FIFA Master 26th edition Final Projects Conference, Thursday 23 July 2026
IN LIVE STREAMING
Dear CIES and FIFA Master followers,
We are delighted to share with you the final programme for the annual FIFA Master Final Projects Conference, during which the postgraduate students of the current 26th edition FIFA Master class will present their group research projects and respond to questions on their work.
Date: Thursday, 23rd July 2026
Time: 13:00 – 17:30 (CEST)
Venue: University of Neuchâtel, Aula des Jeunes Rives, Espace Tilo-Frey, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Or online: via the CIES YouTube Channel
This is a unique opportunity to explore a variety of timely and impactful topics in the sports industry, engage with the postgraduates, and see them present the results of their academic journey.
We look forward to welcoming you – in person or online – to celebrate the hard work and insights of this year’s class.
Programme:
Built for the World Stage: Insights into the Developmental Profiles of the 21st century FIFA
World Cup Quarterfinalists - Ian AGOSTINI (Brazil & Portugal), Rita EL IDRISSI SEMLALI (Morocco &
USA), Robert LOKAU (Switzerland), Ashley PINEDA SALGADO (USA & Mexico)
More Than Marquee Signings: How Foreign-Player Recruitment and League Governance
Intersect. A Comparative Study of MLS, SPL, CSL and A-League - Amr ADEL (Egypt), Xavier
CORDIER (Australia & France), Luca FUHRMANN (Germany), Zheng WANG (China)
After the Flame: What Happens to Individual Summer Para Sports Between Paralympic
Games - Léonie DOLÉAC (France), Bianca FAES BELGRADO (Italy), Eliú RODRIGUEZ OCHOA (Mexico & USA), Daniel THEVENDERAN (Malaysia)
From the Pitch to the Next Chapter: A Comparative Study of Women Footballers’ Preparation
Strategies for a Successful Post-Career Transition in England, Spain, Papua New Guinea, and
Liberia - Nathaniel Lepani (Papua New Guinea & USA), Martin MARECHAL (France), K. Jlayteh SAYOR
(Liberia)
Women Leading, Women Succeeding: The Correlation Between Representation and
Football Development - Zackary GILMORE (Canada), Ho Yan (Kenny) LAM (Hong Kong, China),
Antonia LANDGRAF (Germany), Lalaina Auriel NY ANDRIANTSOA (Madagascar)
Launched From the Top, Judged From Below: A Cross-Continental Study of Fan Perceptions
of the FIFA Club World Cup - Guillermo ALVEZ (Uruguay), Abdel Malik Koudizé (Niger), Alessandro
PADULA (Italy), Tomoyuki TAMURA (Japan)
Watching Football Online: The Impact of OTT Platforms on Fan Engagement and Viewing
Behaviour - Omar Yasser AHMED (Egypt), Paolo DAL POZZO (Italy), Alwin KOMOLONG (Papua New Guinea
& Germany), Yuto KUROSU (Japan)
We believe the presentations will be of great interest to you, and therefore we look forward to welcoming you to Neuchâtel or to having you with us online.
Best regards,
The FIFA Master Team
FIFA Master - International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, ranked Europe's No.1 course a record 13 times by SportBusiness.
Organised by CIES in cooperation with De Montfort University (UK), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy) and the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland).
"CIES, 30 years of impacting how sport is managed worldwide" & "FIFA Master, 25 years of Excellence in Sport Business Education"
