The FIFA World Cup 2026 already looks historic: three host countries, sixteen cities, forty-eight teams, one hundred and four matches, and millions of fans expected to flood stadiums and fan zones across North America. Yet behind this avalanche of numbers lies an invisible engine without which the tournament would collapse—its volunteers.
FIFA is recruiting more than 65,000 volunteers to make the event possible. They will be the smiling faces greeting visitors at airports, the guides helping fans navigate stadiums, the quiet professionals ensuring press, players, and officials can work smoothly. Their work won’t appear on television, but their presence will shape the entire World Cup experience.
The Largest Volunteer Program in FIFA’s History
FIFA has long described volunteers as the “heart, soul, and joy” of its tournaments. For 2026, that slogan becomes reality on a scale never seen before. With sixteen host cities across Mexico, the United States, and Canada, the logistical demands are unprecedented.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino captured the spirit: “Volunteers have the opportunity to proudly showcase their city, live the tournament from the inside, create unforgettable memories, and forge lifelong friendships. By joining, they become part of a historic moment.”
This call has already generated massive interest. FIFA’s global volunteer community recently surpassed one million members, and the 2026 edition will gather perhaps the most diverse group ever—students, professionals, retirees, first-timers, and veterans, united by one passion: soccer.
How to Apply
Applications are open on the official FIFA website under the Volunteer Program section. Each candidate must choose only one host city and submit a detailed online form, including a passport-style photo and valid ID. The process goes beyond a click: applicants face ten pages of questions covering availability, language skills, and role preferences.
Key Dates
- August – September 2025: Application window.
- October 2025 – January 2026: Volunteer Team Tryouts, the evaluation phase.
- December 2025 – March 2026: Role assignments and background checks.
- March – June 2026: Training sessions tailored to specific roles.
- June 11 – July 19, 2026: Tournament deployment.
This timeline ensures that volunteers arrive fully trained, accredited, and ready to act as cultural ambassadors when the first whistle blows at Mexico City’s iconic Azteca Stadium.
Who Can Become a Volunteer
FIFA designed the requirements to be open yet rigorous:
- Minimum age of 18 at the time of application.
- Legal authorization to volunteer in the chosen country.
- Availability for at least eight shifts between June 11 and July 19, each lasting six to eight hours.
- Good command of English; Spanish is valued in Mexico, while French is an advantage in Canada.
- Attendance at tryouts and training sessions.
- Consent to a background check.
No prior experience is required, which makes the program inclusive. Still, additional languages and specialized skills may give candidates an edge in areas like media operations, guest services, or technology.
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The Many Faces of Volunteering
Volunteers are needed in more than 20 operational areas, reflecting the complexity of the World Cup:
- Access management and accreditation
- Anti-doping support
- Catering and hospitality
- Press and media operations
- Technology and data collection
- Guest and VIP logistics
- Spectator services inside and outside stadiums
- Sustainability and human rights initiatives
- Security and crowd management
- Transportation coordination
- Volunteer management itself
Such diversity means there is a role for nearly every background and personality. From tech-savvy students to people skilled in languages or hospitality, each volunteer contributes to the World Cup’s heartbeat.
What Volunteers Receive
One of the first questions people ask is whether the program is paid. The answer is simple: no financial compensation. Volunteers must cover their own travel and accommodation if they do not live in the host city.
Instead, FIFA offers a unique package of non-monetary benefits:
- The official volunteer uniform for World Cup 2026
- Free meals and beverages during shifts
- A certificate of participation signed by FIFA
- Exclusive merchandise and recognition items
- Access to training and learning opportunities
- A global network of new friends and connections
For many, these intangible rewards are more valuable than a paycheck. They offer the chance to live the World Cup from the inside, join an international community, and contribute to soccer history.
Diversity and Inclusion at the Core
FIFA emphasizes that the volunteer program is open to all walks of life. From students seeking experience to retirees with free time and enthusiasm, diversity is both encouraged and celebrated.
Volunteers are not just operational staff. They are ambassadors of their cities, cultural bridges who embody hospitality and pride. Their role is to transmit a sense of welcome to millions of visitors while showcasing the unique character of each host city.
In practice, this creates a melting pot of backgrounds, languages, and ages, turning the volunteer program into a cultural festival parallel to the matches themselves.
The Host Cities Await
From Guadalajara to Toronto, from Monterrey to New York, every host city will have its own volunteer force. The schedule of tryouts is staggered—some cities like Vancouver, San Francisco, or Philadelphia will evaluate candidates earlier, while others like Los Angeles, Dallas, or Miami will follow later.
This distribution reflects not only logistical differences but also the scale of events each city will host. For the volunteers, it represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to present their city to the world.
More Than Soccer
Being a volunteer at the World Cup is not only about soccer. It is about being part of a human story of service, diversity, and global connection. Volunteers will witness history on the pitch, but their most lasting memories may come from the people they help: the lost fan guided back to their seat, the journalist who manages to file a story thanks to technical support, or the family who remembers a kind volunteer as part of their World Cup adventure.
In a time when the world often feels divided, the volunteer program offers a vision of collaboration and shared passion. It is a reminder that soccer is more than a sport—it is a language of unity.
