101 Mark Goddard on Building FIFA’s Transfer Matching System

Mark Goddard joins the Sports Business Leaders Podcast to discuss how he built FIFA’s Transfer Matching System, one of the most impactful infrastructure platforms in global sports. The system transformed international soccer transfers from a process driven by fax machines and courier services into a real-time global platform capable of completing deals in as little as seven minutes.Mark shares lessons from operating at the intersection of sports, technology, governance, and billion-dollar markets, including how to drive adoption across powerful stakeholders, the difference between products and infrastructure, and why solving time-saving problems creates massive value.The conversation also explores the evolving NIL and college sports landscape, building sustainable sports systems, leadership, scaling teams, and the importance of aligning technology with real operational needs.