Tag: Steve Elias

The WFFA to bring Freestyle Football to Wave Sports + Entertainment’s FTBL channels

The World Freestyle Football Association has announced a new partnership with Wave Sports + Entertainment (WSE), one of the fastest-growing sports and entertainment companies with more than 110 million followers globally. As part of the partnership, WSE will showcase a selection of the best content from Freestyle Football events and athletes through FTBL, the voice of the global football community that takes fans inside the world’s biggest matches, to spotlight incredible tricks and “tekkers” done at home.

All newly created content, as well as a selection of classic clips, will be available across the FTBL brand portfolio, including Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Facebook.

Steve Elias, President of the WFFA, said: “Freestyle Football is not just a sport: it’s also a lifestyle that greatly relates to contemporary street culture. Freestylers, hence, are not just first-class athletes, but also creators of extraordinary content that links with music, dance and art: having a platform such as WSE’s FTBL presenting that content to its audiences is doubtlessly a great step forward for the global community.”

Daniel Wood, Head of Partnerships at the WFFA, said: “WSE’s FTBL is an ever-growing reference media brand, so partnering with them is great news for us at the Association. We have no doubt that this new agreement will help Freestyle Football content reach new and massive audiences, which in turn will help the sport develop all around the world”.

Seth Brody, Director, Rights & Content Partnerships at Wave Sports + Entertainment, said: “WFFA’s unique style and social-friendly content is perfectly aligned with WSE’s FTBL brand and our desire to showcase amazing moments from across the broader football landscape. We are excited to partner with the WFFA to adapt and deliver these visual and engaging moments to our audience of Gen-Z and Millennial fans.”

About Wave Sports + Entertainment

Founded in 2017, Wave Sports + Entertainment is a world-class sports and entertainment company serving modern-day fans via content, products, and experiences. WSE obsesses over sports, from the mainstream to more, bringing superfans the coverage, culture, commentary, and community they crave. With over 110 million highly-engaged global followers and a reach of over 500 million sports fans monthly, WSE has tapped into something incredibly powerful in record time.

Digital platforms love WSE, which is a top sports partner to Snap, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. WSE has earned bragging rights by creating some of the most popular sports media brands available on digital platforms today, including BUCKETS, FTBL, GYM HEROES, HAYMAKERS, and JUKES.

No matter the sport, WSE has got the fans covered with highlights, memes, takes, commentary, analysis, off-field culture, and stories on the players and movements that are shaping the world of sports.

To see the Wave Sports + Entertainment media brands in action, please go to www.wave.tv.

*Wave Sports + Entertainment is incorporated as Bullpen Sports Network, Inc.

Stay tuned to the official channels of the WFFA to follow the latest updates!

April 14, 2022
The WFFA partners with IMAGO to make Freestyle Football content accessible all around the world
The World Freestyle Football Association has announced a new partnership with German photo agency IMAGO, the largest independent producer of sports content in Europe and one of the most renowned global photography and video producers in the world.

The new partnership will see a selection of the best content from major Freestyle Football events, including national tournaments, regional competitions and global opens, distributed through IMAGO’s online platform. Media outlets and news agencies from the five continents will be able to access the finest pictures and videos from official WFFA competitions immediately after their champions are proclaimed.

The newly created library of Freestyle Football content will be available very soon on the official IMAGO website at www.imago-images.com.

Markus Kohl-Habibi, CEO at IMAGO, explained : “We are proud to be partnering with the WFFA and endorsing their commitment to community driven development and education. We look forward to offering their Freestyle Football photography and video which is undeniably set to be a valuable and creative asset.”

Finja Nissen, Photographer Relations Manager at IMAGO, said: “We are very happy that the WFFA is now part of our network. Freestyle Football combines art with sport and promises unique images and videos. While our clients look forward to the cooperation, we from the Global Partner Team are also excited about the new content and look forward to a strong partnership”.

Steve Elias, President of the WFFA, said: “The Freestyle Football universe generates a neverending stream of first-class content, particularly in the shape of pictures and videos: for us, the association with a top-notch agency such as IMAGO is a fantastic opportunity to ensure that this content is made available for journalists and media from all over the globe – and consequently, the sport reaches new audiences worldwide.”

