How an FBA Candidate turned a World Cup opportunity into a full-time role.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be unlike any tournament that has come before it.
With 48 national teams competing across three host countries, Canada, Mexico, and the United States, it will be the largest FIFA World Cup ever staged. Behind the scenes, thousands of professionals are already working to ensure the tournament runs smoothly long before the first whistle is blown.
Among them is The FBA Candidate Pavlo Ilchyshyn, who joined the FIFA World Cup 2026 organisation through the Future Leaders Program internship and has since progressed into a full-time operational role supporting preparations for the tournament.
His journey reflects what many aspiring football professionals seek: a pathway from education and industry exposure to meaningful opportunities within the global football industry.
While fans will focus on the action on the pitch, Pavlo’s work takes place behind the scenes, helping support the operational planning that will allow participating national teams to perform at their best throughout the tournament.
Speaking FIFA’s Language
For Pavlo, securing a role connected to the FIFA World Cup was not simply the result of submitting an application. It was the culmination of years spent developing a deeper understanding of how the football industry operates and the standards expected by organisations at the highest level.
“When applying for a role connected to the 2026 World Cup, I was not approaching FIFA as an outsider; I was approaching it with an understanding shaped by real conversations, real relationships, and real exposure.”
Reflecting on the recruitment process, Pavlo believes that the combination of industry exposure, stakeholder awareness, and professional communication skills he developed through The Football Business Academy helped him stand out from other candidates.
More importantly, it allowed him to engage with the World Cup environment confidently and professionally. Rather than relying solely on theoretical knowledge, he could demonstrate an understanding of how football organisations operate, how decisions are made, and how professionals collaborate across complex projects.
According to Pavlo, that understanding is one of The FBA’s greatest strengths. The program accelerates learning by creating direct connections with professionals who work within the football industry every day, helping students gain insights that are difficult to obtain elsewhere.
Supporting Football’s Biggest Event
Pavlo initially joined the FIFA World Cup 2026 organisation within the Team Services function, a department responsible for supporting participating national teams before and during the tournament.
The team’s work touches many aspects of tournament operations, helping ensure that national teams receive the support they need throughout their World Cup journey. This requires close coordination across multiple departments and careful planning long before teams arrive at their host locations.
At this stage of preparations, much of the focus is on readiness and anticipation.
“At this stage, my work has been focused on operational planning and readiness. This includes supporting the development and review of planning documents, assisting with internal coordination of team requirements, and helping ensure that information flows clearly between the departments involved in team services.”
For Pavlo, one of the most valuable lessons has been understanding how much of a tournament’s success depends on decisions made years before the event begins.
Working on a project of this scale has strengthened skills that are essential in modern football organisations, including operational coordination, structured communication, attention to detail, and adaptability.
As the tournament draws closer, those skills will become even more important.
More Than a Program: A Gateway to the Football Industry
When discussing his experience at The FBA, Pavlo repeatedly returns to one concept: access.
While the program provided valuable knowledge and professional development, he believes its greatest strength lies in the relationships and industry connections it creates.
“In my view, it’s the strongest asset. When you join The FBA, you do not simply join a program, you gain access to a living network of professionals across FIFA, confederations, leagues, clubs, and major events.”
Throughout The FBA Professional Master in Football Business, Pavlo had opportunities to engage directly with professionals working across the football ecosystem. These interactions provided insights that are difficult to obtain through traditional education alone.
“That proximity changes how one understands the industry. It clarifies expectations, raises standards, and makes career pathways more realistic.”
For Pavlo, this network played a direct role in helping him access opportunities connected to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In an industry built on trust, reputation, and relationships, visibility matters. Being able to learn from, interact with, and build connections with professionals already working in the industry helped bridge the gap between aspiration and opportunity.
This is one of the reasons why The FBA places such a strong emphasis on industry engagement throughout the program. Professional development in football rarely happens in isolation. It happens through exposure, collaboration, and meaningful relationships.
Preparing for a Career in Football
One of the biggest lessons Pavlo took from both The FBA and his recruitment process is that technical knowledge alone is rarely enough.
Football organisations increasingly look for professionals who can communicate effectively, think critically, collaborate with stakeholders, and operate in fast-moving environments.
“The emphasis was not only on knowledge, but on how I think, communicate, and interact with others.”
According to Pavlo, credibility is built through preparation, professionalism, and consistency.
The FBA’s industry-focused approach helped reinforce these qualities by encouraging students to engage regularly with guest speakers, alumni, industry experts, and football executives.
“Several mentors encouraged me to treat every interaction as part of my professional development, because in football, relationships matter deeply.”
Those lessons continue to shape how he approaches his career today and have proven particularly valuable in an environment as demanding and collaborative as the FIFA World Cup.
Looking Ahead to World Cup 2026
As preparations move closer to tournament delivery, Pavlo expects his role to become increasingly focused on execution and operational support.
The pace will increase, decisions will become more time-sensitive, and the pressure of delivering a successful tournament will grow.
Yet this is exactly what excites him most.
“Being part of a FIFA World Cup is extraordinary, but contributing meaningfully to its delivery is what makes the experience truly rewarding.”
For someone passionate about football and eager to contribute to the sport at the highest level, few opportunities compare.
From Internship to Full-Time Responsibility
Pavlo’s journey within the FIFA World Cup 2026 organisation has already evolved considerably since he first joined through the Future Leaders Program.
As preparations for the tournament continue to intensify, he recently transitioned into a full-time role as a VSTH Transport Coordinator, supporting the operational delivery of the largest FIFA World Cup in history.
In this position, Pavlo is responsible for coordinating transport operations for participating national teams, ensuring seamless movement between airports, team hotels, training facilities, and competition venues. His responsibilities include managing daily fleet operations, coordinating arrivals and departures, overseeing operational readiness, and working closely with multiple stakeholders to ensure transport services are delivered according to the tournament’s operational standards.
The progression reflects both the scale of the opportunity and the trust placed in him as preparations continue for one of the most complex sporting events ever organised.
For aspiring football professionals, it is also a reminder that careers in football are often built step by step. Opportunities create exposure, exposure builds experience, and experience creates new opportunities.
Treat Every Interaction as an Opportunity
When asked what advice he would give to aspiring football professionals, Pavlo’s answer is simple.
Take full advantage of every opportunity to learn, connect, and engage with the people around you.
“The real value of the program lies in the relationships you build and the access you gain. Treat every interaction with professors, guest speakers, and peers as a professional opportunity.”
He also believes aspiring professionals should remain closely connected to the game itself, whether through coaching, refereeing, grassroots football, or other practical experiences.
Understanding football beyond the classroom, he argues, creates a level of authenticity and credibility that organisations value highly.
Your Journey Could Start Here
Every FIFA World Cup is powered by thousands of professionals working behind the scenes across operations, commercial, marketing, partnerships, media, events, and team services.
For many, those careers begin long before the tournament kicks off.
Pavlo’s journey demonstrates what can happen when ambition is combined with industry exposure, practical experience, and meaningful professional relationships. From joining The FBA to contributing to preparations for FIFA World Cup 2026 and progressing into a full-time role, his story highlights the value of being proactive, curious, and committed to continuous development.
If you are looking to build a career in the football industry and gain the knowledge, network, and practical experience needed to access opportunities like these, The FBA Professional Master in Football Business could be your first step.
