The potential for African football is ever-present. It was in 1977, as his career came to a close at the New York Cosmos, that the great Pele declared that “an African nation would win the World Cup by the end of the 20th century.” This did not happen. Despite being persistently tipped as the coming force of international football, with an abundance of talent and football ingrained in the culture, Africa has yet to see one of its teams meet the Brazillian legend’s prediction.

African players have been lighting up Europe’s biggest leagues for decades, but many of the most famous stars have seen their careers develop away from their home continent. While the raw talent and potential of a football mad, youthful population offer significant promise, the best pathways for development into the professional game have continued to come to those able to achieve places within European club academies. The development of other football markets worldwide has begun to finally cause a shift in these traditional pathways to development, with the prime example being the MLS in the United States. Over 40 years after Pele graced the now-defunct North American Soccer League, the sport has seen a significant resurgence in the US. The re-growth of the North American game has created new opportunities for African talent as pathways between Africa and the US have begun to open up.

This panel discussion, hosted by the Financial Times in partnership with Rainbow Sports, will discuss the opportunities that the developing ecosystem between Africa and the US can provide for talent development and what it means for the future of the global football landscape.

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