The event, a landmark for the Italian business community in Florida, brought together more than two hundred entrepreneurs and managers to discuss this year's central theme: the impact of major sporting events in economic relations between Italy and the United States and their role in the development of Miami, a metropolis that boasts a thriving Italian community of more than 35,000 residents.

Prominent guests of the evening included Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, who shared his views on the importance of the 2026 World Cup, the first to be held in three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico. In the US alone, direct GDP growth of $10 billion is estimated for the World Cup. Miami will host 7 of the 104 scheduled matches, with an estimated creation of about 10,000 jobs.

Adding to the discussion were Silvia Marrara, head of the Office for Sports Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Nicolò Zini, vice president of the Miami organizing committee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Both argued how major sporting events represent a driver for the economy. Marrara illustrated in particular the pillars that guide the promotion of the country system abroad, including through internationally important events such as the Giro d'Italia or the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

The event underscored the cohesion and relevance of the Italian business community in Florida, where more than 150 branches of Italian companies operate in sectors such as: furniture, boating, construction, agribusiness, fashion and accessories. Florida represents the third largest U.S. state by population and the fourth largest by GDP. If considered as an independent state, Florida would rank as 17th in the world economy.

The evening represented an important networking opportunity, fostering dialogues on growth and collaboration strategies, and reaffirming the increasingly relevant role of Italian entrepreneurship in this area of the United States.

Also of interest is the collaboration between Mariott Hotels and Michelin-starred chef Bernardo Paladini, a disciple of chef Massimo Bottura and head of the great Modenese chef's first restaurant in the U.S., Torno Subito, which recently opened in the Florida city to great acclaim from the public and local media.