Dan Wood, Head of Partnerships at the WFFA, added: “We are really happy and proud to welcome IMAGO to the WFFA family. Their prestige and global presence as a content agency will bring tremendous credibility and awareness for the sport of Freestyle Football”.

About IMAGO

IMAGO is the leading German independent photography agency and the largest sports producer in Europe. Committed to visual inspiration, IMAGO endeavours for all partners to achieve more.

Born out of Berlin in 1997, IMAGO has evolved into a premium global content provider spanning News, Sport, Creative, Archive and Video. With partnerships central to their business, IMAGO strives for excellence, offering direct and expert access to their curated and unparalleled digital media globally. Advocating for diversity, depth and quality throughout.

For more information about IMAGO, please contact contact@imago-images.de or visit their channels:
- Website: www.imago-images.com
- Instagram: @imago.images
- Twitter: @imago_images
- Facebook: imagoimages
- Linkedin: imago-images
Stay tuned to the official channels of the WFFA to follow the latest updates!
April 5, 2022
Freestyle Football joins forces with the Daytona Soccer Fest to present the WFFA US Open

The WFFA, together with event organisers Torneos and Daytona International Speedway, announced today that the Daytona Soccer Fest will be coming to the World Center of Racing this 4th of July weekend – bringing world-class entertainment, competitive global football and Freestyle Football competitions to the venue through a multi-year deal.

The inaugural edition of the Daytona Soccer Fest will include the first WFFA US Open, a thrilling competition aimed at developing, supporting and structuring the exciting culture around the sport in the United States. This new contest will feature some of the best Freestyle Football players from around the globe competing to win the spectacular 1×1 battles tournament, both in the male and female categories.

The WFFA US Open will happen in a unique setup: a specially constructed professional football pitch that will be located in the infield of the iconic Daytona circuit. The natural grass field will play host to a series of events, including a showdown between Colombian football giants Deportivo Cali and América de Cali and a headline concert by Puerto Rican music sensation and Latin Grammy Award winner, Rauw Alejandro, who will perform a full set at Daytona Soccer Fest as part of his World Tour. Latin artist Adassa, who recently played the role of Dolores in Disney’s popular movie Encanto, will also perform during the weekend.

“We are so thrilled to be hosting Daytona Soccer Fest,” said Frank Kelleher, President of Daytona International Speedway. “We pride ourselves on being the World Center of Racing, and in addition to racing, we want to be the host of world-class events, and that is what we have with Daytona Soccer Fest. We look forward to seeing the fans here at the Speedway where we will definitely be getting the attention of the world.”

“For Torneos, the event is an opportunity to continue growing regionally with large-scale, innovative events. We take great pride in this partnership with Daytona International Speedway and are excited to bring more than 40 years of football and global event experience to this emblematic track,” said Ignacio Galarza, CEO of Torneos. “Daytona Soccer Fest will be a truly unique entertainment experience for the whole family and all sports fans.”

“We are delighted to bring the greatest Freestyle Football stars of the circuit to such an extraordinary event, held in one of the most iconic sports venues in the world”, said Steve Elias, President of the WFFA. “The combination of music and competitive events the Daytona Socer Fest will offer is absolutely amazing: we can’t wait to add the magic of Freestyle Football to the mix!”.

Tickets for the family-friendly weekend on July 2-3, 2022 are on sale from March 8th starting at $99 for a day pass. Visit www.daytonasoccerfest.com for more information.

More details for freestylers, including how to register, will be made available on the event page of the WFFA US Open. Stay tuned to the WFFA official channels to get all the updates!

About Torneos

Torneos is a leading company with 40 years of experience generating sports content and creating value solutions for the sports and entertainment industry. It also offers the organization and production of events, the acquisition and commercialization of rights for events and competitions, as well as a complete offer of marketing services for sports that include the management of licenses and e-commerce for the main sports clubs and federations.

For more information about Torneos, please visit www.torneos.com.

