On Monday, FIFA, the international governing body of association soccer, opened volunteer applications to those in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. — the host countries for the next World Cup. Officials hope to find about 65,000 volunteers to work across 16 host cities, including Miami, for the month-long tournament next summer.
“Volunteers are the heart, soul and smile of FIFA tournaments,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a written statement. “They get to show off their local pride, gain a behind-the-scenes view of the tournament and make memories and friendships that can last a lifetime, while supporting a historic event. We hope interested individuals will join us as we welcome the world to North America in 2026.”
It might be difficult to understand why FIFA, the megalithic, money-making machine, is asking for unpaid volunteers.
The organization is set to spend more than $3.8 billion on the tournament (including $1.5 billion in operational expenses like security, hospitality, and guest management), with the U.S. Congress offering $625 million in security funding, and Miami-Dade County contributing $46 million. It wasn't immediately clear whether contributions from Miami and Congress are calculated in FIFA's $1.5 billion budget. A FIFA representative didn't return a request for comment.
Miami-Dade's contribution has already caught heat from Commissioner Kionne McGhee, who, in late July, told the Miami Herald that he planned to ask for a special meeting to undo past votes to give FIFA the money.
FIFA has a longstanding tradition of acquiring volunteers to help run the massive event held in a different nation every four years. Next year's iteration will be only the second time multiple countries will host the games, following Japan and South Korea co-hosting in 2002.
The 2026 tournament will also have the largest pool of teams in its 95-year history. Officials forecast that the FIFA World Cup '26 will need more volunteers than ever, with 48 teams playing 104 games from June 11 to July 19 next year. According to FIFA's schedule, at least seven games, including a quarter-final and the third-place match between the semifinal losers, are set for Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.
The stadium hosted eight games this summer during FIFA's Club World Cup and, in 2024, hosted the infamous Copa América Final. Officials delayed the game between Argentina and Colombia after thousands of ticketless fans bum-rushed the gates and crawled through air-conditioning ducts to gain entry.
No experience is required to volunteer at the 2026 tournament, but officials hope to find applicants fluent in English, Spanish, or French. Successful applicants will receive invites to attend volunteer team tryouts, which are expected to begin in October, with training to follow in March 2026.
