April 17 – FIFA says its revamped volunteer programme has now passed the one million mark since its launch in December 2020. However, while the organisation celebrates growing numbers, the reality on the ground in some host cities paints a more complex picture.
The milestone was marked with a photo op in Atlanta, where FIFA President Gianni Infantino met Craig Collins — officially dubbed the one millionth FIFA World Cup volunteer. Collins, a US-based volunteer since the 1994 World Cup, is already signed up to help at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, set to be staged across 11 cities in the United States.
Since its 2020 relaunch, FIFA’s volunteer programme has been rolled out at 21 tournaments, including Qatar 2022 and the Women’s World Cup 2023. Volunteers support tournament operations in roles ranging from stadium ushering and media services to player escort and flag-bearing duties. FIFA claims volunteers have contributed more than two million hours to its events.
“Volunteers are the heart and soul of FIFA tournaments,” said Infantino. “We would not be able to organise our tournaments without them.”
But while the rhetoric is high, the actual recruitment landscape tells a more nuanced story. Some host cities — including those set to stage games during the expanded 32-team Club World Cup this summer — have been struggling to attract enough qualified volunteers, despite the promise of a “once-in-a-lifetime” backstage pass to the world’s biggest football events.
The programme received a record 420,000 applications for Qatar 2022, from which 20,000 were selected. Replicating those numbers across multiple US cities in 2025 and again for the World Cup in 2026 is proving to be a tougher challenge.
FIFA continues to encourage fans aged 18 and up to register via the FIFA Volunteer Platform, which serves as a central hub for recruitment and updates. However, competition with local labour markets, logistical challenges, and varying levels of host city engagement have all complicated the rollout.
“Volunteering at a FIFA tournament is a hugely rewarding experience,” said Anne-Catherine Ienne, who heads volunteer management at FIFA. “It’s a completely different way to experience football.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1744983332labto1744983332ofdlr1744983332owedi1744983332sni@g1744983332niwe.1744983332yrrah1744983332