The largest sporting event in the world does not happen by itself. This year’s World Cup is getting help from about 65,000 volunteers across 16 venues and three host countries. According to FIFA, the governing body that organizes the tournament every four years, about 1 million people applied to be volunteers.
I volunteered in Boston during the last men’s World Cup held on U.S. soil, in 1994. Back then, I passed a soccer ball around Boston Logan International Airport’s baggage claim with the World Cup mascot, amid welcoming arriving players and visitors. (And I wrote about it for the Monitor.) In the three decades since, the tournament has ballooned both by number of teams and revenue generated. Soccer fandom in the United States soared. How different could volunteering this year be, I wondered?
As it turned out, it was very different. Unlike last time, there was an extensive online questionnaire. Those who answered acceptably were invited to in-person tryouts. Yes, we had to try out to volunteer. At the tryouts, we were judged on how well we performed at team activities. We role-played scenarios involving disgruntled fans and were assessed on our general enthusiasm about soccer … I mean football.
Why We Wrote This
This summer’s World Cup includes 65,000 volunteers who assist in everything from transporting players to greeting people at the airport. Participants include people from all walks of life, some of whom drive considerable distances to share in the experience.
Along the way, FIFA made the ground rules very clear: If selected, we were not to ask for selfies with or autographs from the players. Do not volunteer as a way to see the games for free. Do not record or transmit any action from the games. Above all, do not post a photo of your credential on social media and, if it is lost, report it immediately to the police.
All these steps, including background checks, occurred last fall. FIFA finally extended offers early this year to those who made the cut.
Volunteers can say where they would like to work, choosing from a list of 23 areas. I was selected for my top choice: media operations. This involves verifying the credentials of photographers and journalists, navigating them to their assigned areas, and helping to conduct post-game news conferences. Some volunteers serve as the “microphone monkey,” taking a mic to reporters asking questions.
Other volunteer roles include language services for visitors from other countries, event transportation, and accreditation for non-ticket holders such as players and referees. Guest operations involves greeting visitors at hotels and airports – the job I had as a volunteer in 1994.
Once selected, I took an online training course and made an appointment to pick up my volunteer uniform. At the last World Cup, I received a hat, T-shirt and jacket. This time, volunteers received an entire tracksuit, including short and long pants, right down to shoes and socks. When I wore the uniform to my first shift at the stadium in Foxborough, the security guard who checked me in told me that my uniform was “fire.” I thanked him and later checked with my Gen Z daughter who assured me that “fire” meant “good” or “cool.” According to her, FIFA “did me wrong” with the neon green color of the shirt, though.
The next challenge was getting to the games. I was hoping to take public transportation but, aside from the exorbitant prices, only game-ticket holders could ride the train to Boston’s games. So, I would drive 90 miles one way to the stadium, where parking is provided for the volunteers. Some volunteers came greater distances: One of my colleagues drove to Boston from Albany, New York, for each shift. Seeing the games, as a volunteer, was not guaranteed. I worked in the media operations center outside the stadium (where we can only watch on provided TVs), the press box (hit-and-miss because we stand in the back), and on the pitch (excellent views).
Each volunteer must sign up for at least six 6-hour shifts. FIFA provided one meal per session. Rather than sending us to the stadium’s food vendors, which were often overwhelmed with fans, the volunteers ate catered meals in a private lounge. FIFA served us chicken marsala, steak tips, and grilled salmon.
The best part was meeting and getting to know my fellow volunteers, who come from all backgrounds, from college students to retirees. Some are immigrants or children of immigrants. Our supervisors are paid FIFA employees who manage to maintain a cheerful outlook under what are sometimes stressful conditions.
The next time the United States hosts a World Cup, count me in.