At every major football festival — the World Cup, the Confederations Cup, the Champions League finals — invisible heroes appear alongside the players on the field. Volunteers. Thousands of people who do not receive a salary but spend their time, nerves, and strength to ensure the tournament runs smoothly. They welcome fans at airports, distribute bracelets at the entrance, help journalists find the press center, and smile even when they are tired. Without them, the World Cup would fall apart on the first day. In this article, we will tell you who these fan workaholics are, why they do it, and how to become part of the World Cup volunteer family.

A Little History: How It All Began

Volunteers first appeared en masse at the Olympic Games. The practice of attracting volunteers to the World Cup began with the 1994 World Cup in the United States, where a huge number of personnel were needed to service 9 stadiums. The official FIFA volunteer program started at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Then 15,000 volunteers amazed the world with their organization. Since then, no World Cup has been without volunteers. There were 17,500 of them at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, 20,000 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and more than 25,000 are expected at the upcoming 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The oldest volunteers are pensioners (one was 86 years old!), and the youngest are students (from 18 years old). All of them are united by their love for football.

Who Can Become a Volunteer

FIFA sets a minimum age of 18 years old at the start of the tournament. Education, profession, knowledge of languages are pluses. It is mandatory: proficiency in English (at least at a basic level), knowledge of the local language of the host country (for Russians it is Russian, for Canadians — English/French, for Mexicans — Spanish). Also important are communication skills, stress resistance, readiness to work for 8-12 hours a day. Volunteers can be citizens of the host country as well as foreigners (but they pay for their own travel and accommodation). There are expected to be a record number of applications for the 2026 World Cup — more than 300,000 for 25,000 places. The competition is as in an elite university. Psychological testing, online courses, interviews.

What Tasks Do Volunteers Solve

The range of duties is huge. Accreditation: issuing passes for players, journalists, guests. Welcoming and seeing off delegations at airports. Transport: helping fans on the subway and buses, coordinating transfers. Media centers: helping journalists with equipment, broadcasts, translation. Stadiums: seating spectators, checking tickets, helping with navigation, working in fan zones. Medical assistance (if there is education). There are also "elite" volunteers: for example, opening and closing ceremonies, accompanying VIP guests, working in changing rooms. Each volunteer receives a uniform from the sponsor (Adidas, Nike), a meal, and a transportation card. No money, only branded caps and t-shirts.

Motivation: Why People Work for Free

The reasons are different. Football fans want to be part of history. Students want to gain experience and a line in their resume. Pensioners want to get rid of loneliness. There are those who dream of getting into matches for free (volunteers can watch the games, but often during shifts, in snatches). Many want to practice languages. Volunteering at the World Cup gives: great friendships, an international certificate, photos to remember, and sometimes — tickets to the final (as a gift from FIFA). Usually, volunteers receive special uniforms that they keep for years. Post-volunteer depression is a real phenomenon: it's hard to return to ordinary life after a month of adrenaline.

The Most Famous Volunteers in History

The names of most volunteers are unknown to the public, but some have become famous. John Smith (England) worked at 4 consecutive World Cups (2010-2022), his photo in the uniform of different countries went viral on the internet. Maria Petrova from Bulgaria won the FIFA "Volunteer of the Year" award at the 2018 World Cup in Russia for saving a fan with a heart attack. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a volunteer oil worker from Saudi Arabia stood out, who translated into 5 languages. Among former volunteers there are also well-known personalities: for example, the president of one football club started with volunteering at the 2006 World Cup. In Russia, the volunteers of the 2018 World Cup are still communicating on social networks, organizing meetings.

Challenges and Criticism

Being a volunteer is not easy. Long shifts (sometimes 12 hours straight), heat, crowds of nervous fans, lack of sleep. There are conflicts: drunk fans, aggressive journalists, demanding bosses. Official sponsors provide uniforms, but they are often uncomfortable (do not breathe, are too small). Volunteers complain that FIFA saves on them, although the tournament brings in billions. There have been cases where volunteers were exploited (forced to work overtime without breaks). However, almost all volunteers remember their experience with enthusiasm. Critics call volunteering "free labor" and compare it to exploitation. But FIFA counters: "this is invaluable experience and an opportunity to travel."

How to Prepare for Volunteering at the World Cup

An application is submitted on the FIFA website a year before the tournament. You need to fill out an application, indicate languages, skills, motivation. Pass online tests. If selected, you will receive training (often distance learning): lectures on the geography of the country, safety rules, ethics. Two to three months before the tournament — getting to know the team, issuing uniforms. It is important to resolve the issue of housing (FIFA does not provide dormitories) and transportation in advance. Have some extra money for pocket expenses. Be prepared to be transferred to another stadium at the last moment. And most importantly — toughen your nerves: crowds, noise, chaos.

The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico: new challenges

The 2026 World Cup will be the largest in terms of the number of volunteers. Due to the fact that the tournament is held in three countries, volunteers will have to deal with three visa regimes, three currencies, and three cultures. The volunteer recruitment began in 2024. Especially in demand are bilinguals (English+Spanish+French for Canada). "International volunteer hubs" will be created in each of the 16 cities. It is expected that many volunteers from Russia (who were banned from the 2022 World Cup) will now be able to apply as foreigners. However, logistics will be complex: for example, a volunteer from New York may be sent to Toronto, and the cost of travel will not be covered. Many volunteers are already looking for sponsors and donations to cover expenses.

The Legacy of Volunteering

After the World Cup, volunteers do not disappear. Many continue to help at local sports events, schools, hospitals. Volunteering at the World Cup becomes a boost for a career in event management, tourism, the sports industry. Some employers actively look for "people from the World Cup" — they know that they are stress-resistant, responsible, able to work in a team. Volunteers create associations, maintain contact for years. In 2026, when the athletes leave, volunteers will remain in the memory of fans as those who smiled, helped, and said "Welcome!" And this is their main reward.

Volunteers are the bloodstream of the World Cup. They are unnoticed when everything is going well and become heroes when a crisis occurs. Volunteer work, based on love for football and people, makes the world a better place. At least for one month.

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