The LED board shows a thank you to the volunteers during the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia at Houston Stadium on June 26, 2026, in Houston, Texas.
Omar Vega/Getty Images
On Wednesday, FIFA’s Houston World Cup volunteers were invited to an event in appreciation of the hard work of thousands of workers during the global tournament. The event, held at NRG Park, would serve as another trip into the city of Houston for many volunteers, as workers traveled from places like Cypress, Galveston and Brenham to participate in the World Cup festivities.
“We are excited and looking forward to celebrating you at our Volunteer Recognition Party on July 8,” Toke Awofala, a volunteer program manager for FIFA, said to volunteers on the official FIFA Volunteer app.
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The volunteers were aware that an event like this would take place, as side networks like Reddit channels, Facebook groups and text-based group chats formed around FIFA volunteering, with workers sharing their experiences across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
In Monterrey, Mexico, volunteers were treated to a watch party at Monterrey Stadium, where multiple World Cup games were held, along with food and beverages. Other cities, like Miami, Florida, had hour-long wait times outside in 90-degree weather, forcing many to abandon the event altogether.
For Houston’s volunteers, attendees described the setting as “chaotic,” with the event tabbed as poorly organized, light on food and thoroughly disappointing.
“It felt like it was just the bare minimum that Houston had to do just to fulfill FIFA’s needs or standards,” said a volunteer named A.A., a Houston native who has volunteered at various events in the city for years.
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Lines for entry to the event snaked through the expo hall at NRG Park, with some waiting more than an hour. Once volunteers made it inside, longer waits formed for food and gifts.
FIFA Volunteers wait to get inside the expo halls at NRG Park ahead of their Volunteer Recognition Party on June 8.
Chron
“They did run out of food. I was probably one of the first 40-50 people in line. And probably not even 30 or 20 minutes after I got in line, they ran out of food, only had meatballs left when I was walking past,” she said. “It was funny because they were restricting the food for us and they knew how many people RSVP’d. I was confused on why there was a shortage on most of these items.”
While volunteers were encouraged to RSVP, many attended without confirmation, and scanning badges was reportedly inconsistent.
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Volunteers were also given post-event swag, including a t-shirt, spray-painted cap, tote bag, bracelet, patches and a pin. However, many attendees were unable to get several, and in some cases all, of the items because they ran out.
“I was there early, didn’t get anything,” said a member of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Volunteers Facebook group. “I regret volunteering for FIFA and for going to the thank you event. I waited in the bracelet line for two hours and they said that they cut the line, they’re out. I went to the tote line and waited in line, when I got there, I was told that they’re out too!”
One thing, oddly enough, was available: an inflatable obstacle course bounce house, large enough for adults to play in. Yet several people interviewed by Chron said the bounce house went unused for most of the evening.
Volunteers wait in line for food in front of an inflatable obstacle course at the FIFA Volunteer Recognition Party at NRG Park on July 8.
Chron
“It made for a good photo opportunity,” Kayce Williamson, a volunteer and Sugar Land native, said to Chron.
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Requests for comment from FIFA’s Houston Host Committee or the Harris County Houston Sports Authority (HCHSA) were not returned by Thursday afternoon. However, Chron interviewed more than a dozen volunteers, many of whom wished to remain anonymous, who shared their experiences as event workers at the world’s biggest sporting event.
“You have to put yourself first.”
Per FIFA’s World Cup Volunteer data, which was distributed to volunteers and shared with Chron, over 1.1 million applications were received for the event. 130,000 people attended volunteer tryouts, and approximately 50,000 volunteer offers were accepted across the three countries hosting the World Cup. 4,190 volunteers were selected to help Houston host the World Cup this summer.
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Volunteer applications were due almost a year ago, with arduous interviews and training sessions taking place months later. For those who made the cut, confirmations were announced right before the tournament began, leaving many scrambling to adjust their plans to volunteer for the event.
“I’m grateful to FIFA for picking me… However, I wish it could have been planned and executed a lot better,” Houston volunteer Kaylonna F. told Chron. “Some of them didn’t get their emails about them getting the position until it was damn near June, which is insane to me.”
The onboarding experience was described as “detailed” and “extensive,” but many volunteers knew it was a major responsibility to usher in one of the world’s biggest events.
Volunteers stand on the field before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 4, 2026, in Houston, Texas.
Joe Buvid/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images
“It was more than what I expected,” said Houston volunteer Sonia Zamudio. “I was in a room with a bunch of strangers that I didn’t know, and today I consider them really good friends, and I never had a bad experience with anything.”
