October in Full Swing for the 26th Edition of FIFA Master
It’s only month two of the 26th edition of the FIFA Master, and we are already feeling time slipping through our fingers as we reached the halfway point of our De Montfort University (DMU) Humanities of Sport module based at the International Centre for Sports History and Culture! October proved once again to be a month full of energy, competition, learning, and camaraderie.
Continuing our now cherished tradition, we celebrated the birthdays of Bianca, Ian, Amr, and Martin this month, moments that remind us how quickly the group has grown into one big family. These celebrations have become a lovely way to pause amid the busy teaching schedule and appreciate the bonds forming within the class. Luckily, we’re fortunate to have our own world-class baker, Léonie, whose creations have quickly become a highlight of each gathering. And when birthday cake emergencies strike, Xavier always comes to the rescue!
October was brimming with sporting action, as our students embraced every opportunity to get active and represent both the class and DMU. We were thrilled to cheer for our very own Lalaina as she made her debut with the DMU basketball team. Meanwhile, Ian, Martin, Zack, Nathaniel, and Rita took on the Leicester Half Marathon and 10k races, powered by sheer determination and maybe a few too many carbs the night before. To round off the month, the FIFA Master squad hit the pitch for a heated football match against the DMU team. Despite a hard-fought game, we narrowly lost 3–2, with goals coming from Yuto and our captain Alwin - who may or may not have taken his excitement levels up a notch by also putting one past our own goalkeeper earlier in the game! But redemption came in style: a stunning strike from the edge of the right side of the box that left the keeper frozen and curled perfectly into the top-left corner.
But the real stars? Our cheer squad. No matter the event, you’ll find them on the sidelines cheering, chanting, waving signs and cardboard cut-outs of classmates’ faces (courtesy of our resident hype-masters, Ashley, Lalaina and Léonie). It’s safe to say we’ve got the best support system in town!
The FIFA Master academic journey has continued at full speed. October brought the second assessment in both the Birth of Modern Sport and Professional Sport in Context, marking the end of our second sub-module and opening the door for the next one being the Internationalization of Sport.
In this new submodule, we covered a lot of ground from the Olympic and Paralympic movements, FIFA’s own history, and key topics such as sports diplomacy and migration. The lectures were further enriched by guest speakers from across the sports world, from journalists, supporter trust and FIFPRO representatives to experts on diversity, inclusion, and the protection of youth athletes. Each talk offered a fresh perspective and brought real-world insights into the classroom.
One of the month’s highlights was the field visits to Leicester City Football Club, where students visited the club’s state-of-the-art training ground at Seagrave and the iconic King Power Stadium. The visits offered a behind-the-scenes look at the infrastructure and professionalism driving success at the highest level of the game which was a perfect complement to our academic learning.
As we head into November, the pace shows no sign of slowing down. The friendships are deepening, the lessons are multiplying, and the excitement for what’s to come continues to grow!
By Rita El Idrissi Semlali
FIFA Master 27th Edition : Apply Now !
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"
