At every major football festival — the World Cup, the Confederations Cup, the UEFA Champions League finals — invisible heroes join the players on the field. Volunteers. Thousands of people who don't receive a salary, but spend their time, nerves, and strength to ensure the tournament runs smoothly. They meet fans at airports, distribute bracelets at the entrance, help journalists find the press center, and smile even when they're tired. Without them, the World Cup would fall apart on the first day. In this article, we'll 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 massed at the Olympic Games. The practice of attracting volunteers to football world cups began with the 1994 World Cup in the United States, where a huge number of staff were needed to service 9 stadiums. The official FIFA volunteer program started at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Back 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 retirees (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, language skills are advantages. It is mandatory: knowledge of English (at least at a basic level), knowledge of the local language of the host country (for Russians it's Russian, for Canadians it's English/French, for Mexicans it's Spanish). Also important are communication skills, stress resistance, and 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). The 2026 World Cup is expected to see a record number of applications — more than 300,000 for 25,000 places. The competition is as tough as getting into an elite university. Psychological testing, online courses, interviews.

What Tasks Do Volunteers Perform

The scope of responsibilities is huge. Accreditation: issuing passes for players, journalists, guests. Meeting and seeing off delegations at airports. Transport: helping fans with the metro and buses, coordinating transfers. Media centers: helping journalists with equipment, broadcasts, translation. Stadia: 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 dressing 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. Retirees want to get rid of loneliness. There are those who dream of getting into matches for free (volunteers can watch games, but often during shifts, in snippets). Many want to practice languages. Volunteering at the World Cup gives: great connections, an international certificate, photos to remember, and sometimes — tickets to the final (a gift from FIFA). Usually, volunteers receive special uniforms, which 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 photos in different national uniforms 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. A volunteer oil worker from Saudi Arabia stood out at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, 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, 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 supervisors. Official sponsors provide uniforms, but they are often uncomfortable (don't 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: "it's invaluable experience and the 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 a questionnaire, 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 transport 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 excluded from the 2022 World Cup) can now apply as foreigners. However, logistics will be complicated: for example, a volunteer from New York may be sent to Toronto, and the trip will not be paid for. 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 springboard for a career in event management, tourism, the sports industry. Some employers deliberately look for "World Cup people" — 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 invisible 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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