It All Started With a Panel Discussion

It was March 2025.

I had been invited to attend a members-only event at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston by the Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals (HAHMP). As a student member, I was excited just to be there.

That evening, we heard from several professionals working in the sports industry. During the panel, one speaker mentioned that Houston would be hosting matches for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and encouraged us, as students, to volunteer or find some way to be involved in the biggest sporting event in the world.

That sentence stuck with me.

The same night I got home, I immediately started looking for volunteer opportunities with FIFA. I quickly realized applications weren’t open yet, they wouldn’t open until July.

So I did the only thing I could.

I set a reminder on my calendar.

When July finally arrived, I filled out the application. I selected my preferred areas: Media Operations, Broadcast and another department that, if I’m being honest, I don’t even remember anymore. (Not because it wasn’t important; I genuinely just can’t remember.)

When I finished, I said a little prayer.

Then I clicked “Submit.”

And I waited.

Becoming a FIFA Volunteer

A few months later, I got an email offering me a position as a Starting Lineup Volunteer.

My role would be to help the Houston Volunteer Management Team interview applicants hoping to volunteer during the World Cup. Houston alone had more than 12,000 applicants.

Of course, I said yes.

Finally, I was getting a glimpse of what the World Cup would be like.

By September, I was completing online training, and in October I attended our in-person training at the Volunteer Centre inside POST Houston.

Then interview season began.

I’ll be honest—my first day started off rough.

Not because I didn’t enjoy the role, but because something had happened that morning that completely threw me off. Looking back, it isn’t even worth talking about anymore, but at the time it had ruined my mood.

Still, I drove the 25 minutes from my house to POST.

The moment I walked in, though, everything changed.

The energy from the management team—Jaclyn, Toke, Karsyn and Audrey, and later AJ—was contagious. Then I stepped into the interview area and met the other Starting Lineup Volunteers. That immediately lifted my spirits.

I interviewed my first volunteer candidate.

It went well.

I honestly couldn’t tell you how many interviews I completed over those few weeks. I’d just be guessing. But I’m sure it was somewhere in the hundreds.

Oddly enough, I don’t remember my very first interview.

But I remember my last.

Her name was Charmi.

She had driven all the way from South Texas just for her interview in Houston. We ended up having one of those conversations that just flowed naturally, and that’s probably why I still remember it so clearly.

When my final volunteer shift ended, I drove home tired but incredibly satisfied.

I remember thinking, “I’ve already gotten to be part of the World Cup before the tournament has even started.”

That feeling was pretty special.

Wanting More

As much as I loved volunteering, if I’m being completely honest with myself...

I wanted more.

I didn’t just want to support the tournament.

I wanted to be in the middle of it.

I wanted to work it.

So I started searching.

I looked for jobs.

Internships.

Anything that would get me closer to the action.

Eventually, I stumbled across a company I’d never heard of before: Host Broadcast Services, or HBS.

I remember looking at the application thinking, “Who are these people?”

I almost didn’t apply.

But then I told myself, “What do I have to lose?”

So I submitted the application.

Then I did what I’d done before.

I let it go.

I figured that if it was meant for me, I’d hear back.

Sure enough, in February I received an email inviting me to interview.

My interview was in early March with Mariana.

(Yes, I still remember her name.)

A few weeks later, I got the email.

Actually...

I got two offers.

One was to work at Houston Stadium as a Broadcast Liaison Assistant.

The other was to work at the International Broadcast Centre in Dallas.

Considering I wasn’t exactly planning on spending a month and a half living in Dallas...

The choice was pretty easy.

I accepted Houston.

Looking back now...

That was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Choosing the Unknown

Before I received my internship offer from HBS, I had already been accepted as a FIFA volunteer during the tournament.

So when HBS offered me the internship, I had to make a choice.

As exciting as it was, saying yes to HBS also meant saying no to volunteering.

That was harder than I expected.

By then, I had already made friendships with the other Starting Lineup Volunteers. I knew the people, I knew the environment and I knew I was going to have a good time.

