Volunteers reunited at the FIFA World Cup. The group helped support tournament operations behind the scenes, at the pregame ceremonies.
Courtesy of Carlos Hernandez
Long before fans sing the national anthems or the world’s biggest soccer stars step onto the field, hundreds of FIFA World Cup volunteers are already at work, directing crowds, carrying giant ceremonial banners and helping visitors from around the world navigate North Texas.
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For Carlos Hernández, 39, one of those volunteers, the reward isn’t a free ticket or getting close to soccer’s biggest stars.
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It’s watching thousands of fans experience the tournament while knowing he helped make it possible.
“At first, I signed up because of my passion for the sport,” Hernández said. “But the beautiful thing about volunteering is that you end up doing it less for the sport and more to help the community.”
Hernández, originally from Colombia, has lived in Texas for a decade and has volunteered at several major sporting events, including the 2024 Copa América and the Dallas Marathon.
Carlos Hernandez, a FIFA World Cup volunteer from Dallas, poses on the field at Dallas stadium.
Photo courtesy Carlos Hernandez
Before the FIFA World Cup even began, he was one of about 200 volunteers who helped conduct conversations — the term used by FIFA to refer to candidate interviews — with more than 35,000 applicants hoping to become volunteers.
Months later, FIFA selected about 6,500 volunteers in Dallas, and Hernández was assigned to ceremonies and protocol.
His job begins long before kickoff.
He helps carry one of the giant banners displayed during the pre-game ceremony, standing on the field as players enter and national anthems are played before collecting the banner and leaving the pitch.
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“Being on the field while everyone is cheering, you feel like you’re the one who’s about to play,” he said. “The energy is incredible.”
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“Very rewarding”
Though fulfilling, the work isn’t as glamorous as many people imagine.
Volunteers in his role typically arrive about five-and-a-half hours before kickoff to rehearse choreography and coordinate nearly 200 people responsible for carrying the ceremony banners.
“We can’t stop and look at the players. We can’t take pictures,” Hernández said. “But sometimes someone takes a photo and later you realize you’re standing next to one of the biggest stars in the world. That’s very rewarding.”
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Hernández said volunteers generally finish their shifts and head home, but twice during the tournament, FIFA surprised his team by inviting them to watch the remainder of the match from a section reserved for volunteers. “We didn’t expect it,” he said. “It was a really nice surprise.”
For Katherine McClure, 31, volunteering was less about soccer and more about being part of one of the world’s largest sporting events.
FIFA World Cup volunteer Katherine McClure displays pins and souvenir she collected while supporting tournament operations in North Texas. McClure volunteered in several roles, including media operations, transportation and Fan Festival support.
Photo Courtesy Katherine McClure
Dallas has roughly 6,500 FIFA volunteers serving in dozens of roles, from ceremonies and transportation to media operations and fan festivals, according to FIFA’s website.
McClure applied last August after seeing the opportunity shared through her network from the University of Texas’ entertainment management program.
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Months before the tournament started, she joined FIFA’s “Starting Lineup” volunteer team, helping facilitate conversations with volunteer candidates during the selection process.
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She later accepted additional assignments at the host city media center, Fan Festival and transportation operations outside AT&T Stadium.
“I really enjoy volunteering,” McClure said. “When are you ever going to get another opportunity to experience something on the scale of the World Cup? The only thing I can even compare it to is the Olympics.”
While many people assume volunteers spend their shifts watching matches, McDonald said that’s rarely the reality.
“I perceive a lot of value from my experience regardless,” she said. “It’s those interactions with people from different countries, seeing their excitement and having the ability to make somebody’s day. I want to be a helper.”
Instead of watching matches, she often spent six-hour shifts welcoming fans, directing buses, assisting international media or making sure fellow volunteers stayed hydrated in the North Texas heat. She said the international atmosphere became one of her favorite parts of the experience.
“There was really a sense of camaraderie among the volunteers. If someone forgot sunscreen, another volunteer had some. People shared hydration packets. Everyone looked out for each other,” McClure said.
One day, she helped a Japanese journalist who spoke Spanish but little English.
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“I speak little Spanish, and we were just there trying to communicate in a language that we were not the best at, but we worked it out.”
Other volunteers learned greetings in different languages to welcome visiting fans.
“Where is Walmart?”
One question that came up more than any other during McClure’s shifts was: Where is Walmart?”
With a Walmart located within walking distance of the stadium, several international fans asked her for directions.
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McClure said she was never sure whether they needed supplies before the game or simply wanted the experience of visiting an American Walmart.
“We wanted people to feel welcomed, seen and heard,” McClure said. “Hopefully they leave with a positive impression not just of FIFA, but of Dallas.”
Although their assignments were very different, both volunteers said the experience became less about soccer and more about connecting with people.
“Soccer has allowed me to build a community and meet people from every culture and background,” he said. “Even now, after our shifts, we have group chats where we keep talking about things that have nothing to do with the World Cup. That’s something really special.”
Despite balancing full-time jobs, family responsibilities and long shifts, both volunteers say the experience has been worth every hour.
Hernández even used paid time off from work so he could volunteer during the World Cup semifinal.
For both volunteers, the tournament has reinforced something bigger than soccer.
“It’s about giving back to the community,” Hernández said. “That’s what volunteering is really about.”