Charlotte is a Soccer City
Join us for an exclusive conversation on Charlotte FC’s global impact in 2025 with the club’s top leaders. Zoran Krneta, General Manager, and Dean Smith, Head Coach, will share insider insights on the team’s international reach, player development, and strategic vision as they prepare for a competitive season ahead.
As the world’s most popular sport, soccer serves as a global unifying force, bringing communities together and driving change beyond the pitch.
Learn how Charlotte FC is building a global brand, influencing the international transfer market, and shaping the future of soccer—both in Charlotte and on the world stage.
What to Expect:
- Charlotte FC’s global vision for 2025 and beyond
- Expanding the club’s international presence & brand
- How the international transfer market shapes the team
- Tactical approach under Coach Dean Smith
- Charlotte FC’s influence on the city’s sports culture
Private Reception Sponsorship and Underwriting Information — LINK TO DOWNLOAD
WACC Global Sports Series Sponsorship and Underwriting – LINK TO DOWNLOAD
Program Information:
Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
VIP Reception: 11:30 – 12:00 PM
Lunch & Presentation: 12:00 – 1:30 PM
Location: Hilton Charlotte Uptown
Cost: $75 (WACC Member Rate) | $95 (Non-Member Rate) | $50 (Young Professionals of the WACC Member) | $35 (WACC Student Member / Teacher Member)
***Complimentary Program Passes May Not Be Used for This Event
- For non-online payments, please call 704-687-7762
- Mail your check to “World Affairs Council of Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., CHHS 227, Charlotte, NC 28223”
Biography:
Zoran Krneta was named General Manager of Charlotte Football Club in December 2019. He founded the global sports agency, Star Sports & Entertainment, in 2005 and has identified and brokered contracts for more than 150 soccer players across the globe. He is responsible for overseeing the entire Sporting Department at Charlotte FC.
Dean Smith has more than a decade of managerial experience in the English football league system. The West Midlands native led his boyhood club, Aston Villa, back to the Premier League in 2019 and established them as mainstays over the next two seasons. He has also been at the helm of Walsall, Brentford, Norwich City, and Leicester City over the course of his coaching career, and his playing career spanned 16 years with over 500 appearances in England.