performance and results on the pitch.
This is why some European clubs started to move smartly by forming partnerships with football academies worldwide, especially in Africa and South America, and having sister clubs network to lure as many different profiles of players as possible to oversee and develop for their team's build-up needs. As they realize that the game becomes more complex and data-driven, specific characteristics and skills will become increasingly valuable. Future soccer players will have technical skills, physical prowess, tactical intelligence, and mental resilience.
Well, let's continue the ride.
In the modern era of football, intelligent clubs are increasingly forming strategic partnerships and connections with countries known for their promising football talents. These mutually beneficial partnerships provide clubs access to emerging talent pools while supporting football development in partner countries.
Why did this come up?
The main word is Talent Hotspots. European clubs started multiplying their partnerships with soccer academies with a track record of producing talented players, such as Brazil, Argentina, Nigeria, Colombia, and several European and African nations.
Also, they realized you can’t ship all the players in Europe, then they:
Establish Local Presence
Academies and Training Centers: Set up football academies or training centers to develop young Talent and create a local footprint.
Affiliate Clubs: Partner with local clubs to share resources, knowledge, and best practices.
For example, Manchester City has done it well. They are the face of the project and the city football group's most focused and successful club.
Global Network: The City Football Group owns or has partnerships with clubs in various countries, including New York City F.C. (USA), Melbourne City F.C. (Australia), Mumbai City F.C. (India), and Girona F.C. (Spain), to expand its talent pool and market reach.
2) But what about the importance of the diaspora: those countries that will benefit from their diaspora based in the Western football pantheon countries
Some nations have done great in fùtbol in the last decade regarding football performance and accomplishment, such as being a regular World Cup participant or winning their continental tournament like AFCON, for example, for some African countries.
But it's a win-win for all. Many countries benefit significantly from their diaspora, particularly those players born or raised in Western football pantheon countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Spain. These players bring advanced training, exposure to high-level competition, and often a broader strategic perspective back to their countries of origin.
But to have all that, you have to take advantage of those, and this is why :
Access to Advanced Facilities: Diaspora players often have access to superior training facilities and coaching in Western countries. These players bring back advanced techniques and knowledge when they return home or play for their national teams.
Coaching Exchange Programs: Partnerships between football associations in diaspora-rich countries and Western clubs facilitate coaching exchanges, improving the quality of coaching in home countries.
The ball and talents travelled extensively between France and francophone African countries like Senegal, Algeria, Cameroun, and Mali and between RD Congo and Belgium.
France gained a lot from having Mbappé and Zidane, and the same goes for Senegal and Morocco, African countries that greatly benefit from outstanding players like Kalidou Koulibaly and Ziyech. The same goes for managers (Cissé, Belmadi, and Regragi )who emulate their home country's performance and leadership.
Now, let's transition from the other reality of the importance of geography and football, which will make football a charming global sport.
3)The time zone difference due to varying geographical positions: Why don’t MLS or the Saudi League attract a dedicated audience in the densely populated football market? The Time & Football...
Something we can't control: Earth is divided into 24 time zones, each generally 15 degrees of longitude apart, corresponding to one hour of time difference. However, the European countries, part of the top 5 football leagues, benefited through T.V. broadcasts and GMT to drive more audiences from countries and continents around them.
Blessed to those geographically lucky in the globe to attract :
Global Reach: Top leagues aim to reach international audiences by scheduling matches at times that can also cater to viewers in different time zones. For example, European leagues like the Premier League and La Liga often have midday matches, making them accessible to Asian audiences in the evening.
Unfortunately...
Time zones are critical in how football leagues schedule matches and engage with their audiences. This is an essential topic in the business side of broadcasting and audience-driven when you aspire to become a football country and a professional football league aspiring to be well followed and attract interest worldwide. Other than that, the football games and leagues or clubs that attract will have to do like the NBA or NFL to bring a commercial league game abroad, as they do in Paris for the NBA or London or Berlin for the NFL.
Why? The fan base for that sport is growing and crucial in some areas of the world, and the other inconvenience is the geographical distance and time zone difference for basketball or American football fans to follow their sports properly.
The same will happen in football because the demand will be very high. After all, the beautiful game enthusiasts will dream of official league games happening in their land, but with a Formula 1 strategy.
But football fans are conservative and purist when you touch their beautiful game, especially their belonging clubs.
Constant: I am in Toronto, Canada, and often check the Manchester United game schedule. The afternoon kick-offs of Premier League games in the U.K. are perfect for morning or early afternoon viewing in the Americas, which helps to maintain a broad fan base.
!! This is why MLS and the Saudi Pro League, even with Ronaldo and Messi in their leagues, can generate buzz and be closely watched by the football audience no matter where they are. However, reaching globalization will be difficult due to GMT and a difference in level in terms of football. But only maximize their domestic audience engagement while the rest of the world sleeps.
4) Fans move facilitation matter: what's why European soccer is the big winner of geographical concentration and accessibility between countries: The triangular circuit.
European soccer, or football, has significant advantages due to the continent's geographical concentration and accessibility. These factors facilitate the movement of fans and enhance the overall experience and reach of the sport.
What the other continents lack to shape the attractiveness of their Football, Europe has: "Football without fans is nothing" is accurate, but with finance, transportation facilities(high-speed rail network (e.g., Eurostar, TGV, ICE) with Numerous budget airlines (e.g., Ryanair, EasyJet), and geographical proximity(Free Movement: The Schengen Agreement allows passport-free travel across most European countries).