About Daytona International Speedway

Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as The World Center of Racing, boasts the most diverse schedule of racing in the globe. In addition to at least nine major event weekends, the Speedway grounds are also used extensively for events that include concerts, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photoshoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training.

For more information about the Daytona Speedway, please visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

Header picture by Dennis Pires.

Stay tuned to the official channels of the WFFA to follow the latest updates!

March 17, 2022
Red Bull Street Style pushes Freestyle Football to new levels with a fresh format

Red Bull Street Style, the most competitive Freestyle Football tournament in the world, is back in 2022 with the clear goal of taking things to the next level: a thousand athletes from over 50 countries will compete in a contest that will see a new sportive format being implemented this year, guaranteeing that finalists from up to five continents will enter the World Final for the first time in its history.

Red Bull Street Style is the pinnacle competition of a sport that aims to become Olympic, delivering the highest sportive level, athletic progression, and spectacular moments in all Freestyle Football competitions. After a 2021 World Final that saw an unexpected upset in the triumph of Britain’s Lia Lewis in the women’s tournament just 3 years after entering the sport, the world’s best freestylers will once again be battling it out over an intense season to be crowned World Champions.

In the men’s bracket, 2022 will see the return of in-person qualifiers, a series of events that will take place in specific countries to determine their champions; most nations of the world, though, will select their best athletes through online National Qualifiers on the WFFA App. The best athletes of each of the participating countries, including a specific Rest of the World qualifier for nations with smaller communities, will then advance to their respective Regional Qualifier. Only the most skilful participants of each of the five regions (North and South America, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe) will make it to the Regional Finals, a brand-new concept happening in late August that will determine the 16 men that will participate in the World Final on October 8th in Croatia.

In the women’s bracket, the competition will happen on a fully online basis. Female participants from all around the world will need to get through a first selection process to earn a spot in their respective Regional Qualifiers, the winners of which will then make it to the Regional Finals in August. The very best 8 female freestylers on the globe, coming from each of the five regions, will then earn a spot in the World Final in Croatia!

“We are really happy to see this new format implemented”, said Steve Elias, President of the WFFA. “We want to give freestylers from all around the world the opportunity to compete in a World Final, and that’s why we believe the regionalised competition will become a hit for the community worldwide”.

Defending champions Erlend Fagerli and Lia Lewis will join the contest as wild cards in the Regional Finals, aiming to defend their crown.

“It’s such a privilege to defend my title once again. I’m so excited to test myself against the best freestylers in my region and in the world this year!”, said Erlend Fagerli, the reigning world champion.

Lia Lewis, the current female champion, agrees: “It will be tough to face so many amazing freestylers in the Regional Finals, but I am ready to accept this challenge: I’ll do my best to defend my title at the World Final!”.

Launched in 2008, Red Bull Street Style aims to find the best overall Freestyle Football player in the world: only the most creative, technical and stylish players in each gender will be crowned Red Bull Street Style World Champions.

The Official Rules of the tournament are available on the Rules and Regulations page of the WFFA official website together with the details about the format. Visit the official Event Page as well for more details!

For submission details, deadline information and news updates on the Red Bull Street Style World Championship, visit www.redbullstreetstyle.com.

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If you have an Android phone, click here to download the WFFA App from Google Play

If you have an Apple phone, click here to download the WFFA App from the Apple Store

For more information about the activities of the WFFA, follow its official channels to get the latest updates!

February 15, 2022
Super Ball comes back in 2022 with a new, expanded setup and a myriad of surprises
To register, visit the official page of the event at GameDay: click on the logo and sign up now!

Check the official website of the tournament on Tournify: click on the logo for more details!

The Freestyle Football community will have a great reason to rejoice in 2022: the biggest and most prestigious open competition in the world, Super Ball, will be back this year with an expanded setup and a long list of innovations and surprises.

Just as in the previous edition, Super Ball 2022 will take place in the Clarion Congress Hotel in the city of Prague. This year, though, the event will happen a week earlier than usual: the best freestylers in the world, including an estimated 300 participants from over 40 countries, will gather between August 9th and 13th in the capital of the Czech Republic to crown the champions in the male and female brackets of 8 different categories.

