FIFA 2026 Tickets: Hospitality students score big at FIFA World Cup
Author : FIFA World Cup Tickets | Published On : 10 Jul 2026
FIFA 2026 Tickets: When the U.S. lost to Belgium during the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup match in Atlanta this week, an FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism alumna was there. When Pitbull took the stage at Bayfront Park for the Miami FIFA Fan Festival opening ceremony, hospitality student Jake Aylward was there.
FIU Students and Alumni Take Center Stage at the FIFA World Cup
And when the Tartan Army of Scottish fans stormed Miami, more than a dozen hospitality students and alumni helped welcome them to the Magic City. For the past month, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has taken over the world stage and put the U.S., Mexico, and Canada in the spotlight as host countries.
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But also on full display was local host city Miami, which showed off a hospitable and welcoming environment to which students and alumni of FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management contributed as they work on the front lines of the global soccer tournament.
Hands-On Hospitality Experience at the Miami FIFA Fan Festival
Feeling grateful for the incredible people I’ve met, the memories made, and the opportunity to be part of something so special, said Samantha Wagner, MS ’25 BS ’23, a double hospitality alumna who served as a senior workforce coordinator. She has been based in Atlanta and on-site working all seven games there so far.
With one game left there, she says the experience has been a dream come true. Through its closing earlier this week, more than a dozen FIU alumni and students, including hospitality graduate student Sendy Reimers, had been clocking into the Miami FIFA Fan Fest in downtown. Click to read more about FIFA 2026 Tickets.
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The volunteers had the task of keeping football fans informed and ensuring their safety, which included enforcing hydration breaks among the crowd cheering the action on huge outdoor screens beneath an often-blazing sun and ushering out festivalgoers on the occasions when lighting sirens went off to alert of danger.
Career Growth Through Global Sporting Events
I loved the experience, said Reimers. Everything that you learn in class, you see right there in front of you. Everything has to be fast. It’s an event; people are excited that you are excited along with them, she added. As a venue manager, Reimers was in charge of one of five fan zones and oversaw more than 2,000 volunteers.
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For students like Jake Aylward, who interned with event company Event Logistics, Inc., being part of one of the world’s largest sporting events was an incredible addition to his résumé. Aylward, who graduates this year, says he got the opportunity to be a part of it after working the South Beach Wine & Food Festival.
Building Industry Connections and Future Opportunities
I’m part of the operations team at the FIFA World Cup. To be a part of the FIFA World Cup is just huge. I feel like I’m making a difference, he said. For mega events management program lead professor Sharifa Wilkinson, being able to work for FIFA and be part of one of the biggest events in the world is a lifelong dream come true.
If you had told 10-year-old me, standing on a soccer field in Toronto, that one day I’d help deliver a FIFA World Cup in the city I call home, I couldn’t have imagined it, she said. Wilkinson is a FIFA Fan Festival venue manager in her home country of Canada. She’ll be back in the classroom in August to bring her real-world experience into the curriculum.
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For students, that’s the biggest lesson learned: that education doesn’t just happen on campus but is also about experiences and making connections. When we said we were from FIU, people were happy because they know we have a good reputation, said Reimers. I learned a lot about the hospitality industry. I met so many people. Made a lot of connections.
How did the Miami FIFA Fan Festival benefit FIU hospitality students?
The festival provided students with practical experience in managing large crowds, coordinating volunteers, ensuring guest safety, and delivering exceptional hospitality services during an international sporting event.
What responsibilities did venue managers have at the FIFA Fan Festival?
Venue managers oversaw fan zones, supervised volunteers, maintained crowd safety. Coordinated event operations, enforced hydration measures, and managed emergency procedures when necessary.
Why is working at the FIFA World Cup valuable for hospitality students?
Participating in the FIFA World Cup allows students to gain real-world event management experience. Strengthen their résumés, develop leadership skills, and build professional networks within the global hospitality industry.
How did FIU’s hospitality program prepare students for FIFA World Cup roles?
FIU’s curriculum combines classroom learning with practical training. Enabling students to apply event planning, guest services, operations management, and leadership skills during major international events.
What career opportunities can arise from volunteering or working at mega sporting events?
Experience at events like the FIFA World Cup can lead to careers in hospitality management, event operations, sports management, tourism, guest relations, and international event planning.
How did FIU students contribute to the overall fan experience?
Students helped create a welcoming environment by assisting visitors, managing event logistics, providing information, ensuring safety, and delivering high-quality customer service throughout the tournament.
What did participants say was the biggest takeaway from their FIFA World Cup experience?
Many participants emphasized that networking, hands-on experience, teamwork, and applying classroom knowledge in a real-world setting were among the most valuable aspects of the event.
Why is the FIFA World Cup considered an important learning opportunity for hospitality professionals?
The tournament brings together millions of fans, international organizations, and industry professionals, making it an ideal environment to gain experience in large-scale event management, hospitality operations, and global customer service.
How can fans sell FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets safely?
Fans can sell FIFA World Cup tickets through trusted platforms like Xchangetickets. These marketplaces connect buyers and sellers for group, knockout, and final matches.
