Department: Tournament Time Role
Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract
Location: All Locations
Description
At FIFA26, our vision is to unite the world through the greatest sporting event of all time. The FIFA World Cup 26™ will mark the first time that the tournament will feature 48 teams and be hosted by three countries: Canada, Mexico and the USA. This new format will redefine excellence, generating unique opportunities for greater participation and engagement among fans and players across North America and all over the world. Now is your time to become a game changer and join the workforce that will plan and deliver this extraordinary and unforgettable experience.
FIFA World Cup 26 Skills Framework
ACCOUNTABILITY: Demonstrate commitment to responsibilities and objectively analyze one’s behavior, while assuming consequences of one’s own actions and/or decisions and learning from one’s mistakes.
DECISION MAKING: Ability to identify and swiftly make decisions in critical situations, take initiative and calculated risks, explore alternative solutions, and respond promptly to unforeseen circumstances.
INCLUSIVITY: Achieve shared organizational objectives by sharing information with colleagues across all levels and divisions, tangibly influencing others, and maintaining a network of support contacts.
INITIATIVE: Capacity to do things on one’s own initiative and to influence the course of events, assume responsibilities, and achieve objectives with a minimum of supervision and control.
INNOVATION: Capacity to break new ground, look for unconventional solutions, and produce fresh ideas.
LEADERSHIP: Ability to lead one’s contacts/colleagues/partners, encourage teamwork, and delegate authority/decision-making power, as needed, to produce the expected results and make efficient use of the team’s skills and talents.
VISION: Ability to perceive the organization's global environmental impact, anticipate decision consequences, grasp organizational missions, and formulate strategic plans.
Main Activities and Responsibilities
Responsibilities
The Communications & Media Operations role is a key position within the FIFA World Cup 26™ Communications & Media Relations team. This unified evergreen position merges the responsibilities of Communications & Media Officers (Host City, HQ/Roving, IBC), Media Relations Consultants, and Tournament-Time PR Specialists. The main responsibilities include:
Corporate Communications & Storytelling
- Serve as the primary corporate communications liaison between Host City stakeholders and the FIFA/FIFA World Cup 2026™ central communications team.
- Report to central communications on local events, issues, opportunities, and market-specific storylines.
- Identify and pitch positive narratives to local, national, international, and broadcast media.
- Support development and execution of FIFA World Cup 2026™ communications campaigns.
- Support Tournament-Time PR initiatives, including proactive story placement, media pitching, event communications, and brand narrative amplification.
Media Relations Management
- Act as a media relations manager within assigned cities, the IBC, or roving across multiple Host Cities.
- Manage incoming media requests, briefing journalists, preparing messaging, and aligning responses with FIFA communications guidelines.
- Pitch key FIFA/FIFA World Cup 2026™ storylines to local, international, broadcast, AFC, CAF, and specialist media outlets.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with media representatives across print, digital, broadcast, and radio.
- Support high-risk or high-profile match communications, including elevated coordination with security, stadium operations, and crisis teams.
Matchday, Stadium & On-Site Media Coordination
- Operate in Host Cities and stadiums on Matchday-1 and Matchday, attending media availabilities as an official FIFA representative.
- Support media logistics at stadiums, training facilities, and official sites.
- Provide messaging, briefing materials, and reactive communications support during stadium operations.
- In IBC roles, engage broadcast media directly and coordinate media servicing for rights-holding broadcasters.
Tournament Headquarters & Roving Operations
- Support the central media relations team and Tournament Operations Center (TOC) in Miami.
- Manage inbound requests to the central press office and support development of official responses.
- Travel to Host Cities as required to reinforce local Communications & Media Officers.
- Provide on-the-ground support for crisis communications, leadership visits, and media handling.
Issues, Crisis & Reputation Management
- Support crisis management and rapid-response communications during incidents, operational issues, or sensitive matters.
- Provide real-time escalation and updates to central communications leadership.
- Assist in preparing statements, Q&A documents, talking points, and media guidance.
- Manage sensitive communications for high-risk or high-profile matches, including global media scrutiny.
Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Functional Coordination
- Liaise with Host City communications teams, PR agencies, Media Operations, Accreditation, Security, Stadium Operations, and other FAs.
- Support integration of communications strategy with wider FIFA operations.
- Facilitate alignment on media logistics, accreditation, media access, and press event planning.
Specialized Media Markets (AFC/CAF Focus)
- Engage directly with AFC and CAF media markets, providing tailored narratives, messaging, and media servicing.
- Represent FIFA communications interests for AFC/CAF teams and media delegations at the tournament.
- Pitch storylines that support global reach and strategic priorities.
Reporting, Tracking & Analytics
- Track, monitor, and report media coverage, sentiment, reach, and impact.
- Provide daily reporting during tournament time to central communications leadership.
- Prepare city-level, region-level, and subject-matter reports as requested.
- Support post-event analysis and legacy reporting.
Your Profile
Education & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Media Studies, Political Science, Sports Management, or related field preferred.
- Equivalent professional experience in media relations, journalism, or PR accepted.
Work Experience
- Experience in media relations, corporate communications, journalism, public relations, or large-scale event communications.
- Experience working with major media outlets, broadcasters, or global news organizations is highly preferred.
- Experience supporting high-risk, high-profile, or crisis-related communications scenarios.
- Experience engaging culturally diverse audiences (AFC/CAF experience is a plus).
- Experience in sports communications or major event communications preferred.
Language
- Fluent in English (required)
- Spanish and/or French proficiency is a strong plus
- Additional languages (Mandarin, Arabic, Portuguese, Swahili, etc.) are highly valuable for global media engagement.
Technology
- Proficiency with digital media monitoring tools, press-tracking software, and analytics dashboards.
- Strong command of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams).
- Ability to use newsroom-style systems, accreditation platforms, CRM tools, and communications management systems.
- Comfortable with digital reporting, real-time updates, and centralized communications workflows.
Equal Opportunities
FIFA26 is a proud equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and prohibits discrimination of any kind on the basis race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
About FWC2026
The FIFA World Cup 26™ will mark the first time that the tournament features 48 teams and will be hosted by three countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
This new format redefines excellence, generating unique opportunities for greater participation and engagement from fans and players in North America and all over the world. Now is your time to be a game changer and join the workforce that is planning and delivering this unique and unforgettable experience.
