Working the World Cup: Stories From the Unseen Players Powering the Tournament

Exploring the unseen players behind one of the world’s biggest sporting events. Stories will examine how cities prepare for an event of this scale and the economic and cultural ripple effects felt across host-city communities.

Aziz Aslan, owner of Turquaz, a Turkish café and restaurant at 1198 Mission St., is pictured at his San Francisco establishment.

2026-06-26T10:02:11.756Z

I own a Turkish Restaurant in San Francisco. Turkey's World Cup match here has changed my business.

4 min read

2026-06-18T17:50:02.529Z

I'm 66 and have been a groundskeeper for 48 years. Working on the World Cup is teaching me new things.

4 min read

2026-06-17T14:57:09.330Z

I didn't realize how big a deal the FIFA World Cup was until my Airbnb bookings blew up.

Jennifer Smith says World Cup visitors have filled her Texas Airbnbs, allowing her to charge significantly higher rates than usual.

5 min read

2026-06-16T14:16:15.338Z

The World Cup is coming to Atlanta. Small businesses hope it pays off.

Some Atlanta entrepreneurs are investing thousands ahead of the World Cup. Whether it'll pay off is still up in the air.

6 min read

2026-06-11T13:48:12.636Z

I train threat-detection dogs for major events. For the World Cup, our goal is to make sure nothing happens.

K-9 handler Dan Silva and his dog Fitz secure the World Cup. Months of preparation ensure safety for fans and teams across Southern California.

4 min read