A new academic year begins at Johan Cruyff Institute, bringing with it a new generation of students joining an international community united by a shared passion: sports and its professional management.
As every year, the start of the academic year represents an opportunity to connect students from different backgrounds and nationalities, share experiences, and embark on an academic journey focused on understanding and transforming an ever-evolving industry.
This year, Johan Cruyff Institute welcomed 169 students from 34 countries. Education, peer-to-peer exchange, and direct contact with the professional environment once again form some of the pillars of this new chapter.
Club Natació Barcelona hosts the Kick-off 2026 activities
The start of the academic year was marked by the Kick-off 2026 in Barcelona, an event designed to welcome new students to Johan Cruyff Institute’s programs and help them integrate into the academic community.
Held at the iconic Club Natació Barcelona, the event brought together students from the University Master’s Degree in Sports Management Barcelona, the Master in Sports Business and Marketing Blended Barcelona, the Master in Football Business in partnership with FC Barcelona.
Beyond introducing the new academic year, the Kick-off gave students the opportunity to begin building connections with their peers and experience from day one an educational journey that combines knowledge, practical experience, and connections with the sports industry.
Learning also happens outside the classroom
Sports activities were one of the highlights of the day. The combination of sports, social spaces, and group activities brought some of the values that are central to the Johan Cruyff Institute experience to life during Kick-off: participation, collaboration, and shared learning.
The day included activities on the beach and in the sea, including volleyball and paddleboarding, before concluding with refreshments and a networking session. This informal setting gave students the opportunity to get to know one another, share their expectations, and begin building a professional network that will continue to grow throughout the academic year.
Victor Jordán, Academic Director of Johan Cruyff Institute, welcomed the new students with a recommendation: “Take advantage of every learning opportunity throughout the year: the experience is not limited to the classroom, but is enriched through interaction with classmates from different nationalities, sports activities, and participation in real-world projects within the sports industry.”
Football as a specialized area of study
The start of the new academic cycle also featured the Opening Ceremony of the Master in Football Business in partnership with FC Barcelona.
During the ceremony, Nacho Mas-Bagà, Program Director and CEO of Girona FC, highlighted the importance of specialized education in understanding the complexity of the football industry and developing the skills needed to navigate it.
The academic activities continued with a presentation of the program structure and the different experiences planned throughout the academic year. Lukas Dorda, Director of International Relations and MT Member at Johan Cruyff Institute, introduced students to some of the opportunities offered by the program, including visits to leading clubs and stadiums across Europe and participation in international events connected to the sports industry.
The program also began with an opening session led by Sergi Vieta, Managing Director of SPORTFIVE Iberia and former CEO of Granada CF, bringing professional experience into the classroom from the very beginning.
An international experience from day one
The diversity of backgrounds and nationalities is once again one of the central elements of the Johan Cruyff Institute experience. Interaction among students from different countries broadens perspectives, creates new connections, and helps them understand sports from an international perspective.
In this context, the start of the academic year means much more than the beginning of classes. It marks the starting point of an experience that combines academic education, sports activities, networking, and direct contact with professionals and organizations across the industry.
A new chapter begins
With the Kick-off 2026, Johan Cruyff Institute takes the first step into a new academic year shaped by learning, connection, and practical experience.
Over the coming months, students will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge, develop new skills, and explore the different areas that make up the sports industry, both inside and outside the classroom.
A new academic year begins. And with it, new opportunities to turn a passion for sports into knowledge, experience, and a professional career.
