16 Fév
The sixth cohort of the UEFA Executive Master for International Players (MIP) gathered in Lisbon for Session 3 of the programme, dedicated to one of the most strategic pillars of contemporary football governance: competition design and financial sustainability.
Participants examined the theoretical foundations of effective competition design — including competitive balance, financial stability and sporting integrity — and explored their practical application through real-world case studies, notably the recent evolution of the UEFA club competition formats (2024–2027 cycle).
Under the academic direction of Sean Hamil (Birkbeck, University of London), the week combined high-level academic input with practitioner insights from senior executives across European football.
Key topics included:
UEFA competition structures and regulatory frameworks
Financial sustainability and investment trends in European football
The development of elite women’s football competitions
Multi-club ownership as an emerging investment strategy
The evolving role of national associations and leagues
The session was hosted at some of Portugal’s most iconic football venues — Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Sporting Clube de Portugal, and the Federação Portuguesa de Futebol — providing participants with direct exposure to strategic decision-making environments at club and federation level.
In line with the programme’s “From Players to Leaders” philosophy, the week also marked a key milestone: participants delivered their elevator pitch presentation of their MIP report, strengthening their ability to communicate complex governance and business issues with clarity and impact.
Session 3 once again illustrated the UEFA MIP’s distinctive approach: combining academic excellence, industry access and leadership development to prepare the next generation of decision-makers in international football.
Next stop: Madrid, June 2026
