ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies five key issues that not only pervade throughout this text but are also likely to shape the future of football: Formats and entertainment; Governance, ethics, and social responsibility; Glocalisation; Digitalisation and data; Talent and teams. Football fans should ideally be aware of the context within which their favourite sport is being played. A mantra from many traditional football club fans could be “this is a local club for local people.” The strength and relevance of football is, in many ways, underpinned by such a mantra. Constructing a winning team is the very essence of football, and most aficionados of the sport inevitably have lists of their all-time favourite players and teams. An important element of future football governance issues is the ethical standards that are developed and applied. The responsibility for upholding good governance standards extends way beyond the Switzerland-based world governing.
