There could not have been a more exciting time for our first event in Egypt, with soccer in the MENA region experiencing more growth, investment, opportunity, and interest than ever before.

For the past eight years, arguably the Premier League's standout player had been an Egyptian. Beyond his brilliance on the pitch, Mohamed Salah remained a global icon and an exceptional ambassador for his country, serving as an inspiring role model for the next generation of African football superstars.

Providing a global platform for federations, leagues, clubs, legends, and leading brands from the region was something we felt very strongly about, and we were thrilled to welcome 2,200 guests from around the world to the capital city just after the turn of the year.

Egypt has always been a nation passionate about soccer, where the sport reigns supreme as the country's favorite by a wide margin. Many believed the fervor for the game rivaled that of any place in the world. After visiting Masr, we were confident attendees understood why we selected it as the 23rd city to host our 53rd event.