A soccer-loving kid from Tucson lands dream role at the FIFA World Cup

This year, Rhodes became one of the Tucson connections on soccer's biggest stage when he was selected to be part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup staff in Boston, assisting with media relations for France, England, Ghana, Haiti, Iraq, Norway, Morocco and Scotland. 

Rhodes is no stranger to putting on big-scale events as vice president of communications for the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl, but this experience, which he is sharing with the Arizona Daily Star, hits different for a kid who always had a soccer ball at the ready.  

"The United States has hosted this tournament just one other time in my lifetime, so the opportunity to cross perhaps the top of my sports bucket list off, and not just watch a match, but be a part of the experience is certainly a core memory," he said. "I am immensely proud to represent Tucson on this stage and bring a part of the Old Pueblo to the world’s game."

Rhodes' initial involvement with the World Cup was overseeing operations for the Iranian soccer team that was supposed to train at Kino Sports Complex, before the team's base camp was moved out of the US to Mexico. A minor setback gave Rhodes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with FIFA in Beantown this summer.  

Here's what he had to say ahead of the World Cup kickoff on Thursday. 

What have you seen and heard so far in Boston?

A: The No. 1 item that stands out every day is that soccer/football is truly the world’s game. I have heard so many different languages and worked alongside wonderful people from several different countries who are all here to live the same dream of working for the FIFA World Cup. As the fans and supporters have started to roll into town, this has become even more evident in the colorful jerseys, flags and language. Pride in country is amazing to see on full display in a safe and festive setting.

Is this a dream opportunity for you?

A: There are at least 25 moments every day that I mentally stop and take a moment to let it sink in what a dream scenario I am living out, working the 2026 World Cup. I can recall a memory from most of the FIFA World Cups I have been alive for — where I was sitting to watch a match, and who I was with. Four years ago, I was sitting with family in Santa Fe, New Mexico, decked out in USA gear, supporting the squad. If you had told me on that day that four years later, I would not only be at the 2026 World Cup in person, but I would be working firsthand with several of the top teams in the world as part of FIFA, there is little to no chance I would have believed you. Yet, here I am, just a soccer-obsessed guy from Tucson who grew up playing the game I love at Jesse Owens, Lincoln and Udall parks, now literally living the dream of being a part of the largest sporting event in history.

Do you get to interact with World Cup teams?

A: Yes! My primary responsibilities lie in the pre-match training sessions (practice) in Boston for five to eight World Cup teams, including England, Norway, Haiti, Ghana and Scotland, to name a few. My facility will also host training sessions for one Round of 32 match and a quarterfinal match, so there’s a great possibility to host some of the biggest names in the world.

Notable

– Boston just announced that for the run of the 2026 World Cup, bars would stay open until 3 a.m. instead of the normal 2 a.m. closure. That, coupled with the first match between Haiti and Scotland kicking off at 9 p.m. local time will certainly keep the party alive.

– If you’re a wagering person, the heat and humidity combination of the East Coast site is certain to be a factor. Temperatures will reach 90 degrees in Boston this week; that, combined with the high humidity, means teams that are not from warm-weather countries may find themselves at an energy drain and at a distinct disadvantage.

– Growing up I was, and remain, a soccer fanatic. You couldn’t find me without a soccer ball nearby. I used to make my parents stop on road trips if we passed a park in another city or state that had nets on their goals. I love the game, I have studied the game, I have played and coached the game, and this planet has no other sporting tournament that rivals the scope and pinnacle of this game, the FIFA World Cup.