THE world's first futsal business conference will take place at Tranmere Rovers ground later this year.

Organised by Futsal Focus and Tranmere Rovers, the two-day event will be held at Prenton Park on September 6 and 7.

It will be an opportunity for business leaders from around the world to network, share ideas and attend talks from some of the top people in the sport.

Futsal has had an impact on the football industry since the 1930s.

It was created in Uruguay during the first World Cup before spreading rapidly across South America and later into Europe.

It has helped in the development of many of the world's best players including Pele, Ronaldinho, Messi and Ronaldo and many more.

Futsal has exploded across the world with football clubs such as FC Barcelona, Real Betis, and SL Benfica among others that have developed professional futsal sections.

In the United States of America, NBA clubs are investing in the sport through the Professional Futsal League which is set to launch next year.

Stephen McGettigan, chief executive of Futsal Focus, said: "The mission through organizing the world's first global futsal business conference is to give those with a development and entrepreneurial spirit the opportunity to see the future of the footballing format, and what that could potentially offer them by investing in the sport's development here in the UK or elsewhere".

Among those presenting at the conference will be Tiago Pinto of SL Benfica, advisor to the club president on futsal and Pablo Vilches, futsal director of Real Betis.

Also taking part will be Keith Tozer commissioner of the Professional Futsal League in the USA and Tachapat Benjasiriwan, chairman of Chonburi Bluewave, professional Thai futsal club and many more.

Tranmere Rovers chairman Mark Palios said: "As a former chief executive of The Football Association I would have loved to have brought futsal over to England and embedded it in our game as I believe it would have created a generation of more technically gifted players.

"Tranmere Rovers is a development club and we see huge potential in futsal, both in terms of developing our footballers and also as a sport in its own right.

"Futsal is incorporated into our academy curriculum and we have our own Super League team together with our own leagues running across the peninsula.

"We're delighted to be hosting this futsal business conference and look forward to showcasing the many positive aspects the rapidly growing sport has to offer".

If you are interested in sponsoring the event, contact hannahk@tranmererovers.co.uk