Seize the opportunity to watch 2026 World Cup matches gratis! FIFA calls for a volunteer force of 65,000 individuals.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be the largest edition of the tournament in history, is set to require an unprecedented 65,000 volunteers across North America. Interested individuals can apply at fifaworldcup.com/volunteers.
This massive volunteer effort will support the expanded 48-team format tournament, lasting 39 days, beginning on June 11, 2026. The tournament will be hosted across 16 cities in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, with Los Angeles being one of the 11 U.S. host cities.
Volunteers will provide support across 23 functional areas at stadiums, training sites, airports, hotels, and other official and non-official sites. Inglewood, home to SoFi Stadium, will host two round-of-32 games and a quarterfinal. Eight games are scheduled at SoFi Stadium, including the U.S. team's opener on June 12 and its second match on June 19, followed by a concluding group stage match on June 25.
Canada alone is expected to use about 6,000 volunteers, with Toronto and Vancouver leading in volunteer applications among host cities. Mexico and Canada will host games in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Toronto, and Vancouver. Other U.S. host cities include Seattle, Houston, Kansas City, Atlanta, Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Miami, and the San Francisco Bay area. AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, was awarded more games (nine) than any other venue.
No experience is required for volunteers, but applicants must be at least 18 years old. U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter expressed excitement about playing at SoFi Stadium twice in the group stage. FIFA stated that volunteers are the heartbeat of their events and champions of their host city. Craig Collins, a longtime FIFA volunteer, expressed his excitement about applying for the 2026 World Cup volunteer program and giving back to the organization.
FIFA launched the application process for World Cup volunteers on Monday. The training for volunteers will take place in March 2026. According to FIFA, an estimated 6.5 million fans will attend the World Cup, with 3.7 million in the U.S., 1.5 million in Mexico, and 1.3 million in Canada. The 2022 World Cup final drew a record 1.42 billion viewers.
With such a monumental event approaching, the opportunity to be a part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup volunteer team is not one to be missed. Those whose applications are accepted will be invited to attend the Volunteer Team Tryouts, expected to begin in October.
Members of the community are encouraged to apply for sports events volunteering opportunities at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they could support sports activities during the tournament, particularly football matches. The event, hosted in 16 cities across North America, will gather approximately 6.5 million fans and will need around 65,000 volunteers, with Canada alone requiring around 6,000 volunteers.
