The FBA - The Football Business Academy

Monday Business News 🌍 ⚽

Here’s your weekly roundup of the biggest football business stories from around the world!

1️⃣ FIFA Brings AI-Powered Officiating and Analysis to World Cup 2026 The 2026 World Cup will mark the debut of FIFA’s advanced semi-automated offside technology. Football AI Pro will provide detailed match analysis to all 48 participating teams, while referee body cameras will offer new broadcast perspectives. Together, the innovations signal FIFA’s growing investment in technology to support both performance and the fan experience.
(Source: FIFA)

2️⃣ Airbnb Launches £1 Million Player Accommodation Fund for Women’s Football Airbnb and the Women’s Super League have announced a new multi-year partnership, including a £1 million Airbnb Player Accommodation Fund. The initiative will provide short-term accommodation for players moving to Barclays WSL and Barclays WSL2 clubs, helping them settle into new communities while reducing some of the challenges associated with transfers.
(Source: Airbnb)

3️⃣Norwegian Football Federation Backs Ethics Complaint Against FIFA President The Norwegian Football Federation has backed FairSquare's ethics complaint against Gianni Infantino over his decision to award a peace prize to Donald Trump. NFF president Lise Klaveness said the move created political friction within FIFA, with Norway acting independently while receiving informal support from other federations.
(Source: Reuters)

4️⃣ Florentino Pérez Re-Elected as Real Madrid President
Florentino Pérez has been re-elected as president of Real Madrid CF, extending a tenure that has overseen some of the club’s most successful sporting and commercial periods. The result clears the way for the expected formal appointment of José Mourinho as head coach.
(Source: The Guardian)

5️⃣ Concacaf Launches eConcacaf Pathway to FIFAe Finals
CONCACAF has launched eConcacaf, a new esports competition that will connect players across the region to the FIFAe Finals. The initiative creates an official qualification pathway for competitors from Concacaf’s 41 member associations. As football organisations continue to expand beyond traditional fan engagement channels, esports is becoming an increasingly important part of reaching younger audiences.

📱 Follow us for more football business insights. Apply now for our Professional Masters in Football Business: https://bit.ly/4dTCj8S

🌍 Two Incredible Days at the World Football Summit Mexico City 2026.

As part of our Networking Week, the 18th Edition FBA Candidates immersed themselves in two inspiring days at the World Football Summit, connecting with industry leaders, expanding their professional networks, and gaining first-hand insights into the future of football business. ⚽💼

The experience featured a packed agenda of exclusive learning opportunities, including a masterclass on becoming a top executive in the football industry with Aníbal Fajer (Atlas FC), insightful sessions with Daniel Benchimol (DAZN), and a career-focused workshop led by Alicia Fraser (FutbolJobs) on how to stand out in the sports industry.

Candidates also had the opportunity to engage directly with senior football executives through exclusive Meet & Greets with Francisco Suinaga (Toluca) and Michele Montessi (FC Porto), creating valuable conversations and connections with leaders from across the game.
Throughout the summit, participants explored new career opportunities at the Employability Corner by FutbolJobs, gaining exposure to live job openings and current trends shaping the sports employment market.

A special highlight was our CEO's, Kristian Dobrev's panel, "Accessing the Boardroom: Education as the Catalyst for Global Impact & Inclusion By The FBA". The discussion brought together an outstanding group of industry leaders, including Eric Beard (Where Is Football), Jimena Lazcano (UNICEF), and Grace Ahrens (Women in Soccer), showcasing the importance of education, leadership, and inclusion in shaping football's future. 💬✨

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to making these two days such a valuable learning experience for our candidates.

📸 Here are some of the moments that made World Football Summit Mexico City 2026 an unforgettable experience.

Building a career in football takes talent, ambition, and access to the right opportunities.

In partnership with Women in Football The FBA is once again offering a limited number of scholarships for the September 2026 edition of its Professional Master in Football Business.

