A once-in-a-lifetime job opportunity has emerged in the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The position offers approximately $50,000 (about 73 million won) to watch all 104 matches of the tournament from the heart of New York's Times Square.
According to Reuters and other foreign media outlets on Thursday (Korea time), U.S. broadcaster Fox Sports has partnered with job platform Indeed to recruit a "Chief World Cup Watcher."
The single selected applicant will watch all 104 matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America from inside a special glass cube installed in the center of Times Square in New York. The compensation is approximately $50,000.
The successful candidate must watch all matches in real time via the official World Cup streaming platform "Fox One," while also creating social media content and generating a live cheering atmosphere. The role functions as a kind of "World Cup host" who creates an on-site atmosphere so that tourists and citizens passing through Times Square can enjoy the matches together.
"It could be the best job of the summer, but this special mission will be given to only one passionate fan," Fox Sports said in a press release.
Applications can be submitted through the Indeed website, and the final successful candidate will be announced next month on the 6th during the Major League Baseball (MLB) game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, which will be broadcast by Fox Sports.
Largest World Cup Ever, but New York Hotel Bookings Fall Short of Expectations
Contrary to expectations of a box-office hit, the atmosphere in host cities is more subdued than anticipated. Bloomberg reported on Nov. 24 (local time) that hotel booking rates in New York during the World Cup period, from June 13 to July 19, remain at approximately 18%.
This is actually lower than the 26% booking rate at the same time a year earlier. Other host cities including Boston and Canada's Vancouver and Toronto are reportedly showing similar trends.
The industry points to soaring accommodation and transportation costs as the main causes. Room rates at hotels near MetLife Stadium in New Jersey were found to exceed $4,000 (about 5.93 million won) on the night before the final. That is more than 10 times the usual rate.
Transportation costs are also a significant burden. New Jersey Transit has set round-trip train fares during the tournament at $150 (about 220,000 won), and shuttle bus fees reach $80 (about 120,000 won).
Visa issuance delays, stricter immigration screening, a strong dollar, and reductions in some international flights have compounded the burden on overseas fans traveling to the tournament, analysts said.
However, FIFA remains optimistic. "Ticket demand is unprecedented," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, emphasizing that "the 104 matches will generate economic impact equivalent to 104 Super Bowls."
The 2026 North American World Cup is the largest ever. The number of participating countries has expanded from 32 to 48, and the United States, Canada, and Mexico will co-host the tournament. The competition will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
