From Day One to Month One: Life at the Start of the 26th edition of the FIFA Master Journey
It’s hard to believe that it has already been one month since the students of the 26th edition of the FIFA Master first met at De Montfort University’s International Centre for Sports History and Culture in Leicester. When you instantly click and become like family, time truly does fly!
This first month has been nothing short of eventful. We celebrated four birthdays of our very own Alessandro, Eliú, Omar, and Paolo, each one adding its own flavor to our growing sense of community. Alongside the celebrations, we embarked on four incredible field trips, visiting Wimbledon, Leicester Tigers, Rugby School, and Silverstone, gaining first-hand insights into the diverse world of sport heritage and management.
The excitement didn’t stop there, because being in Leicester means sports action is never far away! We attended two football matches at King Power Stadium: the Leicester City Women’s team treated us with 1-0 win against Liverpool (we like to call ourselves their lucky charm!) while the Leicester City Men’s side faced Wrexham (and no, we didn’t spot Ryan Reynolds if you’re wondering) where the Hollywood-owned side managed to earn a draw in an atmosphere that didn’t disappoint. We were also able to catch a thrilling rugby game between Leicester Tigers and Harlequins, where the home team delivered an impressive second-half comeback that had us all on our feet. Thanks to our wonderful programme coordinator, James Panter, a few of us were also able to attend the Leicestershire County Cricket Club 2025 End of Season Awards Night, a truly special evening, especially after the club’s incredible season earning promotion to Division 1 of the County Championship.
Of course, it hasn’t been all play. The first month also marked our first academic milestone with an exam exploring Wimbledon’s legacy. Beyond that, our lectures have dived deep into fascinating topics such as sports heritage, professionalism in sport, North American sports structures, and the history of women’s sport, setting a strong foundation for the months ahead.
True to the spirit of the programme, we haven’t just been learning about sport, we’ve been living it. After all, do they not say you should practice what you preach? From 6:30 a.m. gym sessions, weekend futsal rituals, and running and tennis clubs to joining DMU’s sports teams - including rugby, basketball, and football - our class has truly embraced an active lifestyle, living and breathing sport both inside and outside the classroom.
Between classes and field visits, we’ve already found some of our favorite local spots and packed our weekends with plans. Stay tuned, because there’s plenty more to come!
If the past few weeks are any indication, the journey of the 26th edition promises to be one filled with learning, laughter, and lifelong memories. Here’s to what’s next!
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"
