Executive Master in Global Sport Governance (MESGO)
MESGO is a highly acclaimed, exclusive programme for sports industry leaders who are looking to strengthen their strategic thinking in the evolving world of global sports governance, and who are keen to access a unique network of influential business experts.
Programme overview
MESGO is an exciting international master’s programme that combines a multidisciplinary approach to learning with an in-depth analysis of the legal, political and economic issues in sport. It addresses the global issues faced by sports organisations today, such as the specificity of sport, competitive balance, commercial rights, the prevention of match-fixing, anti-doping, social dialogue, social responsibility and good governance. Nine week-long sessions are offered, each in an international location and each providing a unique opportunity to learn from the elite leaders within the sports industry.
Quick view
Faq
- Who Industry influencers working in sports organisations (not only football): associations, clubs, leagues, players’ unions, public authorities, international institutions and partner organisations of sports bodies
- When Every two years; Ninth intake in autumn 2026
- How Long 20 months
- Where Six sessions in Europe, two in the United States and one in Asia
- Price €21,900
- Number of participants 30
- Academic certification Executive Master, 60 ECTS credits
- Language English
- Applications Applications for MESGO 9 are open (end 31 March 2026)
- Website https://www.mesgo.org
- Inclusivity, Diversity and Parent Support We welcome all participants from diverse backgrounds and cultures, recognising the unique value that diversity brings to our community. If you have any uncertainties about meeting specific programme criteria, we encourage you to reach out to us. in addition, the UEFA Academy is aware of the challenges parents of young children can be facing when perusing continuous education. Should you believe it could be an obstacle to your education journey, contact us to learn more about the support the UEFA Academy can offer in that regard.
Important dates
- 01 Oct 2025 Application open MESGO 9
- 31 Mar 2026 Deadline application MESGO 9
- 05 Oct 2026 Programme starts MESGO 9
Programme Outcomes
- Insight to anticipate forthcoming key challenges and exploit current and future dynamics
- Solution-driven attitude
- Ability to positively impact the development of sports governance
IS THIS PROGRAMME
SUITED FOR YOU?
Katarzyna (Kasia) Biniaszczyk
36, Polish
Political adviser and coordinator of the Sports Group in the European Parliament
Kasia was a participant of the MESGO V edition. She has an academic background in International Relationsfrom University of Lodz in Poland and European Project Management from Sorbonne University in Paris. In 2008, she began working as an Advisor in the European Parliament where she quickly began focusing on European media and sport policy. She was appointed as the Coordinator of the Parliament’s Sport Intergroup in 2015, and has since worked as an advisor to several high-profile athletes turned politicians.
Skills
- Kasia is a multi-lingual
- Openminded
- Team player who enjoys learning andnetworking in an international environment
Looking for
- Gain a more in-depth understanding of how EU policies are experienced on the ground by sports organisations and how are they are implemented.
- Learn from others involved with sport and to expand her network of contacts
- Combine her work and passion for sport with a degree that could propel her career into new directions.
Jean-Marie Kenny
43, French
Director Member Associations Services at FIFA
Jean-Marie’s passion for sports and teamwork dates back when he was an amateur volleyball player in Guadeloupe, a multicultural French West Indies island where he comes from.
He successfully completed training in the French Naval Academy, starting in 1998 as an engineer and navy officer. Later, he completed a Master’s of Public Management at Sciences Po Strasbourg and from there, entered the National School for Administration (ENA – French high civil servants academy). Thus, serving the French State for many years as a Naval Officer, then as a Sub-prefect, then in the cabinets of several sports ministers and ultimately as a sports senior advisor to the Prime Minister, he has accumulated the toolbox necessary to manage complex organizations. With that background, MESGO appeared as the best way to validate his wish to work within the sports industry.
Skills
- Dedication & endurance
- Interpersonal and knowledge-sharing skills
- Understanding of international & cross-cultural dimensions
- Quick learner and a pragmatic scientist with strong language skills which would prove to be lifelong competencies
- Jean-Marie says team sports, academics and military service shaped who he is today: open-minded with a sense of civic engagement and a passion for learning.
Looking for
- Sports and Governance were key topics to study in order to be part of the construction of Sports of tomorrow
- Luckily they naturally coalesced in the MESGO program. MESGO allowed him to get a top-class education in sports organizations and administration while collaborating with people who would later become leaders in their federations throughout Europe
- It also proved to be a natural progression to the creation of his sports strategy consulting firm (KJM CONSEIL) and finally to his current position at the French Football Federation
Roadmap
Nyon & Lausanne, Switzerland
The purpose of this introductory session is to develop an understanding of the institutional and economic environment in which international sport operates and to define governance concepts in the context of sport specifically, including the European model of sport. This session seeks to explain the fundamental mission and objectives of sport’s governing bodies.
During this session, you will notably broaden your knowledge of:
- the stakeholder universe in a global sport context;
- the role of the world, continental and national federations/associations;
- governance structures, boards and the performance of sports organisations;
- indicators for better governance; and
- the impact of globalisation on the organisation of sport.
Paris, France
In this session, the focus moves to illustrating the range of contrasting competition designs and regulatory systems employed by different sports for successful competitions, outlining their respective strengths and weaknesses in the context of sport’s particular economic framework.
