Bryce Burroughs and Ben Farmer spent their summer making history. Holding two different positions with FIFA, the University of Missouri students played a role in ensuring many of the 2026 World Cup matches were successful. 

Bryce Burroughs 

As a Kansas City FIFA Host City Management Volunteer for the 2026 World Cup, Burroughs worked to make the game-day experience memorable for spectators. 

“This was the first time the World Cup was hosted in Kansas City, which meant a lot was unknown, not only to the volunteers, but also FIFA staff,” Burroughs said. “Being able to learn each day how to make the event better was so exciting.” 

Burroughs is a senior whose emphasis in parks, recreation, sport and tourism (PRST) is sport management. He’s also pursuing a minor in business.  

“Within my first semester of taking PRST classes, I instantly felt gravitated towards the industry and knew I was exactly where I wanted to be,” Burroughs said. 

Burroughs learned about his summer volunteer opportunity with FIFA through Michelle Brimcombe, an assistant teaching professor of sport management. 

“My favorite part of the job was seeing all the international fans who traveled to Kansas City,” Burroughs said. “Meeting people from all over the world and hearing how much they enjoyed the city made all the hard work worth it.” 

Throughout the summer, Burroughs took on multiple tasks as a volunteer from event guidance and ticket scanning to clean up and crowd management. 

“Every individual had their own role, and together we made the event possible,” he said. “The event was constantly changing and improving, and communication was a big key to success throughout my time there.” 

Burroughs emphasized how important it is to work as a team in the sporting industry, whether you’re playing on the field or managing the stadium. 

“The biggest takeaway I learned was just how vital teamwork is for a successful event,” he said. “This was the biggest event I’ve ever worked, with tens of thousands of visitors daily.”   

Burroughs said his classroom experience helped him take on the challenge of being a FIFA volunteer successfully. 

“The wide variety of classes I’ve taken gave me a background on how events are planned, managed and executed,” he said. “It also allowed me to better the event in any way I saw helpful. With my experience in PRST, I knew just how important this event was for FIFA, the Kansas City community and fans alike.” 

Ben Farmer 

Farmer worked as a Fan Operations Gate Supervisor for the FIFA World Cup matches in Dallas. On match days, he would arrive hours before kickoff to prepare for the event. 

“My main responsibilities were managing crowd flow, helping keep the area safe and creating a welcoming environment for fans,” Farmer said. “To do that successfully, I worked closely with security, ticketing, brand protection and Host City Ambassadors.” 

As a sophomore whose emphasis is also in sport management, Farmer has always been drawn to the dynamic environment of the sports industry.  

“I knew I didn’t want to work a job where I sat in an office all day,” he said. “Sport management opens the door to fast-paced careers where I enjoy the work I’m doing.” 

Farmer experienced the energetic and ever-changing environment of World Cup matches, managing between eight and 18 volunteers each game. 

“I had to keep everyone motivated, adjust assignments when things changed and correct or even discipline volunteers who were older than me,” he said. “That was difficult at times, but it helped me become more confident as a leader.” 

Another challenge Farmer faced throughout the summer was finding efficient ways to communicate with fans and visitors from around the world. 

“The experience made me much more confident in my ability to make decisions and lead people of different ages and backgrounds,” he said. “It also taught me how important it is to slow down and help people individually, even when you’re working at an event with tens of thousands of fans.” 

Farmer credits his experience in the classroom with preparing him to take on a leadership role within the biggest sporting event in the world. 

“My PRST classes gave me a better understanding of how the sports industry works beyond what fans see during a game,” he said. “They gave me a great foundation because I entered my position already understanding that every department has to work together for an event to be successful.”