“Footgolf combines the excitement of soccer with the ethics and tradition of golf”

iSportConnect’s Taruka Srivastav recently sat down with Aleksander Kravanja, President of Federation for International FootGolf (FIFG) where he highlighted the accessibility and competitiveness of footgolf, the significance of incorporating fun and creativity into sports, with a growing number of countries and regions adopting footgolf globally.

Could you tell me more about FootGolf as the sport is very recent since it was founded in 2018?

The sport actually started independently in two places globally, without knowledge of each other. The first mentions and actions were in Mexico, and then Michael Johnson introduced the sport in Holland. Michael Johnson is actually the founder of footgolf and also the World Federation. So, the first countries involved were Holland and Mexico, and then it grew in the US, UK, and other countries. Now, we have 40 countries in our membership globally, across all continents, with 19 more in the process of being accepted. We are growing sustainably and quickly, but we try to maintain controlled growth, helping new member countries avoid the mistakes and hard lessons we faced. We are guiding them through the onboarding process and supporting them in the early years of introducing the sport in their countries.

In recent years, we’ve seen sports like Pickleball and Paddle tennis gain popularity, with widespread participation and celebrity involvement. How are you marketing this sport and raising awareness?

To be completely honest, we’re currently doing it with passion and sincerity, rather than a heavy focus on marketing. We are on the verge of a big step, which is to bring our sport to TV and broadcast major competitions, possibly by next year. Our most important step now is to establish a solid foundation before diving into large-scale marketing. We’re setting up solid rules, ethics, and support systems within our member countries and World Federation, so that when we take the next step in marketing, we’re prepared. Recently, after a meeting in Birmingham at SportAccord, we engaged two agencies to help us grow the sport and attract new partners. I believe we’re now ready for new partnerships with strategic partners and sponsors.

Which are these two agencies, and who are your current partners?

We have one agency in the States and one in France, taking advantage of the cultural aspects of each region. Member countries often work with local agencies as well. We’re connecting global and cultural perspectives through these agencies, which have experience in helping new sports. Although our budget isn’t large at the moment, these agencies see significant potential in our sport, which makes us optimistic. They believe in the future of footgolf.

If I were a brand, why should I sponsor footgolf? What reasons would you give to invest in this sport?

The most important reason is that the sport is fantastic and accessible to everyone. It’s easy to learn, and we’re expanding from a competition-focused sport to include recreational play, which will be a significant step forward. We’re also introducing a handicapping system, similar to golf. Footgolf combines the excitement of soccer with the ethics and tradition of golf, creating a unique sport with a bright future. The companies working with us strongly believe in our sport, and we are committed to upholding strong sports values. We respect Olympic principles and are focused on long-term growth, making us a reliable partner for sponsorships and investments.

Would you say that Footgolf offers a younger, more accessible take on the traditionally elite sport of golf?

No, not exactly. I’ve been playing golf for over 40 years, and while Golf has its challenges and is often seen as an elite sport, it’s accessible in many countries. Footgolf, on the other hand, is much quicker to learn, more competitive, and requires less time investment. The demographics favor footgolf, with 80% of our players being between 24 and 45 years old. We’re also seeing more seniors and women getting involved, which is encouraging.