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That attention to volunteers seemed to fade when the tournament began, as concerns about hydration, dietary restrictions, missed breaks and longer-than-normal shifts in Houston’s heat began to take its toll.
“There were volunteers who were passing out from heat stroke and heat exhaustion because there was no water,” said Kaylonna.
Safety concerns after late shifts at Shell Energy Stadium and Fan Fest also arose, specifically regarding women who were required to walk more than a mile to designated volunteer parking spots.
“It’s not safe. They would have us walking from [the FIFA Volunteer center, located at the intersection of] Emancipation and Polk all the way to the Blue Lot, which is at the far end of Shell Stadium. That’s not safe to have a bunch of females walking that route by themselves at night with no police escort or anything,” said Kaylonna. “They didn’t even offer us transportation or a shuttle or anything to get to the parking lot.”
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“I remember going to eat dinner during one shift, and they had hamburgers, beef hot dogs, mac and cheese, and a salad. One of the volunteers in my group that day couldn’t eat beef or gluten. So all she ate was the salad, after being out in the heat,” said another anonymous volunteer. “Their solution was that volunteers can bring their own food and put it in the fridge at the volunteer center. We have to walk a couple of blocks in the heat from Shell Energy Stadium to the Volunteer Center, the thought of carrying another thing was such a hassle.”
For other volunteers, the lack of oversight simply meant taking matters into their own hands.
Williamson, who also routinely volunteers for the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, said she refrains from asking for permission if the elements start to take a toll or another serious issue arises.
“This is my health I’m dealing with. Sometimes they forget to check on you, and so you have to put yourself first,” Williamson said.
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Volunteers had to work at least six shifts, each lasting four to eight hours, during the World Cup festivities. As a reward, volunteers earned gifts for each shift, allowing them to take home unique items.
“I got a sweat towel, a beach towel, some pins, a small little speaker,” said one anonymous volunteer to Chron. “So those are really cool items because that was all FIFA provided, which were amazing. It definitely showed that FIFA probably weren’t the ones who chose the volunteer items at the party.”
“We can go to Austin, we can go to San Antonio.”
Managing thousands of volunteers, several national teams and hundreds of thousands of fans is no easy task for any organization. Despite some complaints, many volunteers were still grateful for the opportunity to work with FIFA and HCHSA.
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“I was never expecting anything of what I experienced,” said Zamudio. “It was fulfilling and wonderful that I was able to participate.”
Many volunteers were adamant about sharing their Houston badges, which were with other volunteers in other host cities. Across both Reddit and Facebook FIFA Volunteer message boards, volunteers from Toronto, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Monterrey and Dallas all expressed a desire to make exchanges.
“Hoping there might be one kind volunteer who has an extra patch and would be willing to share it with me,” said Saba Lehoux on Facebook. “It would truly mean the world to me, and I’d be incredibly grateful.”
While many volunteers shared mixed feelings about their World Cup experience, that didn’t stop new friendships and lasting bonds made during their time together.
Sonia Zamudio/Chron
Others worry that the World Cup didn’t cast Houston in the best light.
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“Houston being a host city was like an afterthought,” said Kaylonna. “It’s like they wanted to showcase how ghetto Houston could truly be, and it breaks my heart. But I still got to make lifelong friendships. So that’s all that matters. So I guess thank you, FIFA, for that.”
The United States is exploring a potential bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2038, with its biggest competition likely to be Australia and New Zealand, which are set to serve as hosts 12 years later. If America does get the bid, some volunteers wondered whether Houston should make the cut as a host again.
“Looking at the transportation, looking at the stadium, looking at our facilities. I’m glad people were able to experience Texas, but I don’t think how everything was set up here is able to justify coming back to Houston,” another anonymous volunteer told Chron. “We can go to Austin, we can go to San Antonio.”
According to Michael Edwards, a professor at North Carolina State University, FIFA expects to achieve record-breaking revenue of $13 billion to $14 billion over the four-year cycle from 2023 to 2026, culminating in the 2026 World Cup. This projection makes it the most profitable tournament in FIFA’s history.
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“It has been extremely frustrating. FIFA is such a huge organization that I felt like the things I’ve witnessed shouldn’t have gone unplanned. Especially since they said they had been working with cities since 2017,” said T.D., who wanted to remain anonymous and expressed mixed feelings about the volunteer experience. “I feel great to have added this to my experience and have met some amazing people along the way, both volunteers and guests. I loved representing Houston.”
Other cities, like Dallas, have yet to host their volunteer celebration events. Many will use these events to swap patches and pins and say their final goodbyes to a unique, once-every-four-years event.
“Crossing our fingers and wishing FIFA Dallas will host a fantastic party,” a volunteer said on Facebook.
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