Zurich 2025
The Head Injuries in Football Conference brought together global experts, medical leaders, and football professionals in Zurich to advance research and collaboration around concussion and brain health in the sport. The event concluded with a charity match at FIFA Headquarters in support of ongoing neurological research in football.
Agenda
From May 27–28, 2025, Sports Doctors Network had the honor of co-hosting the Head Injuries in Football Conferencein Zurich, Switzerland, alongside the University of Zurich and the University-Children’s Hospital Zurich. Over the course of two dynamic days, global experts, football professionals, medical researchers, and policy leaders came together to address one of the most pressing issues in modern sport: concussions and cognitive health in football.
Held across two major venues — the University-Children’s Hospital Zurich and the FIFA Headquarters — the conference sparked high-level discussions on both the scientific and ethical dimensions of head injuries in sport.
Key Themes & Highlights
- Medical breakthroughs in imaging biomarkers, oculomotor diagnostics, and neuromuscular rehabilitation
- Gender-specific approaches to concussion diagnosis and management
- Roundtable panels on the future of head injury protocols in both youth and professional football
- Insights into sleep-based therapies, emergency preparedness, and the link between repetitive trauma and neurodegeneration
- Global perspectives from institutions including Harvard University, Monash University, Imperial College London, Real Madrid, NFL, GC Zürich, and AS Monaco
Our conference was driven by one central question:
How do we make football safer, smarter, and more human — without losing the essence of the game?
The Grand Finale: Charity & Networking Match at FIFA
To close the event, Sports Doctors Network organized a Charity Football Match and Networking Event at the FIFA Headquarters. The match featured a team of players and legends from Best Of You and Marbella FC facing off against a selection of former Swiss footballers — all in support of concussion and brain health research in amateur and professional football.
Marbella FC generously provided their official kits, turning the match into a powerful symbol of unity, awareness, and global collaboration.
This final event allowed experts, athletes, and supporters to connect in a more informal setting, reflecting the human side of our mission — and reminding us that player safety is not just a policy issue, but a personal one.
With Gratitude
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this event — from the guest speakers and moderators to the medical teams, athletes, academic researchers, volunteers, and logistical staff.
We are especially grateful to our partners at the University of Zurich and the University-Children’s Hospital Zurichfor co-hosting and providing outstanding scientific leadership throughout the event.
Our sincere appreciation also goes to FIFA for opening their headquarters to host the charity match and networking evening, and to Marbella FC and Best Of You for their enthusiastic participation and support.
To all our sponsors, collaborators, and supporters who helped bring this conference to life — thank you for standing with us on this important mission.
Finally, we acknowledge with pride the leadership of our founder, Dr. Niko Mihic, whose vision continues to guide the work of Sports Doctors Network. And to our incredible internal team — thank you for your tireless dedication behind the scenes.