Designed to support more women pursuing careers across the football industry, the scholarship provides access to a global network of industry professionals, practical learning experiences, and the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through a guaranteed internship.

Applications are now open and scholarships are allocated on a rolling basis, subject to availability.

⚽ September 2026 Edition
🎓 Up to 40% tuition reduction
🌍 Guaranteed internship in the football industry

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4397FlM

1️⃣ Paris Saint-Germain Retain the Champions League Winners Title
PSG successfully defended their UEFA Champions League title with a penalty shootout victory over Arsenal FC. The French side became only the second club in the Champions League era to win back-to-back titles. further cementing their place among football’s elite.
(Source: BBC Sport)

2️⃣ La Liga Lands Free To Watch YouTube Deal in Brazil
La Liga has agreed a six-season partnership with CazéTV in Brazil, with matches available free on YouTube. The deal gives one of football’s largest fan markets easier access to Spanish football while expanding La Liga’s digital-first distribution strategy.
(Source: LaLiga)

3️⃣ Michele Kang Backs Sustainable Football Boot Startup
Women's football investor Michele Kang has joined a $1.5 milon funding round for Senda Athletics, the world's first fair-trade football boot company. The new funding will support marketing, staffing, and research and development as the business scales ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2027 Women's World Cup.
(Source: Dealroom)

4️⃣ Women's Super League Secures Record U.S. Broadcast Deal with CBS Sports
The WSL has signed a record four-year agreement with CBS Sports, with Paramount+ set to broadcast 183 matches per season in the United States. The deal represents a significant increase in the value of the league’s international media rights as global demand for women’s football continues to grow.
(Source: The Athletic)

5️⃣ AFC Grassroots Football Day Reaches Record 45 Nations
A record 45 AFC Member Associations took part in the 13th AFC Grassroots Football Day, the highest participation level in the initiative’s history. Expanding grassroots football remains essential to reaching more communities, creating more opportunities, and ensuring the game continues to drive positive development across Asia.
(Source: AFC)

📱 Follow us for more football business insights. Apply now and save up to 15% on tuition with The FBA Early Bird Scholarship: https://hubs.ly/Q04jvYRM0

Building a career in football rarely follows a straight path and hearing real stories from those working in the industry can make all the difference.

Tomorrow at 5 PM CEST, we’ll be live on LinkedIn for a conversation around career development, breaking into football, and navigating opportunities across the industry.

Joining the session:
🎙️ Kristian Dobrev, CEO, The FBA
🎙️ Raquel Pasos, FBA alumna, currently with Atevo Sports Group
🎙️ Alinne Castro, 13th edition FBA alumna, currently with Seattle Reign FC

Together, they’ll share insights on:

⚽ entering the football industry
⚽ career growth and transitions
⚽ lessons learned from working in football
⚽ advice for aspiring professionals

If you’re looking to take your next step in football, join us for what should be a valuable and honest discussion.

📅 Thursday, 28 May
🕔 5 PM CEST
📍 Live on LinkedIn

🔗 Save your spot here: https://hubs.ly/Q04j2xrJ0

Monday Business News 🌍 ⚽

Here’s your weekly roundup of the biggest football business stories from around the world!

1️⃣ FC Barcelona Femení Win UWCL Final in Oslo
Barcelona defeated OL Lyonnes in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final in Oslo, securing another major European title and further strengthening their dominance in the women’s game. The victory adds to Barcelona’s growing global commercial profile as women’s football audiences and revenues continue to rise.
(Source: ESPN)

2️⃣ Guinness Revives ‘The World’s Cup’ Tagline Ahead of 2026
Guinness has brought back its long-standing “The World’s Cup” slogan ahead of the FIFA World Cup, potentially setting up trademark tensions with FIFA and official beer sponsor Anheuser-Busch. FIFA has a long history of aggressively protecting World Cup intellectual property rights, making the campaign one of the most closely watched branding plays before 2026.
(Source: Inside World Football)

