A World Class Experience

On Saturday, June 13, when millions of soccer fans tuned in to watch Switzerland play Austria in the FIFA World Cup, Adriana Yesenia Arreola peered out at more than 67,000 fans from her perch at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, where she was working her first shift as a media operations and services volunteer with FIFA. The air crackled with energy and excitement as Arreola, clad entirely in the Adidas-branded official uniform, learned how to manage the information hub where hundreds of journalists from all around the globe gathered to cover the match.

Though Arreola describes her media operations experience as "intense, exhilarating and highly structured," by far the most exciting part was listening to the stadium react to the first goal scored.

"When the first goal was scored and everyone jumped out of their seats screaming, I realized that we were experiencing all of the Bay Area - much of the world - coming together," says Arreola, '22 Management, '26 MBA. "It's the atmosphere that I love. Soccer brings people together; it brings families together. That was the most rewarding part."

Arreola was one of 65,000 volunteers of the more than million who applied to volunteer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. She first learned of the opportunity a year ago, and participated in the vigorous months-long application process before being selected this spring. Because volunteer roles were divided amongst World Cup locations, Arreola was assigned for shifts during the six matches played at Levi Stadium this June and July. As a member of the media operations and services team, she also volunteered at press conferences the day before several matches.

One particular highlight was at the July 2 match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina, when Arreola was assigned to martial the pitch - meaning she was on the field, directing officials and handing out water to photographers as the athletes emerged to play.

"My experience was amazing," she says. "I had a wonderful team. It was really rewarding and exciting to see everyone's energy; the whole community came together. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity."

An aspiring marketer, Arreola credits her time at the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business with preparing her to manage the multitasking required to support the World Cup. A first-generation college student, she originally pursued a degree in business because she felt it was a safe choice, but the more classes she took, the more she became intrigued by marketing. As a graduate student, she sought out leadership opportunities in the SJSU Graduate Business Student Association , and worked as a student assistant with the College of Graduate Studies while juggling her full-time course load. The same initiative that drove her to get involved on campus inspired her to seek out the volunteer opportunity with FIFA.

"I'm super thankful for what SJSU has taught me, because it really strengthened my skills when it comes to being out in the community and communicating with leaders," she says. "I took a global leadership course which helped me [in situations where] people are coming from different parts of the world. Even if you don't understand the same language, [there are ways to] communicate with them. During my MBA, I learned to take initiative - how to lead with your team. A lot of what I studied in school and what I've experienced in different organizations has really helped me be successful during the tournament."

Throughout the month-long frenzy of the World Cup, Arreola soaked up the expertise, enthusiasm and sportsmanship of international competition. She's found new ways to channel her marketing chops as an intern with San José Clean Energy - and she's always on the lookout for creative ways to learn new skills.

"The message I would share with everyone is don't let any obstacles stop you," she says. "If you see something that you want to try, go ahead and give it a shot. Find those opportunities, and if they don't come your way, find those doors and open them yourself. It's all about wanting something and being resilient. That's what being a Spartan is all about. If you're passionate enough about something, there's always a way."