The People Behind the FIFA World Cup

As photographers, we’re hired to capture the goals, celebrations, heartbreak, and defining moments that millions of fans will remember.

But after covering four FIFA World Cup matches in Dallas, I’ve found myself just as drawn to the people who make those moments possible.

The Volunteers

Every major sporting event relies on thousands of volunteers.

The FIFA World Cup is no different.

From helping fans find their seats to carrying the enormous tournament flags before kickoff, directing traffic, answering questions, and making sure every small detail runs smoothly, these volunteers are everywhere. They work long days, often in the Texas heat, and while they receive a few perks—a uniform, some meals, and the experience itself—they aren’t doing it for a paycheck.

They’re doing it because they want to be part of something bigger.

The reality is that many of the world’s biggest sporting events couldn’t happen without them. The PGA TOUR, the Olympic Games, World Championships, and now the FIFA World Cup all depend on people willing to donate their time so millions of others can enjoy an unforgettable experience.

As I continue covering the tournament for AFP, I wanted to spend a little time photographing these often-overlooked people. My assignment is to document the action on the field, but these volunteers are part of the story too.

They deserve to be seen.

Thank you to every FIFA volunteer, even though we haven’t met in person so far. Your smiles, kindness, and dedication have made a lasting impression.

As I continue covering the World Cup, I’ll keep looking for these stories alongside the action on the pitch.

Because the beautiful game isn’t just played by 22 players—it takes thousands of people working together to create something unforgettable.

CHAPTER 2: Norway vs Ivory Coast - Knock Out Match

One thing I’ve learned while covering the FIFA World Cup is that “volunteers” isn’t just one job.

It’s hundreds of people, each with a specific role, working together to make match day happen.

For the Ivory Coast vs. Norway Round of 16 match, attendance reached 69,665 at AT&T Stadium. Long before those fans found their seats, the volunteer team outside the stadium was already in motion.

Their responsibility wasn’t on the pitch—it was with the fans.

They greeted supporters from every corner of the world, answered questions, helped people navigate the stadium grounds, distributed FIFA Fan ID badges, posed for photos, and made sure everyone felt welcome before they even stepped through the gates.

Watching them interact with people throughout the afternoon, it was clear that many fans’ very first World Cup memory wasn’t of the match itself. It was of one of these volunteers who smiled, pointed them in the right direction, or simply made them feel welcome.

That’s something that can easily be overlooked.

When nearly 70,000 people arrive within a few hours, the experience only works because every volunteer knows their role. The welcome team stays outside. The opening ceremony volunteers prepare inside the stadium. Others work hospitality, transportation, media operations, accreditation, and countless jobs most spectators never notice.

Each role may be different, but they’re all part of the same goal—creating an unforgettable World Cup experience.

One of the unexpected highlights for me has been hearing from the volunteers themselves. After sharing my photos on Instagram and Facebook, I’ve received numerous messages thanking me for taking their photograph while they were working.

That has meant more to me than they probably realize.

Photographers naturally chase the goals, celebrations, and defining moments on the field. Those images matter. But so do the people whose work often goes unseen. Knowing that a simple photograph can make someone feel recognized and appreciated is one of the many reasons I’ll continue looking for those moments throughout this tournament.

Because years from now, these volunteers may not remember every scoreline.

But they’ll remember being part of something bigger than themselves—and hopefully they’ll have a photograph that takes them right back to that day.

Chapter 3: A Different Perspective

Every match during this World Cup has brought something new.

For Egypt vs. Australia, it was my first time covering a match from an elevated shooting position high in the 400 level of Dallas Stadium.

As photographers, we often spend our time on the sidelines, close to the action. This assignment was different. Shooting from above presented its own challenges—players looked smaller, timing became even more important, and the angles required me to think differently than I normally do.

But it also offered a perspective I hadn’t experienced before.

From that height, I could appreciate the scale of the event in a completely different way. The movement of nearly 70,000 fans, the patterns on the field, and the atmosphere inside the stadium all came together in a way that’s impossible to see from field level.

Even with a new assignment and a new perspective, one thing remained the same.

I still found myself looking for the volunteers.

Throughout this tournament, I’ve made it a personal goal to photograph as many different volunteers as possible. Every match introduces new faces and new responsibilities, and I enjoy seeking out the people I haven’t yet had the chance to capture.

The response from those volunteers has been one of the most rewarding parts of this project. Since sharing these images on Instagram and Facebook, I’ve received messages from volunteers thanking me for taking their photograph while they were working.

Those messages remind me why this project has become more than just documenting football.

Years from now, the scorelines will fade, brackets will be forgotten, and another World Cup will take its place. But for these volunteers, this experience will always be part of their story.

If I can give them a photograph that helps them remember what it felt like to be there, then I’ve accomplished something far more meaningful than simply documenting another match.

Chapter 4: Almost Over

The realization hit me during Spain vs. Portugal.

This World Cup journey in Dallas is almost over.

After this knockout match, I only have one match left to cover — a semifinal next Tuesday. After weeks of matches, long days, familiar routines, and countless faces, that was a strange feeling to sit with.

The match itself was, unfortunately, a bit lackluster. Not every game gives you constant action, big celebrations, or unforgettable moments. That’s part of covering sports. Some days, you have to work harder to find the story.

For me, that story once again came back to the volunteers.

My field position was on the opposite side from where I had been for previous matches, which gave me a new opportunity to photograph volunteers I hadn’t crossed paths with yet. That has become one of the goals of this project — not just photographing the same familiar faces, but trying to document as many different people and roles as I can.

Each match has shown me another small piece of how much work goes into making the World Cup happen. Some volunteers are helping fans outside. Some are part of the ceremony. Some are tucked into corners of the stadium most people never notice. But all of them are part of the larger story.

As the tournament gets closer to the end, I find myself paying even more attention to those moments.

The smiles. The quiet work. The long hours. The pride of being part of something this big.

Because soon, the matches in Dallas will be over. The stadium will empty. The signs will come down. The routine will disappear.

But for the volunteers, this will always be something they were part of.

And I’m grateful I’ve been able to photograph even a small part of their story.