From Dallas College to the World Cup: A Front-Row FIFA Adventure

July 7, 2026

From packed stadiums to unforgettable moments, the FIFA World Cup transforms cities around the globe every four years. This year, Dallas has taken center stage, hosting more World Cup matches than any other city with nine games. Behind the excitement, thousands of volunteers work to keep the tournament running smoothly and make sure the logistics go off without a hitch. One of them is Gabriel Martinez, a Dallas college alum and employee, who shares what it’s like to be part of one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

Martinez applied in June 2025, as soon as volunteer applications were announced. His first role was to interview other Dallas-area volunteer candidates for FIFA.  

“More than 33,000 people from the Dallas area applied for 6,000 positions,” said Martinez. “In my first role I interviewed 20-30 people per day to see what skills they could bring to FIFA and their needs for the area.”  

His communication and leadership skills helped Martinez become recognized as a team leader and then when the games started, he became a pre-match ceremonies volunteer. Martinez’s new role allowed him to prepare for all things leading up to a game, from assisting in the suites to helping bring out and unfurl the center flag. 

“I learned skills such as networking, communications and teamwork,” he said. “My favorite part of being a volunteer was getting to meet and work with a diverse set of people from the Dallas area.”  

Martinez received his Associate of Science from Dallas College in 2024 and is one more semester away from graduating from the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor's degree in computer science. He currently works at Dallas College as a senior administrative assistant for the School of Health Sciences.  

His advice to students based on his own experience with FIFA: “I encourage students to apply to opportunities outside their comfort zone, to develop professional skills and to create experiences they will remember for the rest of their lives.” 

As for his prediction on who will win the World Cup: He thinks it will be Argentina. 

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