From Classroom to Global Football: GIS Opens New Career Path

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Image Credit: Global Institute of Sport

The Global Institute of Sport (GIS) has opened new opportunities for students who want to build careers in football. GIS has partnered with the World Football Summit (WFS). The partnership offers two exclusive scholarship and internship opportunities.

Students can gain practical experience while studying. They can also build industry contacts and learn how the global football business works.

Two Football Industry Roles

The first opportunity focuses on partnerships and commercial development. Students in the Partnership Executive Intern role will support WFS commercial activity. They will learn how football organisations build and manage partnerships.

The second role focuses on clubs, leagues and federations. The Club, League & Federation Relations Intern will support WFS relationships with football organisations. This includes key stakeholders inside football.

Both roles give students direct exposure to the business side of the sport.

International Experience

The placements also offer flexibility. Full-time students can complete a six-month internship or placement. WFS will tailor the experience to each student’s profile and availability.

Part-time students can complete two six-month placements. This gives them exposure to different areas of the WFS business. Students may work remotely or at the WFS headquarters in Madrid. The final setup will depend on the student and WFS requirements.

A Global Football Network

WFS has built a major international football network since its launch in 2016. The organisation has hosted events across 11 countries. More than 44,600 people have attended its events. Its network now includes more than 153,000 football industry professionals.

WFS events have also featured major football figures. These include FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Ronaldo Nazário, Rio Ferdinand, Didier Drogba and Javier Tebas. The partnership gives GIS students access to this wider football ecosystem. It also connects academic study with real industry work.

Applications Open for 2026

Applications opened on 18 August 2026. New and existing GIS students can apply. The deadline is 14 September 2026.

For students targeting careers in football business, the opportunities offer a direct route into the industry. They can develop commercial skills and can build professional networks. They can also gain experience with the relationships that drive modern football.

To learn more about the GIS scholarship program click the link here.

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Holman Barnes Group formalises Central Coast Mariners investment

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Image Credit: Shutterstock

The Central Coast Mariners have formalised a new ownership and operating structure with Holman Barnes Group (HBG), giving the club greater certainty across its men’s, women’s and academy programs.

Confirmed on 16 October, the agreements see HBG become a minority investor in the entity responsible for the Mariners’ A-League Men’s and academy operations, while also taking operational responsibility for the A-League Women’s team under a separate agreement.

The move builds on HBG’s earlier commitment to take over the women’s program, which faced an uncertain future following changes to the club’s ownership arrangements earlier this year.

HBG brings experience across sport, hospitality and community businesses, including its majority stake in NRL club Wests Tigers and its involvement with NPL club APIA Leichhardt.

Mariners chairman Ruben Gnanalingam welcomed the formalisation of the partnership.

“These guys are a smart, sport-focused, local organisation and who we believe will demonstrate have the nous and relationships to help maximise the chances of CCM having success on all fronts,” Gnanalingam said.

HBG CEO Daniel Paton said the group saw significant potential across the club’s programs.

“We’ve always believed in the power of sport to bring communities together and create opportunities, and we see enormous potential in what we can achieve together across the men’s, women’s and Academy programs,” Paton said.

The structure provides a distinctive model in Australian sport, with HBG holding interests across both an NRL licence and an A-League club’s operations.

The group is also developing the Mariners Club, a venue beside polytec Stadium, with proceeds intended to support the women’s team adding a potential community and hospitality revenue stream to its involvement.

The challenge now is to turn the new structure into sustainable investment, stronger player pathways and long-term stability across the Mariners’ programs.

Sydney Derby viewership revealed as Network 10 back football on primary channel

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Image Credits: A-League

Friday night’s opening fixture of the 2026/27 A-League Men’s season reached reached an audience of 434,000 people nationally across the free-to-air 10 Network. Less than a week on from the 207,000 that watched the Australia Cup final, it represents further reason to be cautiously optimistic about the season ahead.

Network 10 broadcast the Sydney Derby on it’s primary station, as opposed to last season’s airing on 10 Drama. The shift gives the opening match of the season a more prominent place on free-to-air television; whether the network continues to select choice matches to enjoy this status remains to be seen.

The figures show a positive trend in comparison to January’s meeting of the same sides, which attracted total broadcast audience of 114,000 and a national reach of 258,000 on Channel 10. Both matches faced fierce TV competition with January’s match rivalling the Australian Open on Nine and the 2026/2027 opener with the 2026 Men’s & Women’s Rugby League World Cup airing matches across the Seven Network on the same night.

The opening-round figure offers an early indication of the audience the competition can attract. Future rounds will show whether the A-League can maintain that reach across the season. The league will also look to convert that television exposure into sustained interest in its clubs and matches. Strong viewing figures can help strengthen the case for football in the Australian sporting market.

For now, the 434,000 national audience alongside strong attendance at the Australia Cup final provides a positive starting point for the 2026/27 campaign. The next challenge is to build on that audience as the season progresses.

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