\u201cWith the Media Services team, my main project was media accreditation applications,\u201d Romaine said. \u201cI managed the U.S. media accreditation process, which consisted of reviewing hundreds of applications from journalists and photographers, verifying eligibility and sending approvals.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Marissa-Romain-FIFA-story-press-junket-300x283.jpg\")
One of the many busy post-match interviews organized by Romaine.<\/p>\n
Working alongside FIFA\u2019s communications team and U.S. Soccer, she helped ensure accredited media members had access to the tournament while serving as a point of contact for operational questions before they arrived.<\/p>\n
As the tournament approached, Romaine also took on a venue-based role in Miami. There, she led a team of more than 40 media operations volunteers and managed spaces used by journalists, photographers and broadcasters, including press conference rooms, mixed zones and media work areas throughout the stadium.<\/p>\n
For Romaine, a typical match day was lengthy, starting hours before kickoff and often ending late at night.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt full time, I moderated the two official post-match press conferences with each team\u2019s head coach before moving to the Mixed Zone, where players stopped to conduct interviews with accredited media on their way out of the stadium,\u201d she said. \u201cMedia operations continued for up to three hours after the match ended, making for long but incredibly rewarding days that required constant communication, quick problem-solving and collaboration across multiple departments.\u201d<\/p>\n
The experience also challenged her to work with people from around the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe FIFA World Cup brought together media representatives from around the world, each with different expectations, communication styles and standards of service,\u201d Romaine said. \u201cI quickly learned that effective communication, patience and empathy were just as important as operational knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the experience, Romaine said it offered a new perspective on operations at the massive size and reputational level of the FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy main takeaway was realizing what it takes to deliver an event on a global scale,\u201d she said. \u201cThere are thousands of people working behind the scenes to make every detail run seamlessly.\u201d<\/p>\n