Co-organised by the World Freestyle Football Association, the 2022 edition of Super Ball will feature a much bigger setup than last season (twice the surface of the 2021 event) and a major innovation: the first Freestyle Football Congress, a unique opportunity to celebrate the community, imagine the future of the discipline and learn about the latest trends in sports with athletes and officials from all over the world.

The 2022 edition of Super Ball, just like its predecessors, will be an open event, and athletes from all nationalities and categories will be able to participate. The registration period will begin on June 15th, 2022: freestylers and fans from around the globe will find all key information about the competition on www.superball.world.

This year’s edition of the tournament will include 8 disciplines, each of them with male and female categories:
- Freestyle Battles: the main competition of the event, a clash of individual quality and mental strength in which two athletes compete by showing their best skills to a team of 5 judges
- Freestyle routine: a showcase of individual mastery in which an athlete demonstrates their quality in sync with the music
- Double routine: a spectacle of synchrony in which two athletes show their most amazing combined moves
- Sick Three: a competition to find the very best combination of 3 consecutive tricks
- Challenge: a distinctive category in which athletes perform predetermined tricks at their highest speed; specially designed for lovers of fast combinations
- Show Flow: a competition for complete freestylers to demonstrate their absolute control over all aspects of the sport
- Iron Man: a marathon in basic lower body combinations – only for the toughest athletes!
- Panna KO: the legendary Street Football competition in which athletes must show their skills when attacking… and keep their feet together when defending!
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Lukáš Škoda, Super Ball Chief Tournament Director, said: “This year is particularly exciting for us. If 2021 marked the rebirth of the event after the pandemic, 2022 will represent an absolute explosion for Super Ball: we have doubled the capacity of the venue, we will offer the community more resources than ever before, and we have even added the first edition of the Freestyle Football Congress to the schedule. I have no doubt that this year will herald the start of a new era for the event – and the sport itself!”.

Steve Elias, President of the WFFA, said: “The WFFA has experienced a tremendous evolution in recent times, and this year’s edition of Super Ball will offer us a perfect opportunity to present the results of all this hard work to the global community. We have implemented a great deal of technologies and tools to help our athletes, and many more will be announced: I am really looking forward to doing so at the event!”.

Aguska Mnich, current Super Ball female champion, said: “Super Ball is a legend. For me it’s always an absolute pleasure to participate: I look forward to it every year. I have no doubt that the 2022 edition will be one of the best ever: I’ll be working very hard to renew my title there!”.

Erlend Fagerli, defending Super Ball male champion, said: “I am so excited for this year’s Super Ball! Everything I’ve been told about it makes me feel really hyped about the 2022 edition of the tournament. I’ve been working hard since last year and can’t wait to show some of my new tricks on the stage in Prague!”.

The 2022 Super Ball will be organised in partnership with local event production company PJ Art Production, an alliance that has guaranteed high-quality standards and success for the last 9 years in a row. Following the tradition of recent years, the 2022 event will be hosted by renowned Italian speaker Lorenzo Pinciroli, an unmistakable face for the Freestyle Football community.

About Super Ball

Super Ball is the largest Freestyle Football competition on the planet, a major factor in establishing the thriving global community enjoyed by millions every year. Officially sanctioned by the World Freestyle Football Association (WFFA), Super Ball offers no less than 7 different competitions across the length of a week, as well as workshops, lectures and meetings around the sport.

2022 will mark the 13th season in succession in which the Super Ball is held in the Czech Republic, a tradition that has become a yearly tribute to the local Freestyle Football community.

For general information or inquiries about the event, please contact:

Lukáš Škoda, Super Ball Chief Tournament Director
- Email: lukas.skoda@thewffa.org
- Phone: +420 775 210 889
Or follow its official channels:
- Website: www.superball.world
- Instagram: @superballlive
- Facebook: Super Ball
- Youtube: Super Ball
Stay tuned to the official channels of the WFFA to follow the latest updates!
February 10, 2022
The WFFA announces a global programme to protect the credibility of Freestyle Football competitions

The World Freestyle Football Association has announced the implementation of a global programme designed to protect the credibility and integrity of Freestyle Football tournaments around the globe. The first step in this plan has been the publication of the full List of Champions in official 1×1 battle competitions since the year 2007, an action aimed at safeguarding the reputation of actual winners and preventing fake championship claims from other participants.

