Call for applications: 2026/27 research grants supporting strategy, player welfare and integrity
The UEFA article announces a call for applications for the 2026/27 research grant programmes run through the UEFA Academy, aimed at supporting academic studies that benefit European football. Researchers worldwide are invited to apply to two distinct grant schemes that together offer up to €245,000 in funding for work that strengthens strategy, player welfare and integrity in the sport.
The first programme, the UEFA Research Grant Programme (UEFA RGP), funds non-medical research that informs strategic and operational decision-making in football. Eligible fields include economics, history, law, management, political science, psychology, sociology and sport science. Individual grants can provide up to €15,000, while joint projects can receive up to €20,000, and one priority topic for the cycle is “physical development pathways in youth football.” A letter of support from a UEFA member association is required, and the application deadline is 31 March 2026 (17:00 CET).
The second, the UEFA Medical & Anti-Doping Research Grant Programme (UEFA MRGP), supports studies aimed at improving player health, performance and integrity, with five awards of up to €30,000 each for research covering areas such as women’s football health, men’s football health, support-staff health, and anti-doping research. The deadline for this programme is 2 March 2026 (17:00 CET).
Both programmes reinforce UEFA’s long-standing commitment to evidence-based practices and collaboration between academia and football organisations, with funded research historically contributing to initiatives on concussion safety, coaching mental health, diversity and injury prevention.
