GW Senior Gets Dream Opportunity at the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup

Volunteering at the World Cup gave Careld Cruz-Argueta a special behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to put on one of the world's largest sporting events.

Every FIFA World Cup leaves fans with moments they'll never forget, such as thrilling last-minute winners or experiencing unifying chants and sing-a-longs from diehard fans of all nations.

For George Washington University senior Careld Cruz-Argueta, this tournament offered the perhaps once-in-a-lifetime chance to watch the 2026 matches from right there, on the pitch.

She stood just a few feet away as the best soccer players in the world battled it out on the field.

And the cameras broadcasting the game even picked her up as they panned to the sidelines, allowing her family watching from their TV at home to see her on their screens.

"My dad has been a soccer fan since he was super, super little. One of his dreams was to go to a World Cup game," Cruz-Argueta said. "When I told him about this opportunity, he said, 'Maybe I'm not able to go, but at least knowing that you could be there is almost as if I was there myself.'"

While watching the World Cup, Cruz-Argueta's family in Virginia and Honduras were excited to see her appear on their TV screens and immediately took a photo of the moment.

Cruz-Argueta earned the special opportunity after being selected through FIFA's highly competitive volunteer program, joining hundreds of volunteers who help make the global sporting event possible.

For two weeks, she was placed in the Boston area, working with FIFA's Media Operations and Services team, supporting the behind-the-scenes logistics and assisting with press conferences, mixed zones, player interviews and supporting international and national photographers.

She said she learned a lot about communicating with large teams, working with media partners and stakeholders and adapting in a fast-paced environment with constant moving pieces.

The role put her just yards from some of the game's biggest stars, including Norway's Erling Haaland, who looks even taller in person, she confirmed.

"It's super surreal being able to see fan favorites just walking in front of you," Cruz-Argueta said.

She said the players and their teams brought a great, welcoming energy when they interacted with the volunteers.

"When Ghana came to play England, I was there for that one. The Ghanaian team had such a great vibe. They came off the bus dancing and singing," she said.

The experience gave Cruz-Argueta a valuable firsthand look at what it takes to organize and run such a large-scale event and reaffirmed her goal of pursuing a career in sports.

"The whole experience really solidified for me that this is something that I really want to pursue and made me love the fact that I'm going to study sports management," Cruz-Argueta said. "It made me more excited about the future."

She's currently a marketing major in the GW School of Business and will continue her education this fall through GW's 4+1 program to earn a master's degree in sport management.

Considering the sport's roots run deep in her family, taking this path working in soccer is a natural fit for her.

But the funny part, Cruz-Argueta said, is when she remembers how much she used to avoid soccer before she began playing.

She was born and raised in San Lorenzo, Honduras where the sport is especially popular.

"Growing up around that environment where everyone loved soccer, I was the only one out. I really disliked soccer. You couldn't make me do it," Cruz-Argueta said.

But when she was in middle school, she moved to the United States and her parents made her join the local soccer league to help her get involved with her new school and meet friends.

While it was difficult learning the rules of the game while also learning a new language, it ended up being a great thing for Cruz-Argueta.

"I feel like, in a way, playing sports helped me a lot socially, since I was super shy when I was little. Doing sports helped me to be more of an extrovert, more outgoing. It just helped me come out of my shell more,"Cruz-Argueta said.

What she's always loved about sports is their ability to bring people together, and being a volunteer staff member at the World Cup helped her see how true that is, even on a global scale.

"I think having an event of this magnitude and being able to connect, meet and interact with people from so many different places makes you understand and see the world differently," she said.