The WFFA has announced that it will not recognise any other champions than those featured in the official list, available on the website of the Association. Any fake claims by other athletes will not be backed by the WFFA: furthermore, these claims will be considered a misappropriation, an idea that goes against the very foundations and values of the sport of Freestyle Football.

In the coming months, the WFFA will keep expanding the official list of champions to include all Regional and National competitions, with the objective of offering a complete and reliable source of truth not just to the Freestyle Football community but also to its current and future partners.

Steve Elias, President of the WFFA, said: “Since the establishment of our Association, we’ve striven to protect our athletes and ensure they get the recognition they deserve for their dedication. We are convinced that the publication of the list of Champions is a key step to prevent a tortious use of our tournaments, and we are ready to enact any necessary measures to reinforce the credibility of Freestyle Football as a competitive sport around the world”.

Lucaso Škoda, Head of Operations at the WFFA, said: “The list of Champions is an ambitious project, aimed not only at protecting the winners of official competitions but also at compiling a comprehensive guide to all tournaments in the history of Freestyle Football. In the coming months, we will work together with the global community to polish and expand this directory, a vital tool to prevent misappropriations and pay tribute to the rightful champions.”

Pekko ‘PeGe’ Piirto, Head of the Global Network at the WFFA, said: “We are tremendously proud to offer the list of Champions as an educational resource for our community and a recognition to our hard-earned champions. It’s doubtlessly an essential milestone in the development of the sport of Freestyle Football.”

Stay tuned to the official channels of the WFFA to follow the latest updates!

January 26, 2022
Sri Lanka joins the WFFA Global Network
The World Freestyle Football Association family keeps growing around the world: this November, Sri Lanka was confirmed as the newest member of the Global Network, an international structure that now includes up to 115 countries from all inhabited continents.

The new incorporation of Sri Lanka is a product of the agreement between the WFFA and Colombo FC, the country’s most successful football club in the last decade. The deal will see local Freestyle Football star Niran Kanishka become the WFFA Country Leader, servicing the Sri Lankan community and ensuring the development of the sport across the nation with the constant support of the WFFA Global Team.

Steve Elias, President of the WFFA, said: “It’s an honour for us to expand into a country with a vibrant Freestyle Football community such as Sri Lanka. We are thrilled to announce this new deal, particularly given the huge prestige of Colombo FC, and we are certain that it will have a strong impact not just in the local scene but also in all the region.”

Niran Kanishka, the newly appointed WFFA Country Leader in Sri Lanka, said: “Being a footballer myself for Colombo FC, playing football with flair has been my routine since I started. There are many talents in Sri Lanka like myself who love expressing our creativity with the ball: our main goal is to create a platform for all the hidden gems in our country. This will be a great opportunity for Sri Lankan freestylers to shine!

Pekko ‘PeGe’ Piirto, Head of the Global Network at the WFFA and a leading figure in the establishment of the deal, said: “Seeing the constant growth of the Global Network in recent years fills me with pride and hope for the future. I have absolutely no doubt that Niran will do an amazing job at nurturing the local scene; we look forward to discovering all the talent that Sri Lanka can offer the world!”.

About Colombo FC

Colombo Football Club was founded in 2008 during the tail-end of war in Sri Lanka to unite the country through the game of football. In a short span of 13 years, Colombo FC has managed not only to unify the diverse communities in the country but also emerged as the champion outfit of Sri Lankan Football.

The Club has successfully managed to win a hat-trick of Major League titles (2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18), Sri Lankan FA Cup (2015) and represented the country internationally in the AFC Cup (2017, 2019) on two occasions. Their recent triumph in the Vantage FFSL Presidents Cup 2020 was a testimony to their success and the steps they have taken to change the landscape of football in Sri Lanka.

