Inside the World Cup's massive volunteer program

Among those involved in making sure the World Cup goes off as smoothly as possible, the front-facing organizing roles often get the most credit and coverage. But there’s a giant volunteer force at work behind the scenes. The unsung, on-the-ground heroes that truly power the tournament. At Qatar, that force was made up of 20,000 volunteers, whittled down from 420,000 applicants. In 2026, there will be 65,000 volunteers. So across the 16 host cities, there are lengthy and intense application processes to select the lucky thousands who will work across hospitality, fan zones, ceremonies; as airports meeters-and-greeters, stadium assistants, and cultural ambassadors. The episode features two interviews: the first with Alison Grove, who discusses her involvement in managing the volunteer program for the Philadelphia Host City Committee and the extensive application and training process. The second interview is with Diana Cruz, a potential volunteer from Los Angeles, who shares her previous experience at the Club World Cup, and motivations for participating. 00:00 Introduction to the volunteer workforce 02:19 Application process for volunteers 04:48 Interview with Alison Grove, head of Philadelphia’s volunteer program 20:16 Interview with Diana Cruz, volunteer applicant in Los Angeles 30:47 Conclusion Get full access to America's Cup at talibvisram.substack.com/subscribe