LALIGA receives recognition during the World Football Summit in Hong Kong for its LALIGA Youth Tournament project

The award was collected by Iván Codina, director of the LALIGA Office in Singapore, representing the organisation during the World Football Summit in Hong Kong, held on 3 and 4 September. The Honour recognises LALIGA's work in supporting grassroots football in the Southeast Asia region through its regional LALIGA Youth Tournament project.

LALIGA Youth Tournament was launched in Malaysia five years ago and, following the success of its first editions, has now expanded to more than five countries in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Cambodia. Its aim is to offer young talents in the region a competitive platform where they can develop their skills and enjoy first-class training experiences.

This tournament is part of LALIGA's firm commitment to the development of grassroots football in the region, alongside other initiatives already underway such as the LALIGA Academy Vietnam, the LALIGA Academy Malaysia — opened in 2023 in collaboration with Epsom College on a 50-acre campus on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur — and the LALIGA Youth League Malaysia.

LALIGA, a world leader in talent development through its youth academies, thus reaffirms its commitment to sustainable growth in football and to creating opportunities for young players in key markets such as Southeast Asia.

The World Football Summit Honors celebrate the talent, passion and dedication of sports business professionals who are shaping the football industry we need.

The award won by LALIGA, the "Honor for Transformative Partnerships shaping the Future of Sport", celebrates partnerships that drive innovation, growth and overall collaboration in football, highlighting those that redefine what is possible for the sport across borders, sectors and cultures.

"This recognition is a source of pride for LALIGA. The Youth Tournament began as a venture in Malaysia and today is a project that connects thousands of young people across the region. Seeing how it grows and how it impacts such diverse communities reaffirms our commitment to grassroots football and the sustainable development of the sport in Asia. We thank the World Football Summit for this honour, which motivates us to continue working with the same passion," said Iván Codina, director of the LALIGA Office in Singapore for SEA, Japan and South Korea.

The news coincides with another important milestone: this weekend (13 & 14 September) sees the final of the 2025 edition of the LALIGA Youth Tournament Indonesia take place in Indonesia, consolidating the project as one of the most important grassroots football initiatives in the region.

With this recognition, LALIGA reinforces its international leadership in the development of grassroots football and its commitment to the growth of the sport overall.