Orlando City SC President Phil Rawlins joined 4,500 of football’s senior decision makers for the 17th annual Soccerex in Rio De Janero, Brazil this week. Rawlins networked with industry giants from around the globe, further establishing the Orlando City brand.

OCSC’s president told OrlandoCitySoccer.com the event has been great for networking with other clubs and sport business professionals.

“I am meeting with various clubs in Brazil to build relationships, to look at players and spot the potential for affiliate relationships and exhibition games,” said Rawlins. “The meetings have all gone very well.”

Soccerex began on Saturday and ran through Wednesday afternoon. Each day featured a different keynote speaker, along with hundreds of booths that showed off the newest soccer products from around the world. FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcks opened up the speaker series, with soccer superstar Christiano Ronaldo and Executive Secretary of Ministry Sport Brazil Luis Fernandes following soon after.

FIFA Preisdent Joseph S. Blatter commented on the event, speaking to conference attendees on how valuable Soccerex is to the sport.

“Soccerex has established itself as the global leading football conference,” said Blatter. “(Soccerex is) Bringing together the business of football.”

For more info on Soccerex, check out their website by clicking here.