Inspirational Story of Angelia Hutabarat Becoming a Volunteer for the 2026 World Cup

Behind the grandeur of the FIFA World Cup 2026 hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, thousands of volunteers work to ensure every detail of the tournament runs smoothly. One of these volunteers is Angelia Hutabarat, an Indonesian citizen who has resided in Mexico for approximately one decade.

Angel's journey to join the world's largest Football event was not easy. At one point, she even believed her dream of becoming a FIFA World Cup 2026 volunteer had ended before it ever properly began.

Throughout the selection process, Angel waited endlessly for updates that never arrived. The first stage announcement, scheduled for February 2026, never appeared in her email inbox.

“That announcement should have been received by February 2026, but I still had not gotten anything at that time,” stated the Indonesian national who has lived in Mexico for around 10 years.

After receiving no communication at all, Angel concluded she had failed the selection. She returned to her daily routine working for a company based in Mexico City.

However, her hope was reignited in March 2026. An unexpected email from FIFA arrived on her device and changed everything.

“Thank God, the email confirmed I had been accepted as a FIFA World Cup 2026 volunteer for Mexico City,” Angel said.

In the correspondence, FIFA assigned her as a VIP Guest Services Officer at one of the major official tournament hotels in Mexico City.

According to Angel, roughly one million people applied globally for volunteer positions, while tens of thousands submitted applications within Mexico alone.

The first selection stage launched in September 2025, requiring applicants to upload documents, submit personal details, declare language proficiencies, and list prior volunteer experience. Only around 15,000 applicants in Mexico passed this screening to proceed to interviews held in October 2025.

“At the time I had hoped to be assigned to work at Estadio Ciudad de Mexico, the Azteca Stadium,” Angel noted.

This wish was not granted. FIFA instead offered her the hotel VIP guest services role. Though initially disappointed, she ultimately accepted the opportunity.

“I was a little let down, but in the end I took the position,” she recalled.

Accepting this role ended up granting Angel priceless experiences. She gained the chance to interact directly with numerous global Football Legends who attended the opening of the 2026 World Cup.

Prominent figures she met during her posting included Bebeto, Cafu, Ronaldo Nazario, Marco Materazzi, Roberto Baggio, Luis Hernandez, Jared Borgetti, Santiago Solari, Hristo Stoichkov, Cristian Chivu, and Alfie Haaland.

Alongside Football Legends, Angel also met legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, who performed at the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony at Estadio Azteca.

In addition to these unforgettable experiences and new professional connections, Angel also received exclusive official FIFA World Cup 2026 volunteer equipment.

“This kit is extremely exclusive, it is not sold publicly anywhere,” she stated.

Behind Angel's success was full support from her family. Notably, both of her parents also applied as tournament volunteers. Her mother did not pass selection, while her father cleared the first stage but missed the deadline to complete subsequent requirements.

"Our whole family really loves volunteering for events like this. We have previously all volunteered together at an international Golf Tournament held in Mexico," Angel shared.

For her, volunteering is not merely about assisting event operations. The experiences gained broaden one's perspective, and become valuable assets for the future.

Source: ANTARA