Ross is the Executive Director, Commercial Operations for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and FIFA World Cup 2026, managing all commercial operations for the tournaments including the 16 Host Cities in Canada, Mexico and USA. His remit spans Brand, Marketing, Licensing and Retail, Commercial Rights Delivery, FIFA Fan Festival, and Host City Commercial Rights. Based in Miami, he leads the HQ commercial teams and oversees commercial operations across the country offices and embedded venue teams.
Ross’s career began at IMG London before joining Repucom as one of its first employees, helping establish its football business and supporting UEFA’s Financial Fair Play initiatives. He later founded a social gaming startup that raised private investment and secured a UK gambling license.
In 2018 he joined FIFA as Head of Strategy and Business Intelligence. There, he led a cross-functional unit delivering insights to shape decision-making across the organisation and commercial clients. He spearheaded the design of a new commercial strategy and unbundled partnership model that’s driven significant revenue growth across FIFA’s Football Verticals.
Ross then helped launch the FIFA World Cup 2026 project guiding Host Cities from bid to execution and created a first of its kind commercial rights program, helping the cities raise local funds to meet their hosting obligations. He is also responsible for working with FIFA’s Commercial Partners to navigate the complex FIFA World Cup 2026 landscape ensuring their rights are not only protected but maximised. This summer, he led the delivery of the new FIFA Club World Cup commercial program involving close collaboration with stadium partners and tailored venue contracts across 11 U.S. cities.
Raised in Singapore, graduated from Bath University (BSc, Psychology) and based in London and Zurich before moving to the U.S., Ross brings a global mindset and collaborative leadership style to his work.
