Portugal’s New Football Summit Promises Four Days of Ideas and Access

Foreign professionals who follow the Portuguese game may want to clear their calendars for 8-11 October. In those four days the Portugal Football Summit, a brand-new event created by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), will turn Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras into a showcase of strategy, technology, player development and fan culture. Headliners such as Roberto Martínez, Francisco Neto and Nani promise tactical insights, but the gathering also doubles as a high-level networking hub for anyone who lives, works or invests in Portugal’s booming sports economy.

Why the summit matters for internationals in Portugal

Moving to Portugal is not only about beaches and low cost of living. The country’s football sector now contributes more than €1 B to annual revenue, according to recent FPF data, and foreign talent—on and off the pitch—plays an outsized role. By bringing together club owners, data scientists, sports-tech start-ups and public officials under the same roof, the summit offers expatriates a fast track into local business circles. Panels will be conducted in English and Portuguese, simultaneous interpretation is planned, and accreditation is open to holders of any EU residence permit. For newcomers, the event provides a crash course in how the Portuguese ecosystem functions—from tax incentives for sponsorships to the country’s growing multi-club ownership scene.

The headline acts: Martínez, Neto, Nani and company

Star power is often a magnet for attention, and this edition has plenty. Roberto Martínez, the Spaniard who led Portugal to the 2025 Nations League title, will dissect his philosophy of a "possession-first but vertical" approach while explaining how he blends emerging prospects with the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva. Francisco Neto, architect of Portugal’s recent rise in women’s football, is expected to outline the pathway that took the national side from also-ran status to regulars at the Women’s EURO and World Cup. Former Manchester United winger Nani—still revered for his goal in the Euro 2016 semifinal—will explore life after elite competition, touching on mental health, personal branding and the shift from player to investor. Other confirmed names include Paulo Fonseca of Lyon, Jorge Braz and Brazilian futsal boss Marquinhos Xavier, Atlético de Madrid executive Lola Romero and UEFA anti-doping specialist Evert Verhagen.

A four-stage agenda built for debate, business and fan fun

Unlike earlier conferences that focused exclusively on professional leagues, the FPF blueprint stretches across four simultaneous stages. One auditorium concentrates on high-performance coaching, another on governance & ethics, a third on innovation & sustainability, while the outdoor pavilion turns into an interactive fan village with VR penalty kicks and wearable-tech demos. Each day ends with "night sessions" where investors pitch sports-tech start-ups over petiscos and craft beer—very much in tune with Portugal’s relaxed after-work culture. Master of ceremonies Pedro Pinto, a former CNN anchor, will navigate between panels to ensure debate flows rather than stagnates.

Hot talking points: from AI tactics to financial sustainability

Expect the buzzwords AI, big data, carbon footprint and gender equity to surface repeatedly. Martínez has hinted he will explain how predictive algorithms fine-tune training loads for João Félix, whereas Neto is likely to delve into centralized GPS-tracking used across the women’s league. Separate sessions examine the new centralization of TV rights scheduled for 2028 and what that could mean for second-tier clubs often run by foreign ownership groups. Sustainability gurus from Lisbon’s Nova SBE will present fresh research on stadium energy efficiency, and a legal round-table will debate the balance between player image rights and updated IVA rules that reduce tax on match-day entertainment.

Beyond the sessions: how to attend and what to expect on site

Standard passes cost €450 for the four days, though holders of Portuguese residency permits secured after 2022 qualify for a 20 % discount if they register before 1 September via the FPF’s bilingual portal. The venue—the FPF headquarters in Cidade do Futebol—lies next to the Jamor National Sports Complex and is reachable by train from Lisbon’s Cais do Sodré in about 20 minutes. Organisers promise Wi-Fi strong enough for live-coding demos, free espresso stations (this is Portugal, after all) and a “business lounge” where you can schedule ten-minute slots with club executives through a dedicated app. Children under 12 are allowed into the fan village on 12 October, the day after the summit closes, turning the space into a family-friendly tech fair.

Looking back, looking forward: lessons from sibling events

Veteran residents may recall the Thinking Football Summit run by Liga Portugal in Porto between 2022-24. That conference sparked recommendations on lower VAT for ticketing, a theme that eventually reached parliament. The FPF’s new summit views itself less as competition, more as a complementary "national R&D lab" that unites elite and grassroots. If the federation hits its target of 5 000 delegates from 50 countries, the October gathering would instantly rank among southern Europe’s largest multi-stakeholder football forums—another sign that Portugal’s soft-power influence in the sport keeps expanding.

The bottom line for expats

Whether you are a data analyst looking for your next role, a sports-lawyer seeking clients, or simply an avid supporter who relocated for sunshine and pastel de nata, the Portugal Football Summit offers access, insight and opportunity in equal measure. For many foreigners, attending could be the quickest way to understand how Portugal manages to punch above its weight on the global stage—and how you might carve out your own space within that success story.