FIFA Fan Festival™ Venue Manager, FIFA World Cup 26™ (All Host Cities)

Department: Tournament and Venue Operations

Employment Type: Befristeter Vertrag

Location: All Locations

Reporting To: Head of Fifa Fan Festival

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

Reporting organizationally to the Head of FIFA Fan Festival™ – [Host Country Specific], the FIFA Fan Festival™ Venue Manager will play a key role in the delivery of the FIFA Fan Festival™ at the assigned Host City venue. Working in close collaboration with the FIFA Fan Festival™ Core Project Team, key stakeholders in Zurich, and local operational leads, this role will ensure the event is implemented in full alignment with FIFA standards, requirements, and the FIFA Fan Festival™ Event Manual.

The FIFA Fan Festival™ Venue Manager is a senior event specialist with extensive experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder live events. The role requires broad operational understanding and proven experience across the following key areas of responsibility:
Areas of Responsibility:

General Event Oversight
Venue Set-Up and Infrastructure
Marketing, Branding, and Communications
Entertainment and Stage Programming
Food & Beverage (F&B)
FIFA Assets and Partner Integration
Reporting and Information Flow

Task & Duties:
The main responsibilities and oversights of the FIFA Fan Festival™ Venue Manager for the FIFA World Cup 26™ include:

Represent FIFA on-site as the lead point of contact for the FIFA Fan Festival™ venue
Oversee and ensure compliance with all rights, obligations, and requirements defined in the Host City Agreement, FIFA Fan Festival™ Event Manual, and associated documentation
Monitor, report, and support the Host City organizing team in all operational matters throughout assembly, event, and dismantling phases.
Facilitate integration of FIFA assets, branding, entertainment, content production, and Commercial Partner activities.
Ensure clear and timely communication between FIFA, the Host City, service providers, and FIFA’s Commercial Partners and Licensees.
Participate in daily coordination meetings with all relevant stakeholders, including Host City representatives, agencies, and partner teams.
Identify, escalate, and assist in resolving on-site operational issues in coordination with the FIFA Fan Festival™ Project Team.
Ensure consistency in visitor experience, brand application, and stakeholder integration across all event areas.
Oversee and coordinate the work of any assigned FIFA Fan Festival™ Deputy Venue Managers or Coordinators.
Deliver comprehensive daily reporting and updates to the FIFA Fan Festival™ Head of Country and Core Team.

Your Profile

Education & Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent higher education in Event Management, Live Entertainment, Production, or a related field.

Work Experience

Minimum 8 years of experience managing large-scale live entertainment events, festivals, or concerts, ideally at an international level.
Proven ability to operate in complex stakeholder environments involving government, sponsors, agencies, and media.
Demonstrated experience in multi-disciplinary event oversight (production, logistics, broadcast, partnerships rights delivery, fan experience).
Familiarity with large temporary venue build-outs and multi-day programming structures.
Strong technical understanding of event infrastructure (staging, lighting, sound, screens, broadcast integration).
Experience leading operational teams through high-pressure, time-critical environments.
The role prioritizes operational excellence and hands-on experience in delivering large-scale public events with focus on entertainment, culture and lifestyle.

Languages

Fluent English (written and spoken) required. (understanding of French & Spanish considered an asset)
Fluent in Spanish when applying for Mexico (proficient also in English)

Technology

Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio & Project) and planning software and online collaboration tools

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.

Hired