Choosing HBS meant starting over with a completely new group of people.

I’ve always described myself as an introverted extrovert.

I’m pretty quiet at first. I like to observe people before I really open up. But once I’m comfortable, I become the complete opposite.

So the thought of walking into a room full of strangers was honestly a little intimidating.

Still, I knew this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

So I accepted the internship.

Months of anticipation followed.

I graduated college.

Started another job at the Houston Galleria.

And all the while, I found myself counting down the days until June 9.

Looking back now, I don’t think I had fully processed graduation.

I had become the first person in my family to graduate from college.

Magna Cum Laude.

Even as I write this, I don’t think I’ve completely let that sink in.

I did that.

But that’s another story.

June 9, 2026

Eventually, June 9 arrived.

Walking into NRG Stadium for the first time as part of the Host Broadcast Services team felt surreal.

This wasn’t volunteering anymore.

This was work.

Working alongside professionals from all over the world who had done this before.

Right away, I met Petra, Geraldine, Moritz, Anne, Chiara, Paolo and Guilhem. Then there were my fellow interns: Pu, Haydar, Jimena, Mina and Miguel.

Somehow, it never felt like we were strangers.

Within days, it felt like we’d known each other for months—maybe even years. The conversations came naturally, the jokes came naturally and, before I even realized it, that introverted side of me had disappeared.

Then one day, something happened that reminded me just how small the world really is.

A volunteer walked into the Broadcast Information Office (BIO) for her shift, and I remember thinking, “She looks familiar.”

As we started talking about our roles, it suddenly clicked.

It was Charmi.

The same Charmi I had interviewed months earlier during my very last shift as a Starting Lineup Volunteer.

Out of the hundreds of people I had interviewed, we had both ended up working together.

Back in December, she was just another interview on my schedule. Neither of us could have imagined that a few months later we’d be working side by side.

That moment has always stayed with me because it reminded me that the world is a lot smaller than we think.

It also reminded me that the work we do can have an impact on other people’s lives, even when we don’t realize it at the time. During her interview, I was simply trying to make her feel welcomed and heard. I had no idea our paths would cross again.

Moments like that became part of what made this experience so special.

Seven Matches Later

Working the World Cup wasn’t glamorous every single day.

There were long shifts.

Very long shifts.

Some days started early and ended late.

By the time I’d get home, I’d be completely exhausted.

And to make things even more interesting...

I was also working my internship at the Houston Galleria during the tournament.

So for a month, life became a constant cycle of work, sleep—well... “attempting” to sleep—and doing it all over again.

Ironically, some nights I was so tired that I couldn’t even fall asleep.

My brain just refused to shut off.

But if you asked me today whether I’d do it all over again...

Without hesitation.

Absolutely.

Every early morning.

Every late night.

Every sore foot.

Every stressful moment.

Every single one of them was worth it.

Because what I’ll remember most isn’t how tired I was.

It’s the people.

The friendships.

The conversations between matches.

The laughs in the office.

The feeling that we were all part of something much bigger than ourselves.

We weren’t just working football matches.

We were helping bring the biggest sporting event in the world to life.

And that’s something I’ll never forget.

July 4, 2026

Then, somehow...

It was July 4.

Our last day.

I remember feeling like I was on an emotional roller coaster.

Partly because I knew this incredible experience was coming to an end.

But there was another reason.

July 4 also marks the anniversary of my great-grandmother’s passing.

Mama Tina.

She passed away three years earlier, and losing her was the first time I had ever truly experienced grief.

She had been part of my life since before I can even remember.

Whenever she came over to our house, one thing was guaranteed.

We were going to eat well.

If we asked her to cook something, she’d make it.

She always said that cooking was her way of showing love.

Even now, I still think about that.

And throughout that final day, I couldn’t help but think that she was watching from Heaven.

Probably smiling.

Probably saying,

“Yo lo felicito, mi Jacho.”

She never could pronounce “Joshua.”

Only “Jacho.”

And honestly...

I wouldn’t have wanted her to call me anything else.

The Hardest Goodbye

When the final match was over, none of us seemed to want to leave.

