FIFA Launches New Club Management, Players Executive Programmes for Football Leaders

FIFA has announced new editions of its executive development programmes aimed at preparing club officials, professional players and coaches for leadership roles across the football industry.

The fourth FIFA Diploma in Club Management and the second FIFA Players Executive Programme will begin in November 2026 and run until April 2028, with each programme lasting 18 months.

The initiatives are designed to combine online education with optional physical sessions, club visits and behind-the-scenes learning experiences at football clubs around the world. FIFA says the approach will give participants both academic knowledge and practical exposure to modern football management.

FIFA Director of Professional Football Relations and Development, Ornella Desirée Bellia, said the programmes reflect the organisation’s commitment to developing the people responsible for shaping the future of the game.

She said participants would benefit from knowledge-sharing and practical learning while building international networks that could help drive the professionalisation and growth of football beyond the pitch.

The FIFA Diploma in Club Management is targeted at club executives, as well as former international players and coaches who now hold managerial roles. Its curriculum covers leadership and management, governance and legal matters, finance, marketing and communication, club operations and stadium management, as well as sporting strategy and youth academies.

Meanwhile, the FIFA Players Executive Programme focuses on active and retired professional players and coaches preparing to transition into executive and leadership positions. The programme covers football management, physical and mental wellbeing, financial planning, personal branding and communication, and philanthropy.

FIFA Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer, Gelson Fernandes, said football needs strong club leadership and greater involvement from former players in the administration of the sport. He stressed that players’ experience, knowledge and perspective remain valuable even after their playing careers end.

FIFA said its executive programmes have already built a global alumni network involving participants from 57 nationalities, 155 clubs and 55 countries, with all six football confederations represented. The latest editions are expected to further expand that network while developing the next generation of football leaders.