Official volunteer applications for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are currently closed.
If you missed the volunteer window, you are not alone.
More importantly, you are not out of opportunities.
The World Cup is one of the largest sporting events in the world, spanning 16 host cities in 3 countries and involving hundreds of organizations across media, tourism, hospitality, and event operations. That scale creates many legitimate ways to work or gain experience beyond FIFA’s official volunteer program.
Below are realistic alternatives students, early-career professionals, or those that want more experience in soccer can use to get involved around a major global sporting event.
Each World Cup host city runs its own programming alongside the tournament. These initiatives often include:
Opportunities are typically posted by:
How to find them:
Search “[City Name] World Cup 2026 jobs” or “World Cup host city event opportunities.”
Stadiums hosting World Cup matches require extensive staffing before and during the tournament.
Common employers include:
These roles may be paid, seasonal, or internship-based and offer hands-on experience in large-scale event operations.
National, regional, and local soccer organizations often expand programming around major tournaments.
Typical areas include:
These roles are frequently filled quietly and may not be widely advertised.
Media and digital operations ramp up significantly around the World Cup, creating opportunities that many students overlook.
Organizations hiring in this space include:
Roles may include production support, research, social media coordination, content operations, and logistics.
Many organizations hire well in advance of major events.
World Cup-adjacent internships often focus on:
These roles may not mention the World Cup directly but still place you inside the tournament ecosystem.
Missing the official World Cup volunteer application does not mean missing the World Cup.
Major sporting events operate through networks of host cities, venues, partners, media organizations, and soccer institutions. Many of those opportunities are still available in the months leading up to the event in 2026.
If your goal is to work in soccer or sports events, this is where to keep looking.
Explore current soccer jobs and internships at:
🔗 https://www.justsoccerjobs.com