During this session, you will notably broaden your knowledge of:
- the importance of achieving competitive balance/uncertainty of outcome in successful competitions, including an analysis of the effectiveness of the array of coordination, redistribution and regulatory mechanisms available to competition organisers to achieve it;
- the specific role of licensing and financial fair play systems in achieving economic stability in a professional sport;
- the regulation of sports labour markets, including an assessment of key policy measures, such as the role of the transfer market and salary management systems;
- the relationship between the management of professional club and national team competitions;
- and the function of successful sport competitions as vehicles for distributing solidarity payments to the grassroots
Brussels, Belgium
This session aims to describe the very broad legal context in which sport governing bodies operate, to raise awareness of the range of legal issues they face and to present the range of legal mechanisms available to sport governing bodies in their governance and regulatory roles.
During this session, you will notably broaden your knowledge of:
- the external management of legal disputes (the different sources of international sports law and the role of the Court of Arbitration for Sport);
- the internal settlement of legal disputes (the management of a legal department and the disciplinary powers of sport governing bodies);
- the legal and political framework for sports in Europe (EU law and its application to sport, and the role of the Council of Europe);
- the critical importance of legal risk management and the different practical ways to achieve it; and
EU lobbying.
Mainz & Frankfurt, Germany
The main objective of this session is to demonstrate the vital importance of better consideration of ethical issues by sports institutions. First, this session encourages critical thinking and value-driven decision-making. Second, it will help to understand precisely the range of ethical issues and challenges in sports by analysing their characteristics. Third, it will help to evaluate the systems that generate them and to outline key mechanisms for addressing them.
During this session, you will notably broaden your knowledge of:
- the theoretical foundation of ethics and integrity in sport (i.e. fairness, respect and equity as practical guidelines for management decision-making);
- contemporary ethical issues in sport, such as corruption, match-fixing and doping, and regulatory mechanisms for addressing them;
- discrimination in sport (on the basis of ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, etc.), and policies used to address this;
- the social responsibility of sport and sports organisations (in relation to human rights, violence, etc.);
- and sustainability and the legacy of sport.
Barcelona, Spain
This session will aim to develop an understanding of the process of hosting sports events and launching campaigns to increase participation in sport. This process will include public or private authorities and the different stakeholders that operate in different countries at international level.
During this session, you will notably broaden your knowledge of:
- sports events: models of governance and operational plans;
- the evolution of bidding and legacy concepts over the years;
- strategies implemented by public authorities to host sports events and to launch participation campaigns;
- strategies by national and international federations to increase participation;
- and risk management and crisis communication.
London, United Kingdom
The aim of this session is to develop a holistic understanding of and approach to marketing and communication. This session provides a balance of marketing fundamentals, emerging trends and communications strategy, always with a view towards maximising short and long-term value for sports organisations.
During this session, you will notably broaden your knowledge of:
- the fundamentals of marketing, including how to build a strong brand;
- the importance of a fan engagement strategy and leveraging digital marketing assets to grow and retain your fan base;
- how sponsorship has evolved and the direction it is taking, with a detailed assessment of the implications for sports organisations;
- the evolving media landscape and how this critical source of revenue is rapidly evolving, with traditional and new broadcasters fighting for fans’ attention, and what this means for rights holders;
- and emerging trends in sports marketing and how best to utilise these tactics to add value to your organisation.
New York City, United States
The purpose of this session is to gain a better understanding of the organisation of sport in North America. The idea is to analyse the organisation of professional sport in North America and to understand the context of the emergence of major leagues, their principles, their regulatory tools and their relationship with their environment.
During this session, you will notably broaden your knowledge of:
- the economic and regulatory structure used to achieve competitive balance and financial stability in the four major North American professional sport leagues;
- labour market regulation: player salary regulation (e.g. wage caps and the luxury tax) and player recruitment regulation (e.g. the player draft system);
- the revenue sharing system;
- the use of a collective bargaining agreement as a key element of regulation;
- and the tools used to promote gender equality and to fight against discrimination.
Silicon Valley, United States
The goal of this session is to raise awareness of the need to take innovation into consideration, and to demonstrate that innovation is not only about using technologies or digital transformation, but must be a general process that structures the management of the organisation and its strategic development, and links it with the skill set needed by those in leadership positions in the sports industry.
During this session, you will notably broaden your knowledge of:
- future technologies and the way they will affect sport activities and sport governance;
- the innovation mindset led by start-ups active in the sports industry;
- disruption and change management;
- innovation management and leadership;
- and ethics and innovation.
Singapore
This session aims to deliver an overview of the key challenges that sports governing bodies may face in the future. It will explore the main challenges ahead for sport and society and providing managers with tools for the future, while also exploring some of the specific challenges for sports organisations in Asia.
During this session, you will notably broaden your knowledge of:
- the main challenges for sport in the future;
- methods and tools to anticipate the future;
- sport in Asia;
- the challenges to the integrity of sporting competitions and wider ethical challenges;
- and the development of successful strategies for the future of European sports governing bodies.
UEFA HQ, Nyon, Switzerland
The viva (the oral defence of a thesis) is the final examination undergone by participants who have been successful in their class participation and continuous assessments. Following the viva, a graduation ceremony will be held at UEFA HQ in Nyon, marking the end of the MESGO journey. After their graduation, participants automatically join the MESGO alumni, a unique network of over 120 sports industry leaders!
What our students and experts say