Proximity of Major Cities and Clubs:
Dense Club Network: Europe boasts a high density of major football clubs within relatively short distances. For example, in countries like England, Spain, Italy, and Germany, top-tier teams are often just a few hours apart by train or car.
Ease of Travel for EURO competition than AFCON or Copa America: Fans can easily travel to away games, making it practical for supporters to follow their teams across the continent. This proximity increases attendance at matches, fostering vibrant atmospheres.
The advantage of being a reliably connected city and country is to keep the vibes of soccer tournaments like the Euro because the attendance of visitor countries is always high when it comes to cheering their national team, which Afcon and other continental competitions are struggling to have good attendance when the host country is not playing. After all, people who travel between African countries are far, expensive, and lack reliable transportation. Again, the freedom of movement between populations with visa requirements may not help shape the beautiful game's festivity.
5)The reason why you see many Japanese players in the Bundesliga, which benefited the national team in recent years: If you can beat us, come learn from us
Countries aiming to elevate their national football teams to elite status often push their players to compete in the top European leagues. This strategy enhances player development through exposure to higher levels of competition, advanced training facilities, and diverse tactical environments. Japan's strategy of integrating its players into the Bundesliga offers a clear example of how this approach benefits the national team.
All through an:
Structured Programs: Bilateral agreements between countries for educational and football exchange programs enhance talent development and cross-border movement.
Example: Japan and Germany have a football exchange program that allows young Japanese players to train and develop in German academies, fostering Talent and cultural exchange.
Especially Yasuhiko Okudera: One of the first Japanese players in Europe, he joined 1. F.C. Köln 1977 laid the groundwork for future Japanese players in the Bundesliga, who paved the way for excellent players like Shinji Kagawa, Hasebe, and many more.
WHICH PAID OFF FOR
National Team Success:
2018 FIFA World Cup: Japan reached the Round of 16, with several key Bundesliga players, such as Kagawa and Hasebe, playing pivotal roles.
2022 FIFA World Cup: Japan again reached the Round of 16, defeating powerhouses Germany and Spain in the group stage. Players like Wataru Endo and Ritsu Doan (both Bundesliga players) made significant contributions.
6)Football game's global expansion: The best football games will be out of their respective land (Relevant sports and American owners' wish)
FIFA will try to end decades of soccer tradition by ordering a review of its policy of blocking domestic league games from being played in other countries.
Fans will likely object to their teams' home matches potentially being moved thousands of miles (kilometres) away. However, it has become routine for United States pro sports leagues to stage games in Europe, Asia, and South America to help build their brands and fan bases.
Years ago, I always said that the NFL and NBA models were on the way to the soccer side, but soccer would be Americanised if most soccer club owners were American. Inspired by the success of the NFL and NBA, which regularly host games in international markets, American owners see similar potential for football. For instance, the NFL's International Series and the NBA's Global Games have successfully built a global audience and increased the leagues' global presence.
Friendly and pre-season games of European football clubs playing abroad are still options, but they offer different feelings.
Even if Relevent Sports Group and Fifa are working to make it happen, fan backlash from traditional local fans will sometimes react negatively to their clubs playing important matches abroad, feeling it detracts from the clubs' regional culture and history.
7) The new co-hosting between foreign countries for international football tournaments: Reduce the risk of wasting money and the white elephant.
The upcoming Fifa World Cup 2030 is an example, and The 2026 World Cup shows examples of better sustainability and geographical impact to make it happen.
The fastest way to bring the ball to a country or a city is to host a football sporting event, which will keep the memory and leverage the people's enthusiasm to embrace the game forever.
But with a new multi-co-host strategy model to bring the beautiful game to some areas and parts of the world that dreamed of having a significant football event in their land but don't even have the finances to host it alone or are not their priorities.
I was too happy to see some reticent African and proud countries like Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda putting a proposal together to co-host the AFCON 2027 all because of football by bringing the beautiful game at home, which are not common countries to manifest or do brilliantly in the football world.
This will strengthen cross-border collaboration.: Co-hosting fosters regional cooperation and strengthens ties between neighbouring countries. This collaboration can improve infrastructure and transport links that benefit the region in the long term.
Takeaway: The ball is coming to your side when big football organizations start having Corporate offices or academies in your country or city.
Big clubs and leagues from European football have established the sense of opening some corporate business offices for strategic reasons such as Market Penetration: Offices in strategic locations allow clubs to penetrate new markets more efficiently. For example, having an office in the United States or China can help a European club tap into the growing popularity of soccer in these regions and capitalize on commercial opportunities. Meanwhile, European soccer organizations and clubs can enhance their global presence by establishing corporate offices in strategic locations worldwide and engaging with international fans. This strategic expansion supports their growth and development in an increasingly globalized sports landscape.
Look no further than LaLiga, Spain's top division, which has recently opened numerous international offices and placed delegates in over 40 countries.
No country is more critical to that strategy than the U.S. La Liga's robust North American operation reflects that.
The backdrop: LaLiga's efforts in the U.S. began in earnest in 2018 when it launched a 15-year joint venture called LaLiga North America with Relevent Sports, a group co-founded by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross.
That was it. Thank you!!!
Paul Stanislas Dioh