Canada: Launch of the 1st FIFA/CIES International Programme with Toronto Metropolitan University

The International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) is delighted to announce the official launch of the first edition of the FIFA/CIES International Programme in Sports Management in Canada. The new course  will be organised by The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), following the signing of a partnership agreement in 2026.

TMU becomes the 22nd university to join the FIFA/CIES International University Network, which has been active in the Americas, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe for over twenty years.

Denis Oswald, CIES Director and IOC member, said, “We are proud to offer the FIFA/CIES International Programme in Canada, in collaboration with The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). This programme shall remain as an academic legacy of the FIFA World Cup 2026. In a constantly evolving sports environment, shaped by new challenges and technological transformations, education is an essential tool for sports organisations. It is why CIES provides sports managers with the key tools to better understand their organisations and address these challenges. As Canada establishes itself as a key player in football, the FIFA/CIES International Programme, organised in collaboration with TMU, will help to train a new generation of leaders and sustainably strengthen sports management in the country.”

TMU’s Creative School will be responsible for teaching the six core modules that make up the FIFA/CIES International Programme (management, finance, marketing/sponsorship, communications, law and event management), adapting them to the realities and needs of Canadian sport – including  football. For its part, CIES will offer a series of lectures enabling students to explore issues in international sport.

Natalie Álvarez, Dean of The Creative School at TMU, noted, “This partnership is an exciting step in advancing TMU’s vision for future-ready leadership. The FIFA/CIES Programme equips participants with both the theoretical foundations and practical tools of modern management, while also preparing them to navigate the cultural, economic, and political complexities that shape sport systems worldwide. At a moment when sport plays an increasingly visible role in questions of identity, equity, and public life, leadership across global contexts requires the capacity to work across diverse knowledge systems, foster reciprocal exchange, and build inclusive and sustainable sport ecosystems. This initiative serves as a vital link, advancing these shared commitments and connecting our community to dynamic global networks.”

The FIFA/CIES International Programme, which combines theory with practical aspects, is primarily aimed at mid - to senior-level professionals from sports organisations (including federations, clubs, sponsors, media and other entities active in the sports industry). It comprises between 150 and 200 hours of coursework.

Participants will acquire essential skills in areas such as sports governance, leadership, sponsorship and revenue generation, as well as legal aspects and event management.

For The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University, the new FIFA/CIES International Programme represents, “a step forward in shaping the future of sports leadership in Canada and beyond”.

For more information please visit

TMU 

FIFA/CIES International Programme - The Creative School - Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)

CIES

FIFA/CIES International Programme in Canada

"CIES, 30 years of impacting how sport is managed worldwide"