For more details about Colombo FC, please visit the official website at www.colombofc.com or visit its channels:
- Instagram: @colombofootballclub
- TikTok: @colombofootballclub
- Facebook: Colombo Football Club
- Youtube: Colombo Football Club
- Twitter: Colombo Football Club
Stay tuned to the official channels of the WFFA to follow the latest updates!
November 30, 2021
Red Bull Street Style World Finals head to Valencia for 2021 edition

The world’s best freestyle footballers will welcome the return of fans as the Spanish city of Valencia has been confirmed as the host city for the 2021 Red Bull Street Style World Finals in November. Sixteen male and eight female freestyle footballers will entertain fans in a celebration of skill, style and diversity, with athletes from all corners of the globe taking to the stage.

The pinnacle competition for the sport will be held in front of fans again for the first time since 2019 and will take place on Saturday, November 20 in the scenic Spanish city.

🎫 Click here to get your free tickets for the 2021 Red Bull Street Style World Final!

Those hoping to wow fans in Valencia are reigning male and female Red Bull Street Style champions Erlend Fagerli of Norway and Melody Donchet of France, who will both be eager to defend their crowns.

Confirmation of Valencia comes as the draw for the seeding groups for the World Final – the Online Battle Pools – was held earlier this month which conjured up a number of intriguing match-ups, with 59 male and 20 female athletes vying for a place at the World Finals.

In the stand-out group of the entire draw, Donchet has been drawn in Group C alongside a mixture of rising stars and older champions such as Chile’s Catalina Vega, fellow Frenchwoman Pola Gomez, Great Britain’s Lia Lewis, and Poland’s Kalina Matysiak. Also in action are American Caitlyn Schrepfer in Group B and 2018 World Champion Aguska Mnich from Poland, both of whom will be confident of progression to the World Finals.

Group N of the men’s competition pits best friends Philip Warren Gertsson and Viktor Ludvig Olovson aka VLO against one another – the Swedish residents having known each other for over 15 years. In a men’s competition littered with talent, fans will also be able to watch Poland’s 2013 winner Szymon Skalski in Group G and 2019 finalist Sebastián Ortiz of Colombia in Group P. Elsewhere, Brazilian Gabriel Parke is considered a rising star to watch in Group A as is France’s Tristan Gac in Group L, who has entered the Freestyle Football scene with a bang.

American champion Caitlyn Schrepfer said: “I am so excited for this year’s competition. I was heartbroken last year when I made a couple of small mistakes and I thought I had a great chance. I am looking forward to the competition and hoping to give the other participants a good challenge.”

The WFFA President, Steve Elias, said: “We are thrilled to co-organise Red Bull Street Style yet another year! We believe the city of Valencia will offer an absolutely fabulous backdrop for the 2021 World Final and are really looking forward to celebrating the sport both with the athletes and the fans.”

Frenchman Séan Garnier, the first winner of Red Bull Street Style back in 2008, added: “The beauty of Freestyle Football is that you just need a ball. You don’t need equipment, a motorbike or any other kit. I cannot wait to watch Erlend Fagerli again, who is going to take some beating this year. He is the full package. He has all the skills and is a fantastic performer to go with it. He is incredible and last year he took his game to the next level. He knows how to master his body with the ball.”

For more details about this year’s edition of Red Bull Street Style, please check the corresponding Event Page on the WFFA website.

For more information about the Red Bull Street Style tournament, please visit the official website at www.redbullstreetstyle.com.

Stay tuned to the official channels of the WFFA to follow the latest updates!

September 13, 2021

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	If you have an Android phone, click here to download the WFFA App from Google Play
	If you have an Apple phone, click here to download the WFFA App from the Apple Store

	To register, visit the official page of the event at GameDay: click on the logo and sign up now!
	Check the official website of the tournament on Tournify: click on the logo for more details!

Tag: Steve Elias

About Wave Sports + Entertainment

About IMAGO

About Torneos

About Daytona International Speedway

About Super Ball

About Colombo FC