Spring has finally sprung as the FIFA Master 25th edition arrives in Neuchâtel!

It’s not every day you get to barbecue by a lake with snow-capped mountains in the background, two classmates swimming in 8-degree water while the rest debate whether they’re bold or just unwell. But then again, it’s not every day you start your final FIFA Master module in a postcard.

During the one-week break between modules, some of the class chased sunshine in Spain, while others explored the Balkans or ventured to Morocco. Wherever we went, we came back recharged and ready to start the last chapter of this incredible journey. We regrouped in the Swiss town of Neuchâtel, the smallest of our three homes, which welcomed us with sunny skies and a sparkling lake framed by the distant Alps. At times, the scenery feels like it’s been CGI’d (Computer Generated Image) into real life.

At the end of our first week of Sports Law lectures, we gathered at the lake to enjoy the start of spring with drinks in the sun. The next morning, a small group of us checked out the town’s second-hand bike sale, with one French-speaking classmate heroically haggling down prices for the rest of us. We took our newly acquired bikes for a quick spin along the waterfront, before joining the rest of the class for an afternoon barbecue by the lake. It was one of those days where everything just clicks: good weather, good food, and good people.

Our first field visit took us to the Home of Football, FIFA’s Headquarters in Zurich. There, we got a glimpse into where key decisions in world football are made and heard from senior FIFA managers and FIFA Master alumni working across various departments. We also had the chance to hear from the current FIFA trainees, who were sitting in our seats just one year ago.

In the evening, we caught up with more FIFA Master alumni working at FIFA and other sports organisations in Zurich and Lausanne. We really appreciated their openness and generosity as they were eager to help - however they could, from Final Projects to job applications, to life after the programme.

The following day, we explored the FIFA Museum, a fitting tribute to the game’s global legacy with its iconic memorabilia, interactive exhibits, and genuine World Cup trophies that can only be touched by World Cup winners (and Gianni Infantino, of course!).

So, here we are in the final leg of the FIFA Master. Between lakeside drinks and classroom sessions on legal systems, Swiss law, and the legal structure of the sporting movement (we do actually study in between all the fun), it’s already off to a promising start. We can see the end on the horizon; we’re just not quite ready to get there.

By Lace Hallendorff 

FIFA Master - International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, ranked Europe's No.1 course a record 12 times by SportBusiness.

FIFA Master - 25 years of Excellence in Sport Business Education - organised by CIES in partnership with De Montfort University (UK), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy) and the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland).