{"691832":{"#nid":"691832","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Yellow Jackets Gain Behind-the-Scenes Experience at FIFA World Cup","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 2026 FIFA World Cup may have ended, but for three Georgia Tech students, the tournament gave them work experience that will last a lifetime.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore than 26 million people watched the Argentina vs. England semifinal match held at Atlanta\u2019s Mercedes-Benz Stadium \u2014 setting viewership records on both \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/tv\/news\/argentina-england-world-cup-ratings-15-million-fox-1236813261\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EFox and Telemundo\u003C\/a\u003E. Santiago Calvino, Daniela Ruiz, and Grace Inagaki were not among those watching at home. Instead, they were helping execute broadcasts as interns with Host Broadcast Services (HBS).\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe trio of Yellow Jackets worked all eight matches in Atlanta with the company that has been FIFA\u2019s official broadcast partner since 2002. Inagaki, a fourth-year biomedical engineering student, and Calvino, a second-year economics and international affairs student, were members of the Commentary Control Room (CCR) team, helping set up equipment before the match and adjusting levels for commentators in the booth. Ruiz, a second-year literature, media, and communication student, served on the media liaison team, directing broadcasters to their locations and acting as the first point of contact for media professionals.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe event\u2019s scale made for a surreal experience, but Inagaki says their focus remained on the task at hand. For the CCR team, this meant equalizing levels as a broadcaster\u2019s voice rose after a goal, reacting to technical glitches in real time, and offering translation help to Spanish broadcasters.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis was the coolest thing we\u2019ve ever done, and it was incredible just to be in the stadium. While we were aware of the ticket cost and the hype around the event as it was happening, our job was in the media booth, not on the pitch. For us, it was about being a professional and getting the job done,\u201d Inagaki said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs soccer fans, the students began looking for ways to get involved as World Cup preparations got underway. When each of them saw an email from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/career.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Career Center\u003C\/a\u003E about the HBS Intern Program, they jumped at the chance to apply.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cYou can\u0027t put into perspective how much work and how many people it takes to make an event like the World Cup happen,\u201d Ruiz said. \u201cWe saw everything that occurred on match days, and knowing that work had been going on for years is fascinating, especially seeing it all play out behind the scenes as the match was going on. It was so rewarding to play even a small role in such a massive operation.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECalvino added, \u201cAs a fan, I never truly thought of how many people it takes to make sure these matches run smoothly, and this internship has given me a new appreciation of everyone who puts in the effort before, during, and after the match to make that happen. It\u0027s satisfying to know that I played a part in delivering a positive experience to fans around the world.\u0022 \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe placement of the job postings stemmed from a conversation between Georgia Tech\u2019s Career Center and HBS more than a year before the tournament began. Dana Pudenz, employer connections manager in the Career Center, spoke at length with HBS representatives about the type of interns they were seeking to fill positions for the World Cup. Pudenz made sure the applications were posted to CareerBuzz, Tech\u2019s career management platform, and shared them with students via email and student organizations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThroughout their internship, the students said Tech had prepared them to tackle challenges and to fully embrace this \u201conce-in-a-lifetime\u201d opportunity. \u201cWhen talking with these companies and organizations, they know Georgia Tech\u2019s reputation, but they also realize that every major here is going to have the well-rounded background they need to succeed,\u201d Pudenz said. \u201cWhether it\u0027s the World Cup or other events that come to the city, they know where to turn to get motivated students who want to work and will be the ones they want to hire for full-time positions.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERegardless of where students are in their degree programs, Pudenz and the World Cup interns encourage Yellow Jackets to connect with the Career Center. The \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatech-csm.symplicity.com\/events\/Fa2026GTCF\/employers\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAll-Majors Career Fair\u003C\/a\u003E will take place Sept. 14 \u2013 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and there will be a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatech.co1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_6VbaLLw2xHOQOXQ\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EFaculty Employer Networking Breakfast\u003C\/a\u003E from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on both days. All faculty are invited to attend. Contact the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/career.gatech.edu\/contact-us\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECareer Center\u003C\/a\u003E with any questions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Three Georgia Tech students gained hands-on experience supporting FIFA World Cup broadcasts in Atlanta, helping deliver coverage to millions of viewers worldwide. "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThree Georgia Tech students gained hands-on experience supporting FIFA World Cup broadcasts in Atlanta, helping deliver coverage to millions of viewers worldwide.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Three Georgia Tech students gained hands-on experience supporting FIFA World Cup broadcasts in Atlanta, helping deliver coverage to millions of viewers worldwide. "}],"uid":"36418","created_gmt":"2026-08-19 18:20:03","changed_gmt":"2026-08-19 18:46:11","author":"sgagliano3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-08-19T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-08-19T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680909":{"id":"680909","type":"image","title":"Santiago Calvino","body":"\u003Cp\u003ESantiago Calvino, a second-year economics and international affairs student, was one of three Georgia Tech students to participate in the Host Broadcast Services Intern Program. As a member of the Commentary Control Room team, Calvino spent most of the match in the broadcast booth. Submitted Photo.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1787077418","gmt_created":"2026-08-18 18:23:38","changed":"1787077418","gmt_changed":"2026-08-18 18:23:38","alt":"Santiago Calvino","file":{"fid":"265242","name":"20260707_091216.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/18\/20260707_091216.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/18\/20260707_091216.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3198244,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/18\/20260707_091216.jpg?itok=tsV5hCmU"}}},"media_ids":["680909"],"groups":[{"id":"1182","name":"General"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"195177","name":"World Cup Atlanta"},{"id":"9851","name":"world cup"},{"id":"96611","name":"FIFA"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:Steven.gagliano@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESteven Gagliano\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013\u0026nbsp;Institute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}