Rafael Louzán, Key Speaker at the New Economy Forum: “Football Drives Our Country”
The president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Rafael Louzán, outlined in his address the ongoing management efforts within the organization, with a clear focus on the 2030 FIFA World Cup: “We must seize this opportunity, because Spain and the Spanish people will be grateful for it,” he emphasized.
Held within the framework of Fórum Europa, which regularly brings together leading figures from Spain’s political, social, cultural, and sporting spheres, the RFEF president took center stage this Thursday in the cycle of conferences organized by Nueva Economía Fórum in Madrid.
In attendance were LaLiga president Javier Tebas, Spanish Olympic Committee president Alejandro Blanco, senior representatives of various regional federations, and members of the RFEF Executive Board, among other guests. Louzán opened his remarks by thanking all participants for joining this forum of debate and exchange of ideas.
The RFEF president also revealed the key figures from the PwC report on the economic impact that the 2030 World Cupwill have on Spain.
The session was introduced by José Luis Rodríguez, president of Nueva Economía Fórum, and Constantino Fernández, former president of RC Deportivo, who described Louzán as “a tireless worker—energetic, empathetic, a great listener, a skilled negotiator, and a results-driven leader.”
During his presentation, Louzán offered an in-depth overview of the current state of Spanish football, describing it as:
“One of the passions that moves this country. A force for social cohesion and an economic engine. We want football to be one of Spain’s great symbols, and I thank the territorial federations for their work. Football mobilizes more than four million people, including over 20,000 referees and 70,000 coaches, and accounts for more than a million matches every year. It is truly a sport of the masses.”
He also highlighted that, since taking office in December, his administration has built “the most inclusive Executive Board in RFEF history,” adding that “it was essential for all football stakeholders to come together. Before, communication happened through the courts or by email—today, it happens across the negotiation table.”
Under Louzán’s leadership, Spain has achieved unprecedented results: for the first time ever, both the men’s and women’s national teams top the FIFA World Rankings, while revenues have surged to €400 million, with record distributions among Spanish clubs.
The 2030 World Cup, Louzán noted, will deliver enormous benefits to the Spanish economy—
bringing over €5 billion to GDP, more than 90,000 jobs (56,000 direct positions, including over 9,000 for people under 24), €3.7 billion in tourism spending, €1.8 billion in tax revenue, over €1 billion in foreign investment, and a total investment of around €2.5 billion, according to the PwC report.
Looking ahead, Louzán stressed the importance of national unity in preparation for the World Cup, in which Spain will host the majority of venues:
“We must remain united to rise to the occasion and ensure that Spain uses this global event as a springboard for renewal. We need to take advantage of this opportunity—Spain will appreciate it, and Spaniards will too.”
The event concluded with a question-and-answer session open to attendees and members of the media, during which Louzán emphasized the need for cooperation and common purpose:
“There should be no winners or losers, no sectarian positions. Our legacy must be one of unity—working together for the good of Spanish football, sharing dialogue in the same forums. I am merely a servant striving to live up to expectations and honor the trust placed in us.”
Click here to watch the full address by the RFEF president at the New Economy Forum.
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