On the World Cup volunteer crew in Kansas City

When the FIFA World Cup 2026 came to the United States, I signed up to volunteer before I'd really thought it through. By the time the matches began, I had a lime-green uniform and a credential on a lanyard, and I was standing inside Arrowhead Stadium on quarterfinal night while the whole building shook.

What volunteering actually looked like

I worked on two crews: first the Starting Lineup team, then Team Services, which looks after the national teams. Team Services put me at Argentina's training site in Kansas City, where the team prepared for its first match at Arrowhead in June. Only two volunteers got that assignment, out of more than 30,000 applicants, and I still can't quite believe one of them was me.

Emily in her volunteer uniform holding a Village Entrance sign outside Arrowhead Stadium — On shift outside the stadium.

Emily and two fellow volunteers in neon-green uniforms taking a selfie in the stands at Arrowhead — With my fellow volunteers on quarterfinal night.

For the quarterfinal on July 11, Argentina against Switzerland, they moved some of us from Team Services over to help with guests. My assignment was "engagement volunteer." None of us knew what that meant, and I was hoping for VIP escort duty. It turned out to be holding a Village Entrance sign outside the hospitality gate, which you can see in the photo above. I was disappointed for about as long as it took the crowd to show up. Most of them were in Argentina's blue and white, and from that gate I watched the whole stadium fill.

The match was tied 1 to 1 deep into extra time before Argentina scored twice to win 3 to 1. After the final whistle, a friend from my crew got in line for one of the light-up Bank of America bracelets the fans had been wearing, and I asked him to grab one for me too.

Emily in an Argentina jersey with a friend among fans in yellow at Arrowhead Stadium — Off duty: in the stands as a fan earlier in the knockout rounds.

Kansas City on a world stage

Kansas City hosted six World Cup matches at Arrowhead, which holds the Guinness World Record for the loudest crowd roar at an outdoor stadium: 142.2 decibels, set in 2014. On quarterfinal night it was easy to believe. The tournament ran 39 days and 104 matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and Spain won it.

Arrowhead Stadium under the lights during the Argentina vs. Switzerland World Cup quarterfinal — Quarterfinal night at Arrowhead: Argentina vs. Switzerland, July 11, 2026.

What I'd tell anyone planning a trip to a mega-event

Book your hotel the moment your dates are firm. Rooms near venues sell out first, and rates climb as match day gets closer.
Stay where you'd want to spend your non-match days. A good neighborhood with easy transit beats a tired hotel next to the stadium.
Match days are long. Leave the days between them open for food, a museum or a winery.
Buy tickets only through official channels, and download your tickets and parking pass to your phone before you leave the hotel.

LA28 is next

LA28 tickets are going on sale in waves, and the hotels near the venues will go fast. If you're thinking about going, tell me which sports you want to see and I'll start with the hotel.