Are you interested in being some of the greatest sports moments on the planet? Now is your chance. The FIFA World Cup will be coming to North America next summer, looking for 65,000 volunteers across the continent. This isn’t just about volunteer gigs. This is the front row seating in football history and an opportunity to be at the heart of action. At least it’s close to that.
So, how do you get into this? It all starts with the official FIFA volunteer website. This is where you can find all the information you need to get started. The application is open until the end of this month. The first step is to fill out an online form. This form allows you to communicate your skills and the power of why you are best suited to it. Generally, FIFA seeks aggressive, adaptable, energetic people and can roll with punches. Perhaps most importantly, you can focus and stay on the task as the world’s biggest single-sport event unfolds.
Next, you will receive a short rating to see if you meet the basic requirements. This means that between June 11th and July 19th, you must be at least 18 years of age or older so that you can work at least eight shifts in a particular host city and speak English fluently. If you are multilingual, the application says that additional languages are positive, so even better.
This is also when ranking the roles of volunteers you want. From welcoming guests to navigating technology, there are locations for almost every skill set. Audience Service volunteers are the first and last contact for fans, helping them find a seat and ensuring a drama-free match-day experience. If you’re good at logistics, consider access management. Please check the details and print the staff and players’ passes. Venue management volunteers should keep their locker rooms organized and do not expect to be in direct contact), direct delivery, and generally assist ground staff. Additional roles include sustainability (facilitating environmental and accessibility efforts), media management (supporting certified journalists and photographers), transportation (coordinating shuttles and parking lots for staff, players and fans), and doping anti-doping (supporting drug testing throughout the tournament). Of course, every role is essential to achieving magic.
If your application catches FIFA’s eye, the next step is to invite a volunteer team tryout, running from October to January 2026. They want to see that volunteers can handle anything with a smile and a helpful attitude. You will also connect with the management team and learn about the internal workings of the tournament.
Doing that through training in flying colors will likely receive official volunteer offers between December and March 2026. Conditional offers outline your role and expectations. Say “yes” to the gig and pass the background check and it will be packed for the required pretta nament training between March and June 2026.
It is worth noting that this is an unpaid volunteer spot that requires important time commitments (as mentioned above, you need to calculate at least eight shifts during the game). You also need to cover your own trip and housing (if you are volunteering away from your hometown) and other expenses other than your shift (other expenses other than your shift (no specific hourly hourly time slots for the shift are provided). Depending on your assignment, don’t expect to rub your elbows in Messi between games. Many volunteers won’t even be able to see the game they work. Some hospitality and guest service roles may be placed within the field of view of the pitch, but this is not a reason for motivation to apply as there is no guarantee. However, in return for volunteers, you can become an integral part of the tournament’s success and stock your own FIFA uniforms, free food and drinks, and a certificate of participation while working, while it all unfolds directly.
After all, volunteering for the World Cup is a great opportunity to see how one of the sport’s most powerful governing bodies operates from within. It is also a great way to network and connect with a global network of volunteers and employees. If you’re a soccer fan, there’s a much less interesting way to spend the summer.