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Volunteers reunited at the FIFA World Cup. The group helped support tournament operations behind the scenes, at the pregame ceremonies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Courtesy of Carlos Hernandez<\/p>\n
Long before fans sing the national anthems or the world\u2019s biggest soccer stars step onto the field, hundreds of FIFA World Cup<\/a> volunteers are already at work, directing crowds, carrying giant ceremonial banners and helping visitors from around the world navigate North Texas.\u00a0<\/p>\n Related: Prices for last-minute World Cup semifinal tickets have dropped, but there’s a catch<\/a><\/p>\n For Carlos Hern\u00e1ndez, 39, one of those volunteers, the reward isn\u2019t a free ticket or getting close to\u00a0soccer\u2019s biggest stars.<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Related: What to know about France vs. Spain in World Cup semifinal at Dallas\u00a0Stadium<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s watching thousands of fans experience the tournament while knowing he helped make it possible.<\/p>\n \u201cAt first, I signed up because of my passion for the sport,\u201d Hern\u00e1ndez said. \u201cBut the beautiful thing about volunteering is that you end up doing it less for the sport and more to help the community.\u201d<\/p>\n Hern\u00e1ndez, originally from Colombia, has lived in Texas for a decade and has volunteered at several major sporting events, including the 2024 Copa Am\u00e9rica and the Dallas Marathon.\u00a0<\/p>\n Carlos Hernandez, a FIFA World Cup volunteer from Dallas, poses on the field at Dallas stadium.\u00a0<\/p>\n Photo courtesy Carlos Hernandez<\/p>\n Before the FIFA World Cup even began, he was one of about 200 volunteers who helped conduct conversations \u2014 the term used by FIFA to refer to candidate interviews \u2014 with more than 35,000 applicants hoping to become volunteers.<\/p>\n Months later, FIFA selected about 6,500 volunteers in Dallas, and Hern\u00e1ndez was assigned to ceremonies and protocol. 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.<\/p>\n Related: An (off-the-pitch) World Cup star is born: Meet Bob from Japan<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cBeing on the field while everyone is cheering, you feel like you\u2019re the one who\u2019s about to play,\u201d he said. \u201cThe energy is incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n “Very rewarding”<\/p>\n Though fulfilling, the work isn\u2019t as glamorous as many people imagine.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t stop and look at the players. We can\u2019t take pictures,\u201d Hern\u00e1ndez said. \u201cBut sometimes someone takes a photo and later you realize you\u2019re standing next to one of the biggest stars in the world. That\u2019s very rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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His job begins long before kickoff.<\/p>\n