FIFA Master Reaffirms Its European Leadership
The FIFA Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport has once again been ranked 1st in Europe and 4th worldwide in the SportBusiness Postgraduate Course Rankings 2025.
For the ninth consecutive year, and the thirteenth time overall, the FIFA Master maintains its leading position in Europe and its place among the world’s top sport management programs. The ranking, published by SportBusiness—the leading international source for data, analysis, and insights in the sports industry—comes at a symbolic moment, coinciding with two major milestones: the 25th anniversary of the FIFA Master (2024–2025) and the 30th anniversary of CIES. Both anniversaries celebrate the enduring excellence of an academic initiative launched in 2001 that continues to anticipate the evolving needs of a global industry. Applications are now open for the 27th edition, starting in September 2026.
The FIFA Master, organized by the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES), offers a multidisciplinary education that combines management, law, and humanities. It is delivered by three partner universities:
- SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy) – Management Module
- De Montfort University (UK) – Humanities Module
- University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland) – Law Module
Consistently ranked among the best programs since 2011, the FIFA Master stands out as one of SDA Bocconi’s most prestigious offerings, strengthened by the expertise and research of the Sport & Entertainment Knowledge Center.
SportBusiness evaluates programs based on several criteria, including career outcomes, student satisfaction, participant diversity, networking opportunities, practical relevance of acquired skills, and academic partnerships.
The 26th edition of the FIFA Master began on September 15 in Leicester, bringing together 27 students from 18 different countries—a testament to its international reach and reputation as a leading postgraduate program for those pursuing global careers in sport. The SDA Bocconi Management Module, running from January to March, features courses in Foundations of Sport Management, Sport Finance, Strategic Planning, Sport Marketing, Sport Event Management, and Sport Innovation.
Dino Ruta, Scientific Director of the Management Module, Head of the Sport & Entertainment Knowledge Center at SDA Bocconi, and Rector’s Delegate for the Olympic Movement at Bocconi University, highlighted the program’s distinctive value:
“The FIFA Master stands out for its strong international orientation and genuinely multidisciplinary approach. The three modules—Humanities, Management, and Law—delivered in three different countries, reflect the diverse expertise needed to lead the sports industry responsibly and innovatively. Each year, SDA Bocconi renews and enriches its content to give students a forward-looking perspective on sport—one that generates economic, social, and environmental impact in line with the values of the IOC and the entire Olympic Movement.”
Prof. Thomas Probst, President of the FIFA Master Scientific Committee, added:
“Congratulations to everyone who supports the FIFA Master—from academic partners to guest speakers, field visit hosts, and FIFA itself. The Committee is extremely proud of what we have accomplished together. This new recognition is a reason to celebrate—especially for our alumni, whose achievements have built the program’s outstanding reputation across the global sports industry.”
Vincent Schatzmann, Secretary General of CIES, commented:
“The 2025 ranking once again confirms that the FIFA Master provides our students with the foundation they need to build successful careers in international sports business. The announcement by SportBusiness is an excellent external validation of the work we do each year to achieve this mission.”
Founded in 1995, the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) is an independent research and education center based in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, established as a partnership between FIFA, the University of Neuchâtel, and the City and State of Neuchâtel.
Applications for the 27th edition (2026–2027) are now open until Friday, January 9, 2026, at noon (CET). Interested candidates can apply through the official FIFA Master website.
SDA Bocconi School of Management is proud to be one of the founding institutions of this internationally renowned program and to share this new achievement with CIES and the partner universities.
SDA Bocconi School of Management
