FIFA is opening new routes for people who want to move into leadership roles in football. The governing body announced on 25 August 2026 that the fourth FIFA Diploma in Club Management and the second FIFA Players Executive Programme will begin later this year.
Both editions are scheduled to run for 18 months, from November 2026 until April 2028. FIFA is the original source for the announcement.
What FIFA has announced
The fourth edition of the FIFA Diploma in Club Management is on its way, alongside the second edition of the FIFA Players Executive Programme. FIFA says both are designed around football leadership and management.
That matters because the programmes are aimed at people already close to the game, rather than supporters looking for a general introduction. The focus is on preparing participants for roles within football’s decision-making side.
The announcement confirms the planned start and end dates. It does not identify individual participants, clubs or course locations.
The Club Management Diploma
According to FIFA, the Diploma in Club Management is aimed at club executives. It also targets former international players and coaches who are working in, or moving towards, club management.
In simple terms, it is built for people looking to understand how clubs are run away from the pitch. FIFA has not set out specific participant names in the information provided.
This will be the programme’s fourth edition. That shows it is not a one-off initiative, although FIFA’s announcement does not provide further details on how the new intake will be selected.
Who the Players Executive Programme is for
The FIFA Players Executive Programme has a different target group. FIFA says it is for active and retired professional players and coaches preparing for leadership positions.
So this is not only a course for former players planning their next step. Current professionals and coaches can also be part of the intended audience, according to FIFA.
It will be the second edition of the programme. FIFA has not confirmed which players or coaches, if any, will join the November 2026 intake.
Online learning with optional sessions
Both programmes will combine online learning with optional in-person sessions. FIFA also says the editions will include lectures and club visits.
That mix means the courses are not presented as fully classroom-based. Participants are scheduled to learn online, with opportunities for face-to-face elements and visits connected to club football.
FIFA has not specified how many in-person sessions there will be, where they will take place or which clubs may be visited. Those details remain open in the published announcement.
A global alumni network, FIFA says
FIFA says alumni across the two programmes so far represent 57 nationalities, 155 clubs and 55 countries. The group stretches across all six football confederations, according to the governing body.
That is useful context for the scale FIFA is presenting. It suggests the programmes have already attracted people from a wide range of football environments, from different clubs and regions.
Still, the numbers describe alumni to date. They do not confirm the size, make-up or club representation of the new editions.
What happens next
The key confirmed date is November 2026, when both 18-month programmes are scheduled to begin. They are planned to conclude in April 2028.
For now, FIFA has confirmed the new editions, their target audiences and their format. The next verifiable update would be further FIFA information on the participants, sessions or practical arrangements for the two programmes.