Building bridges beyond the game
Sport, technology, and community in Newark
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup enters its final stages, attention is beginning to shift from the action on the field to the tournament’s lasting legacy. With an expanded field of 48 teams competing across 104 matches, the largest FIFA World Cup in history has captivated billions, demonstrated the enduring power of live sports, and unlocked unprecedented opportunities for brands, media companies, technology innovators, investors, and host cities.
For New Jersey sports, media, and tech advisor Greg Kahn of Essex County, founder of GK Digital Ventures, the real work begins after the final whistle. By harnessing the relationships, innovation, investment, and global attention generated by the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he is bringing together leaders from sports, technology, media, business, and government for the second annual Global Game Summit, set for July 15 at the Prudential Center in Newark.
The summit will serve as a forum for executives, investors, innovators, athletes, and industry leaders to explore how the world’s most popular sport can spark innovation, accelerate economic development, and create lasting benefits for communities long after the championship trophy is lifted.
For Mr. Kahn, however, the summit represents far more than soccer. It reflects a career built on connecting industries, people, and ideas to create new opportunities.
Growing up, Mr. Kahn developed an early appreciation for sports’ unique ability to unite people from every background around a shared purpose. That passion evolved into a career spanning sports, technology and media, where he has advised organizations navigating rapidly changing industries while helping them understand the intersection of technology, business and culture.
Throughout that journey, his Jewish faith has remained a guiding influence.
Mr. Kahn often speaks about the importance of building bridges—bringing together people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences around shared goals. He believes that while technology can sometimes divide people, it also has the power to solve meaningful problems, strengthen communities, and foster greater understanding when used intentionally.
He sees sports much the same way.
Whether it’s fans from different cultures cheering side by side or business leaders collaborating around a global sporting event, Mr. Kahn believes soccer creates opportunities for conversations that might not happen anywhere else. Those moments of connection, he says, often become the foundation for stronger communities and lasting partnerships.
That philosophy is woven throughout the Global Game Summit.
This conference will explore the broader impact of the world’s biggest sporting event. Discussions will examine how sports technology is transforming fan experiences, how artificial intelligence is reshaping media and broadcasting, how host cities can maximize the World Cup’s economic opportunities, and how global sporting events can leave lasting benefits for local communities.
Year two of the summit will feature executives and thought leaders from organizations including FIFA, Major League Soccer, Fanatics, IBM, and other global brands, offering perspectives that extend far beyond the pitch. The summit’s programming will focus on the intersection of sports, technology, media, and business, exploring topics such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, women’s sports, fan engagement, sponsorship, investment, media rights, and the future of the global sports industry.
Mr. Kahn maintains that the greatest value of the FIFA World Cup extends well beyond the competition. While the tournament generates immediate excitement and economic activity, he believes its greatest value comes in the months and years that follow through investment, entrepreneurship, tourism, and stronger civic connections.
As the World Cup concludes and New Jersey prepares to host the Global Game Summit next week, Mr. Kahn views the tournament as a catalyst for what comes next. For him, true leadership isn’t about convening influential people for a day, it’s about creating the relationships, collaborations, and ideas that continue to shape industries, strengthen communities, and drive progress long after the event is over.
What: The Global Game Summit
When: Wednesday, July 15
Where: Prudential Center in Newark
For whom: Leaders across sports, media, technology, business, marketing and public policy, as well as anyone interested in the future of the global sports industry.
What topics: Sports technology, artificial intelligence, media innovation, fan engagement, economic development, women’s sports, investment and the future of global sporting events.
Information and tickets: www.globalgamesummit.com