Johan Cruyff Institute and World Football Summit are launching a new edition of their scholarship program aimed at fostering female leadership in the football industry
As part of a joint initiative to support the professional development of future leaders in the sports sector, Johan Cruyff Institute and World Football Summit (WFS) announce the launch of a new edition of a scholarship program exclusively for women.
The program offers six training scholarships for some of the most recognized master’s degrees in the industry, including:
- 1 partial scholarship covering 50% of tuition for the Master in Football Business in collaboration with FC Barcelona
- 2 partial scholarships covering 60% of tuition for the Master in Sports Business and Marketing Blended Barcelona (English or Spanish version)
- 3 partial scholarships covering 50% of tuition for the Master in Football Business Online (English or Spanish version)
In addition to the scholarships, selected candidates will receive tickets to World Football Summit Madrid, which will take place on September 15–16 at La Nave.
Applications are now open and can be submitted via the WFS website until June 19. The winners will be officially announced on July 18.
A boost for female leadership in the sports industry
Reducing the gender gap in the sports industry is a shared commitment between Johan Cruyff Institute and World Football Summit. In 2025, Johan Cruyff Institute reached a milestone in this regard: for the first time in its 26-year history, an on-campus program had a majority of female students. This was the Master in Sports Business and Marketing Blended Barcelona, with a total of 13 women and 10 men.
WFS advances this mission through its Female Leaders Programme, an initiative to promote women’s leadership in football that includes, among other actions, a commitment to ensuring that 30% of speakers at its events are women.
Albert Romans, General Manager of Johan Cruyff Institute, highlighted the scholarship program as a driver of female leadership in the sports industry: “With this initiative, we aim to continue professionalizing the sports industry through education.
“These scholarships reinforce our commitment to equal opportunities and to developing strong, well-prepared female leadership with a global vision.”
Marian Otamendi, CEO of World Football Summit, added: “At WFS, we are convinced that football cannot afford to miss out on female leadership. That’s why we have been working for years to promote the presence of women in decision-making roles through our Female Leaders Programme. Education is essential to achieving this goal, which is why we are delighted to support it alongside Johan Cruyff Institute.”
Closing the gender gap in sports leadership
Marianne Haverkamp, Academic Advisor at Johan Cruyff Institute, presenting the educational scholarship alongside Maria Tavares and Marian Otamendi from World Football Summit.
In the previous edition of the scholarship program, 94 applications were received, from which 14 finalists and three winners were selected: Khalida Popal, Maria Tavares, and Paula Regil.
Khalida Popal is the former captain of the Afghanistan women’s national team. In addition to being an athlete, she is an activist and founder of Girl Power Organisation, an association that aims to empower refugee and marginalized girls and women through football, leadership, and education. “I am deeply grateful to Johan Cruyff Institute and World Football Summit for supporting my mission to use football as a tool for hope, empowerment, and change,” said Khalida, who received a full scholarship for the Master in Football Business in collaboration with FC Barcelona.
Maria Tavares is the president of Africa’s Global Football Management (AGFM), a sports management agency dedicated to supporting clubs, federations, and football talent across Africa in their development and international projection. “I am very proud to have received this scholarship; it means a lot to me, and I hope to honor it in the best possible way,” said Maria, who was awarded a 50% scholarship for the Master in Football Business Online.
Paula Regil is a professional in the audiovisual sector with several years of experience. Throughout her career, she has worked in media companies and specialized educational institutions such as MEDIAPRO and the Escuela TAI. “Having the opportunity to study at an institution bearing the name of Johan Cruyff is a true privilege for me,” said Paula, who received a 50% scholarship for the Master in Sports Business Online.
