Fan Festival Operations FIFA World Cup 26 All Host Cities

At FIFA26, our vision is to unite the world through the greatest sporting event of all time. The FIFA World Cup 26™ will mark the first time that the tournament will feature 48 teams and be hosted by three countries: Canada, Mexico and the USA. This new format will redefine excellence, generating unique opportunities for greater participation and engagement among fans and players across North America and all over the world. Now is your time to become a game changer and join the workforce that will plan and deliver this extraordinary and unforgettable experience.

FIFA World Cup 26 Skills Framework

ACCOUNTABILITY: Demonstrate commitment to responsibilities and objectively analyze one’s behavior, while assuming consequences of one’s own actions and/or decisions and learning from one’s mistakes.

DECISION MAKING: Ability to identify and swiftly make decisions in critical situations, take initiative and calculated risks, explore alternative solutions, and respond promptly to unforeseen circumstances.

INCLUSIVITY: Achieve shared organizational objectives by sharing information with colleagues across all levels and divisions, tangibly influencing others, and maintaining a network of support contacts.

INITIATIVE:  Capacity to do things on one’s own initiative and to influence the course of events, assume responsibilities, and achieve objectives with a minimum of supervision and control.

INNOVATION: Capacity to break new ground, look for unconventional solutions, and produce fresh ideas.

LEADERSHIP: Ability to lead one’s contacts/colleagues/partners, encourage teamwork, and delegate authority/decision-making power, as needed, to produce the expected results and make efficient use of the team’s skills and talents.

VISION: Ability to perceive the organization's global environmental impact, anticipate decision consequences, grasp organizational missions, and formulate strategic plans.

The Fan Festival Operations role is a key on-site leadership position within the FIFA World Cup 26™ Fan Operations team, responsible for ensuring the seamless, world-class delivery of fan-facing services across stadium outer perimeters and Fan Festival environments. This evergreen role consolidates the full scope of responsibilities for the Fan Festival & Fan Operations Venue Manager and acts as the primary operational lead for the fan journey at assigned venues. The main responsibilities include:

Fan Experience & Stadium Operations

• Deliver world-class stadium services for all fans attending matches and Fan Festival locations.
• Oversee fan-facing operations at the stadium’s outer perimeter, including:

          -Wayfinding
          -Ticket-readiness messaging
          -Queue management
          -General fan information support
          -Fan movement flow monitoring

• Ensure clear, consistent, and helpful communication to all attendees.

Team Leadership & Workforce Management

• Manage a team of Coordinators, Supervisors, and Volunteers delivering fan services on matchdays.
• Coordinate team assignments, daily scheduling, briefings, and end-of-day debriefs.
• Support training delivery—including inclusion training, accessibility awareness, and operational procedure updates.
• Maintain volunteer equipment readiness and oversee distribution of items such as radios, vests, and mobility tools.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the main point of contact with:

          -Stadium operations teams
          -Regional Venue Manager
          -Host Committee representatives
          -FIFA Functional Areas (Security, Dressing & Signage, Competition, Transportation, Sustainability, etc.)

• Ensure full cross-functional alignment for the fan journey, especially at key touchpoints between departments.

Last Mile Operations

• Work closely with the Fan Operations Manager and Host Committees to coordinate all Last Mile operations—including arrival pathways, signage placement, directional support, crowd management, and post-match egress.
• Ensure a safe, efficient, and enjoyable journey for all fans traveling to and from the stadium.

Accessibility & Inclusion Services

• Support accessibility programming in collaboration with FIFA Sustainability & Human Rights, including:

          -Mobility assistance services
          -Sensory inclusion support
          -Audio descriptive commentators
          -Accessibility queueing and movement management

• Ensure all accessibility services are delivered in alignment with FIFA standards and venue requirements.

Vendor, Supplier & Stakeholder Coordination

• Act as direct point of contact with FIFA Fan Operations vendors delivering fan-facing services (mobility vehicles, sensory rooms, signage, wayfinding, etc.).
• Monitor vendor performance, escalate issues, and ensure services meet operational and contractual expectations.

Operational Readiness & Matchday Delivery

• Ensure all operational elements are ready each matchday, including:

          -Equipment for volunteers
          -Signage and wayfinding assets
          -Briefings and orientations
          -Daily Run Sheets
          -DOT (Day-of-Tournament) Plans
          -Communication channels and reporting tools

• Maintain situational awareness on matchdays and adjust operational plans to respond to real-time conditions.

Reporting, Feedback & Continuous Improvement

• Collect fan feedback, workforce feedback, operational observations, and incident details.
• Contribute to daily post-match reports and ensure issues, successes, and recommendations are documented.
• Support ongoing development of best practices to enhance the fan journey across all Host Cities.

Education & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Sports Management, Hospitality, Operations, or related field preferred.
• Equivalent professional experience in fan experience, venue operations, large-scale events, or festival operations may be accepted.

Work Experience

• Experience leading teams in large-scale public events, stadiums, festivals, or high-traffic environments.
• Experience in fan services, guest experience, front-of-house operations, or live event customer service.
• Strong experience collaborating with external agencies, vendors, venue operators, and cross-functional teams.
• Experience supporting accessibility programs or diversity & inclusion initiatives is an advantage.
• Experience in crowd management or Last Mile operations preferred.

Language

• Fluent in English. Spanish and/or French proficiency is a plus

Technology

• Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio & Project) and planning software and online collaboration tools