As the FIFA World Cup transformed Kansas City into an international destination for soccer fans, several members of the Columbia College community found themselves working behind the scenes this summer to help showcase one of the world’s largest sporting events.
From managing fan experiences and ticketing issues to supporting international media and protecting the integrity of the event, CC alumni, students, faculty and staff played vital roles in ensuring fans from around the globe enjoyed an unforgettable experience.
They were among the workforce who helped pull off six matches played in Missouri during the tournament, which concludes Sunday in New Jersey.
For Sports Management alumnus Ian Viscarra-Mendez ’25, the opportunity to contribute at the World Cup was both professionally rewarding and personally meaningful.
Working as an event executive with Octagon, a global sports marketing company, Viscarra-Mendez helped manage on-the-ground operations for Bank of America during the tournament. His day-to-day involved directing complex physical setups, equipment preparation and footprint logistics across stadium activations and the FIFA Fan Festival. He also helped lead the company’s event personnel and brand ambassadors, making sure operational timelines ran smoothly in a fast-paced environment.
“The moment that truly stands out is seeing it all fully come together,” said Viscarra-Mendez, who interned with Sporting KC this spring after graduating from the Robert W. Plaster School of Business last year. “Standing at the FIFA Fan Festival and watching thousands of international fans flood into a space that our team physically built and organized from the ground up is an incredibly rewarding experience.”
“Standing at the FIFA Fan Festival and watching thousands of international fans flood into a space that our team physically built and organized from the ground up is an incredibly rewarding experience.”
Ian Viscarra-Mendez ’25
The role expanded his understanding of the sports industry, reshaping how he views the partnership and client services side of the industry.
“It requires extreme adaptability,” he said. “Navigating logistical challenges, managing part-time staff and delivering a great hospitality experience for global brands has taught me that successful sports management is just as much about real-time problem solving as it is about administrative preparation.”
As a lifelong soccer player and former Columbia College student-athlete, Viscarra-Mendez knows exactly what memory will stay with him long after the tournament concludes.
“Getting to take a step back and watch the absolute highest level of the sport in person is something I won’t ever forget,” he said. “Just hearing the crowd go crazy and feeling that global energy right here in Kansas City is unbelievable. Plus, it’s a pretty awesome feeling knowing I actually helped make that matchday experience happen.”
Current student Peyton Bradley was also at the center of the fan experience, serving as a ticketing resolution assistant. His role involved helping fans access their tickets, troubleshooting issues with the ticketing app, and relocating guests when seating accommodations were needed, including ADA seating.
In a job that required patience and problem-solving, one interaction in particular stuck out to him.
“During the Ecuador vs. Curaçao game, I had a family come to my desk asking for help purchasing tickets,” Bradley said. “They had driven up from Oklahoma on game day to see Ecuador play, and they weren’t able to purchase any tickets even though there was still a decent amount available.”
After nearly an hour of troubleshooting, Bradley discovered the family’s bank had flagged the transaction as fraudulent.
“Once they cleared that issue up and were able to buy their tickets, they had the biggest smiles I had ever seen,” he said. “It felt awesome to help make that happen.”
The experience gave Bradley a deeper appreciation for the complexity of ticket operations.
“This role has shown me how difficult ticketing work can be,” he said. “It’s much more intricate than just the purchase and sale of tickets. There are all kinds of issues that can arise that a ticketing team needs to know how to troubleshoot.”
Like many working the tournament, he’ll remember the energy surrounding each match.
“As a huge soccer fan and someone who is chasing a career in sports, the match day atmosphere has been truly one of the best things I have ever experienced,” Bradley said.
Columbia College faculty and staff members also stepped into volunteer and operational roles throughout the tournament.
Associate Professor Dr. Blake Nielsen served in multiple capacities during FIFA Fan Festival events, helping direct foot traffic, scanning hospitality credentials, assisting international fans with navigating festival amenities, and supporting local, national and international media members covering the tournament.
Senior Career Services Coordinator Doug Sanders worked outside Arrowhead Stadium on match days in a brand protection role, helping monitor for ticket scalping, unlicensed merchandise sales and ambush marketing activities that could compromise the tournament’s commercial partnerships.
Advancement Services Director Kevin Fletcher served as a host city ambassador with the media operations team, supporting both members of the media and fans throughout the event.
His responsibilities ranged from staffing an information desk at the official media hotel to answering questions submitted through the KC2026 website about transportation, Fan Festival access and premium experiences. During his final shifts, Fletcher monitored camera platforms at the FIFA Fan Festival, ensuring media organizations followed FIFA’s broadcasting guidelines.
Together, these experiences demonstrated the wide range of opportunities available in the Sports Management industry — many of which happen well beyond the action on the field.
And on the global stage, Columbia College was right in the middle of it all.
