I honestly can’t remember where I first heard about the opportunity to volunteer at the World Cup, but sometime late last summer I decided to apply. While I, myself, am not a football fan, my brother was and traveled to attend several World Cup events. I knew that he would have been so excited to have this event in our country, and so, to honor his memory, I submitted my application. I didn’t realize then just how involved the process would be. It started with a fairly detailed online application, followed by an in-person interview, and then a waiting period before offers were extended. The entire process stretched across several months, and by March I received an offer to serve as a Host City Ambassador–Transportation.
After accepting the role, the onboarding continued. I attended three additional sessions that covered everything from what to expect as a volunteer to role-specific training. One session was dedicated to picking up our uniforms, or “kits” as I’ve since learned is the official term. By the time the training wrapped up, I felt prepared and excited to be part of such a massive international event.
My first shift was June 16, the day Kansas City hosted Argentina vs Algeria at Arrowhead. I was stationed at the bus mall and tasked with assisting visitors get on the buses to get to the match. It was a busy, hectic, exciting and electrifying atmosphere! While I’m only one shift in and have several to go, here are a few takeaways from my day as a World Cup volunteer:
- People traveled from all corners of the world to be in Kansas City! I met a group that drove from Montreal and made it a 3-day road trip. Another gentleman was in from New York and while he’d traveled the US extensively, this was his first visit to KC. Naturally I met many from Buenos Aires, so excited to be here. The fans from Algeria were smaller in number, but not in spirit or excitement!
- People were truly thankful for our help. I was excited to be a part of something so big, but was overwhelmed by how many people thanked me for being there. It takes an entire community to make an event such as this successful.
- It’s the little things. A younger guy asked if I had sunscreen on me. I did, and shared it with him. You would have thought he won the lottery. He was thrilled to have sunscreen, so much so that asked my name and started a chant about how I saved him from skin cancer. While I can’t take credit for that, it sure put a smile on my face.
- The camaraderie and sense of community is palpable. You can’t help but be in a good mood when around so many people that are all there for the same reason-to enjoy a sporting event and have fun. I saw so many generations attending, grandparents and grandchildren supporting their team together. Hugs, high fives and smiles abounded.
Were there issues with the buses that day? If you’ve seen any media coverage, then I’m sure you’ve heard about some of the delays. And while a few people did get irritated, the vast majority understood that sometimes things happen. I can report that by 7:10, we had the last of the guests on the buses, with enough time to get to the stadium. Are there areas for improvement? Absolutely! I’ll be back for the next match at Arrowhead and am looking forward to assisting the Ecuador and Curaçao fans, and making shift two even better than the first!
Keep Exploring Kansas City This Summer
The World Cup is bringing incredible energy to Kansas City, and there is so much more for families to experience while they’re here. Explore our World Cup Fun Guide for local attractions, family activities and places to make the most of summer in KC. Find even more ideas in our guide to World Cup watch parties and soccer events, browse the KC Parent calendar for upcoming family fun, and plan an easy warm-weather outing with our guide to splash pads and ice cream stops.