FIFA Jobs: What Types of Job Opportunities Does FIFA Offer and How Can A Degree With The FBA Help?
A Brief History of FIFA
“Pioneers? We didn’t want to start a big sports movement. We wanted to play football, no more and no less.” – Dr. Ernst Karding.
Federation International de Football Association also known as FIFA was founded in 1904 and little did Dr. Karding know that it would remain the leading organization, governing football and developing the sport around the world.
In the early 1900s, Dutchman CAW Hirschman and 5 others had a desire to create an international football federation. In 1902 Hirschman sent a letter to Fredrick Wall, the secretary of The Football Association in London. This letter would change the history of Football around the world. Between 1902 and 1904, these 6 men from four different European nations would meet to discuss the federation and, finally, after an organized match between Brussels and Belgium, FIFA was born. However, they needed the support of the largest football association which at that time was The FA, so the founders met at the Crystal Palace in London in April 1905 and persuaded the FA to join FIFA.
“Nothing serious in association football could be undertaken without the agreement, support and even cooperation of the mother and creator of the sport, Great Britain.” – Baron Edouard de Laveleye.
“Today FIFA exists to govern football and to develop the game around the world. Since 2016, the organisation has been fast evolving into a body that can more effectively serve our game for the benefit of the entire world. The new FIFA is modernising football to be global, accessible and inclusive in all aspects. Not just on one or two continents, but everywhere. Under our vision to make football truly global, we will help develop football everywhere so that there are at least 50 national teams and 50 clubs from all continents that can compete at a top competitive level.”
Full Time, Contract, Freelance or Volunteer FIFA Jobs
Naturally, as someone who loves football, it could be a goal to work for the largest football organization in the world.
As a program designed to help professionals jump into the ever-evolving world of Football Business, The Football Business Academy often hears the question, “Can I work for FIFA after graduation?”. While the short answer to this question is yes, there are a lot of factors that come into play when aiming for this goal and there are a few different ways to find FIFA jobs; full time, by contract, freelance and consulting and volunteering.
FIFA Jobs: Full time
While a full-time job with FIFA may be what you are looking for, it may not be the first step for everyone as there are many aspects to consider.
For starters, FIFA’s headquarters is in Zurich, Switzerland, which means it has to comply with Swiss laws and regulations. While FIFA hires very internationally, landing a job may be dependent on the specific role and the talent pool available to the organization, which in turn could influence the processing of all the paperwork that comes with employing someone in Switzerland.
However, the good news is FIFA also has office hubs in Miami, Paris, and soon Rabat, while there are also 10+ FIFA Regional Development Offices located around the world in places such as UAE, Paraguay, New Zealand, Senegal, and India – all of which could be looking for talent as well and give you an opportunity to join the organization.
It is also important to remember that FIFA is the top organizing body for football and, as such, job openings may require certain experiences, skills, languages, and education. Keeping an open mind about your journey is important and understanding you may have many steps before landing the perfect full-time job with FIFA is crucial.
FIFA Jobs: Contract
The second option is through contract work.
These include events such as FIFA World Cups, International Cups, Club World Cup, Qualifiers to Cups, Futsal World Cup, Youth Cups, Beach Soccer World Cups, and more. Some of these events take place every year while others are organized every 2-4 years and tend to rotate different countries and continents.
The contracts on average may only last between 12 and 18 months, however, what’s great about looking for a job at a FIFA event is that there are usually many openings in many different areas since they are such large events. Depending on their location, there may even be the potential to help other FIFA events. With the FIFA Club World Cup approaching this year in 2025, positions may support the 2026 FIFA World Cup as well, giving you double the experience and double the opportunities with FIFA.
Looking at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026 for example, taking place in 3 countries and offering many different localities to apply in, it is estimated to have a huge economic impact. In Canada alone, they are expecting over 24,000 jobs will be created and a total of 3.8 billion CAD in output. Peter Montopoli, Chief Tournament Officer said: “This economic impact assessment highlights the tangible benefits of our thorough planning and execution, from the creation of thousands of jobs to the generation of billions in economic activity. It’s a testament to how Canada is delivering a world-class event – for the biggest single-sport event on earth – while leaving a legacy of growth and prosperity for football across the country.”
So, while contractual jobs may be relatively short, the long-term effects are huge, which could mean more job opportunities in football business in the future. They will also give you much needed experience when applying to full time jobs in football as you will now have a FIFA event on your resume.
FIFA Jobs: Freelance and Consulting
Freelance and consulting jobs typically involve working for oneself and offering a service that is either temporary or needs-based. This role may look like an Event Operations Staff, which could be needed only on specific matchdays or for the duration of the respective tournament.