We all stayed in the BIO office for a while, talking, laughing and watching the Paraguay vs France game.

I think we all knew that the moment we walked out of that office, it would officially be over.

After weeks of working side by side and sharing this once-in-a-lifetime experience, we weren’t quite ready to say goodbye.

Eventually, around 5:25 p.m., it was time.

One by one, we started hugging each other and thanking one another for everything.

Before that day, I had made a promise to myself.

“I’m not going to cry.”

Yeah...

That lasted about five seconds.

The moment I hugged Geraldine, the first person I said goodbye to, I completely lost it.

The tears just came.

No warning.

No holding them back.

Just tears.

Chiara and I had formed a special connection a few days earlier during our celebration party because of something she had told me.

She looked at me and said,

“I have a feeling about you, Josh. I have a feeling you’re going to do great things and go far in life. You have a good attitude. I can see it. If you like this job, go for it. I know you’ll be great in whatever you choose to do.”

I’ll be honest.

Hearing someone say that about you means a lot.

Especially when it’s someone you’ve only known for a month.

Words I’ll Never Forget

Saying bye to Geraldine was what did it for me.

Earlier in the tournament, we had talked about my career goals.

I told her how much I wanted to work in public relations.

More specifically...

For a luxury fashion house.

CHANEL, to be exact.

She smiled and said,

“I really loved working with you, Josh. I know you’ll be great in PR, and you’ll get to that dream job of yours at the luxury house of your choice.”

Those words have stayed with me ever since.

Because if I’m being honest...

I tend to doubt myself.

I ask myself questions like,

“Am I actually cut out for this?”

“Am I good enough?”

“Am I chasing something that’s unrealistic?”

I think most people have those thoughts at one point or another.

They creep in when you’re trying something new.

When you’re stepping into unfamiliar territory.

When you’re chasing a dream that feels bigger than you.

So hearing those words from Chiara and Geraldine meant more than I think they’ll ever know.

Not because my family and friends don’t encourage me—they absolutely do.

But when someone who barely knows you notices your work ethic, your attitude and the effort you put into your work...

It hits differently.

They don’t know your history.

They don’t know your accomplishments.

They’ve only seen the person you’ve chosen to be every day at work.

And somehow...

That made their words feel even more meaningful.

Geraldine even asked for me to permanently cover one of the broadcast positions we supervised because she liked the way I worked.

Moments like those gave me confidence that maybe...

Just maybe...

I am on the right path.

The Drive Home

When I finally got to my car, I couldn’t hold it together anymore.

I cried.

Not the “one tear rolling down your cheek” kind of crying.

I’m talking full-on ugly crying.

The kind where you don’t even care what you look like because the emotions have completely taken over.

I remember pulling out my phone and recording myself.

Not because I planned on posting it anywhere.

Actually, I don’t even know if anyone will ever see it.

I just knew that if I didn’t capture how I felt in that moment, I’d probably never be able to explain it later.

I’m not really someone who talks about my feelings very often.

I’ve always been a pretty private person.

If I want to talk about something, I will.

If I don’t, I usually keep it to myself or share it with someone I know cares.

So recording that video was unusual for me.

But I’m glad I did.

Because I’m reminded of exactly how much that experience meant to me.

Looking Back

Funny enough...

This whole story has probably ended up a little all over the place.

Kind of like my thoughts were that day.

But maybe that’s fitting.

Because that’s what the World Cup felt like.

A month full of unforgettable moments.

Unexpected friendships.

Long days.

Little sleep.

Constant learning.

A lot of laughter.

And memories I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.

It all started with one panel discussion.

One reminder in my calendar.

One application.

One prayer before clicking Submit.

One interview.

One opportunity.

Looking back, it’s crazy how one simple “yes” can completely change the direction of your life.

I’m incredibly proud of the work I did.

Not because it was the World Cup.

But because I gave it everything I had.

Every single day.

So...

World Cup 2030?

Whether it’s HBS or FIFA...

I’ll clear my schedule.

In a heartbeat.