3️⃣ Apple TV to Broadcast First Major Sports Event Shot on iPhone
Developed in partnership with Major League Soccer, Apple TV will air the LA Galaxy vs Houston Dynamo match live from Dignity Health Sports Park in California as the first major professional sports broadcast filmed entirely on the iPhone 17 Pro. The fixture takes place during the final MLS weekend before the league pauses for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
(Source: Apple Newsroom)

4️⃣ Koppa Launches Corporate World Cup 2026 Activation Programme
Koppa has introduced a new corporate offering designed to help businesses capitalise on the buzz around the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The programme focuses on internal engagement, brand activations and football-themed experiences ahead of the tournament’s expected global audience of billions.
(Source: Football Business Journal)

5️⃣ Zlatan Ibrahimović and Tyson Fury Prepare to Buy Morecambe FC
Zlatan Ibrahimović and Tyson Fury are reportedly part of a surprise consortium exploring a takeover bid for Morecambe FC. The potential deal would add another celebrity-backed ownership story to football’s growing investment landscape, particularly across lower-league clubs.
(Source: GiveMeSport)

📱 Follow us for more football business insights. Apply now and save up to 15% on tuition with The FBA Early Bird Scholarship: https://hubs.ly/Q04hNL080

⚽ Not every career in football starts inside the industry.

After seven years working in insurance and analytics, Alexis Smith made the decision to pursue a completely different path: professional football.

Through The FBA Professional Master in Football Business and her 3-month guaranteed internship at Oakland Roots SC, Alexis is now applying data analytics, forecasting, and commercial intelligence inside a real club environment.

Her journey shows how transferable skills from outside football can become valuable assets inside the game when combined with practical experience and the right opportunity.

This is what a career transition into football can look like.

📖 Read Alexis' full story: https://hubs.ly/Q04htydz0
🚀 Ready to take your first step into the football industry? Apply now and save up to 15% on tuition with the FBA Early Bird Scholarship: https://hubs.ly/Q04htCtb0

Monday Business News 🌍 ⚽

Here’s your weekly roundup of the biggest football business stories from around the world!

1️⃣1️⃣ Lionel Messi Expands into Women’s Football with UE Cornellà
Lionel Messi is backing the launch of a new women’s team at UE Cornellà, the Catalan club he partially owns, marking a major strategic move into the women’s game. The team is set to begin competing in the 2026/27 season, further reflecting growing investor confidence in women’s football development.
(Source: AS)

2️⃣ FIFA World Cup Final Introduces First-Ever Halftime Show
FIFA has confirmed that Madonna, Shakira and BTS will headline the first-ever World Cup final halftime show at MetLife Stadium in 2026. The entertainment expansion aims to transform football’s biggest event into a broader global spectacle while supporting FIFA’s $100 million Global Citizen Education Fund.
(Source: Yahoo Entertainment / FIFA)

3️⃣ UEFA Signs First-Ever Medical Health Partner
UEFA has announced Haleon as its first dedicated medical health partner, covering flagship competitions including UEFA Euro and the Champions League. The collaboration aims to advance evidence-based approaches to pain management and support the continued development of high standards in football medicine.
(Source: UEFA)

4️⃣ Kick4Life Opens Africa’s First FSC-Certified Timber Stadium
FSC Stadium of Life in Lesotho is Africa’s first stadium built with sustainably sourced timber. The stadium is the latest development at the Kick4Life Centre, a hub of social and economic development in the heart of Maseru, that was first opened in 2011 as part of the legacy for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. It is a leading example of a major tournament legacy achieving sustainable social impact.
(Source: Kick4Life)

5️⃣ Manchester City Invests in Dedicated Women’s Training Facility
Manchester City has announced a new purpose-built facility for its women’s team, representing a major infrastructure commitment to the women’s game. The development reflects accelerating long-term investment in elite female performance environments as women’s football continues its commercial rise.
(Source: Manchester City)

📱 Follow us for more football business insights. Apply now and save up to 15% on tuition with The FBA Early Bird Scholarship: https://hubs.ly/Q04gXYq80