Freelancers are a great resource for FIFA as well since they can make themselves available to tournaments or events when they arise to help make operations run smoothly. On the other hand, consulting would consist of offering advice with an outside perspective to help improve business performance.
These roles would support divisions already in place but may be looking for new or different results.
FIFA Jobs: Volunteering
One additional way of “working for” FIFA that is often overlooked but holds great value is that of volunteering at one of their events.
Not a single FIFA tournament would be possible without the support of hundreds or thousands of volunteers who are used in pretty much every area of the events’ organization.
FIFA typically welcomes volunteers from all around the world and while volunteering positions are not paid, they can also provide unique learning and networking opportunities that can help you progress in the industry. Being able to add such volunteering experiences on your resume can be a great investment for your future, and many football stakeholders see those as a big plus.
After understanding the opportunities that exist through FIFA, some of you may be left wondering why pursuing a FIFA job at all if it’s just short term or may take a long time to find a full time job? However, after speaking with our Alumni who have experienced working with FIFA, one thing is clear: it was a no brainer. The goal that seemed impossible to reach was grabbed and, even if just for a short amount of time, the experience of working with football’s top federation was a dream come true.
How The FBA Helps You Land a FIFA Job!
FIFA is one of The Football Business Academy’s top job locations after graduation. Many FBA Alumni have landed contractual jobs at different FIFA World Cups – men’s, women’s, or youth – while others have been working in the Global Football Development division at FIFA’s Headquarters or have done freelance work at the Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan or the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia. FIFA is the global governing body for the sport and one of the most influential sporting organizations in the world, offering a wide range of job opportunities.
Getting there can sometimes seem impossible, which is why a Professional Master’s Degree in Football Business from The Football Business Academy can help. Backed by our Key pillars – Knowledge, Experience and Network – Candidates gain real industry experience and even get the opportunity to meet with FIFA industry leaders or intern with FIFA.
Knowledge: Throughout the program, Candidates engage in online and on-site classes led by industry experts which prepare them for successful entry into the football business industry. During this time, classes may involve lectures from current or former FIFA professionals including Pedro Iriondo and Jose Alfonso Rodriguez Alvarez. Equipping individuals with practical knowledge is necessary for a successful career.
Experience: The FBA guarantees a personalized three-month internship with a football organization during the third module of the program. Past internships have been with organizations such as FIFA but also include many other clubs, leagues, federations and organizations to prepare Candidates for career success after graduation.
Field trips are also organized and past editions have visited FIFA Headquarters as part of those. On one such occasion, after receiving a welcome from the Senior Corporate Communications Manager, Emanuel Femminis, Candidates were given 3 different presentations about FIFA’s work and future plans and met multiple people within the organization such as Sarai Bareman, the Chief Women’s Football Officer, and Dan O’Toole, at the time Football Governance Program Manager and now Director of Executive Office.
Network: When we spoke to our Alumni about how they landed a job with FIFA, there was one common factor, networking. Each of them said that this played a key role in working for FIFA.
“Yes, no doubt, I got my current job through The FBA and I wouldn’t have without them. My current role is what landed me the freelance job at FIFA.” Matteo Lombardi, Business Intelligence and Operations Manager at Venezia FC.
The FBA offers you many networking opportunities throughout the program. You’ll have the chance to attend one of the largest Football Networking events in the world, World Football Summit (WFS). Speakers at WFS from FIFA have included President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, and Head of Professional Football, Ornella Desiree Bellia (One of The FBAs Guest Lecturers). Fatma Samoura, Secretary General of FIFA, has also attended the World Football Summit and our 13th Edition Candidates were given the opportunity to speak with her 1 on 1 offering a unique and rewarding experience.
“Looking back, I can say that The FBA played a part in my journey – not necessarily in a direct way, but through the doors it opened, the people it brought into my life, and the mindset it helped me to develop. It reinforced the importance of networking, not just as a means to an end, but as a way to build genuine relationships in football.” – Madinà Shukoor, Global Football Development Consultant at FIFA
If working for FIFA sounds like a dream, then turn it into a reality! The FBA’s program is 1 year, which means if you start in the March 2025 Edition, you will finish your degree by March 2026, just a few months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, giving you a huge opportunity to work in the field you love. Like our Alumni have said, even if it was short term contract work, the World Cup and FIFA are the pinnacle of Football, so taking the leap and working for FIFA, even if on a short term project, is a no brainer!
You can download our Brochure for more information about our Professional Master in Football Business.
