More than spectators
For many Bostonians, the summer of 2026 will forever be remembered as the time the Tartan Army came to visit, pulling our already sports-obsessed city into FIFA World Cup fever. There were watch parties, fan fests, and , plus seven action-packed matches at Boston Stadium in Foxborough. Behind the scenes, Boston College alumni, faculty, staff, and students contributed to the tournament鈥檚 success鈥攕couting training facilities, organizing logistics, and greeting fans from around the world. Below, they share how it felt to be in the middle of the madness.
Operations and security
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Lou DiSabatino
One of 11 host cities, Boston welcomed nearly half a million fans from around the world to its matches and fan festival, requiring extensive planning and coordination at the local, state, federal, and international levels. As the FIFA 26 Host City Director for Boston, Lou DiSabatino 鈥�87 led local operations and was the point person connecting FIFA with state and local officials, stadium operators, and public safety personnel.听
鈥淚t was an honor and privilege to play a role in the world's largest sporting event here in my hometown,鈥� said DiSabatino, who has taught in the Woods College鈥檚 M.S. in Sports Administration program.听
Also on the ground in Boston was Ryan Winmill 鈥�00, a security and risk management expert who was named vice president and chief security officer for FIFA World Cup Boston, and national chairman of the U.S. Security Working Group. Winmill joined the FIFA World Cup security team in 2023, helping to map out complex safety and security plans for Gillette Stadium (which temporarily became Boston Stadium), the FIFA Fan Festival, team training facilities, and hotels where players would be staying. The years of work paid off: in May, Boston was named the safest host city for the World Cup.
鈥淭hat was an honor,鈥� said Winmill, 鈥渂ut what I will remember most is the extraordinary teamwork behind the scenes.鈥� Those efforts helped secure a historic $446 million in federal security funding for Boston and Massachusetts, he added, which will 鈥渟trengthen public safety capabilities long after the World Cup is over."
Safe travels
As the airport manager for Boston, Nancy Gonsalves 鈥�85 oversaw arrivals and greeted FIFA VIP guests, match referees, and players touching down at Logan Airport and Hanscom Air Force Base. Although she couldn鈥檛 help but root for France, the team with the most arrivals and departures out of Boston, Team Cabo Verde was a favorite among airport staff, Gonsalves said. "They were hometown heroes before they even stepped on the pitch.鈥�
Current and former 自慰视频 Athletics staff Haley Bridgeman, Olivia Speer, Aidan Morin, and Zach Brown.
Eddie Timmerman 鈥�13, a detective in the Needham Police Department, has worked security at Patriots games and concerts at Gillette in the past, but the energy the soccer fans brought to each match was 鈥渙n another level,鈥� he said. 鈥淭o see all the cultures of the different countries coming together to enjoy the games was very special.鈥澨�
Several other Eagles assisted with security during the Boston matches, including 听自慰视频 Athletics Associate Director Zach Brown MA 鈥�23, Atticus Crothers '26,听Olivia Speer MA 鈥�25, and 自慰视频 Athletics intern Aidan Morin MA 鈥�27. 自慰视频 Athletics Assistant Director Haley Bridgeman MA 鈥�23 was stationed in the end zone during the Norway vs. Iraq match, where she got an up-close view of the famous Viking row. 鈥淲e would have been responsible for chasing a fan off the field if somebody jumped, but thankfully we did not have that happen,鈥� she said.
Greeting fans
Maureen (Giusti) Britton M.Ed. 鈥�13, MA 鈥�15, grew up in a sports-loving household, but she wasn鈥檛 sure what to expect when she signed up for the fan Mobility Assistance Program at Gillette. One morning, she drove a golf cart full of fans from Mexico, England, Venezuela, and Morocco to the stadium and 鈥渢hey were all talking to one another, excited just to share in the experience of coming to a World Cup game,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淚 was truly amazed to see the community that exists in the soccer world, and I was honestly surprised to see so many people from opposing teams get along and be so happy together."
Several other 自慰视频 alumni served as host ambassadors in Boston and New York, including Christine Mosher 鈥�85, Kerry Noonan 鈥�11, and听Kobe Hurtado 鈥�22, who welcomed fans from all over the world. Hannah (Creighton) Miller '15, who minored in French at 自慰视频, volunteered at Boston Stadium to host high-profile guests (or "VVIPs"). 鈥淓ach match day feels completely different from my end鈥攄ifferent colors and songs and traditions, 鈥� she said. "It's been really rewarding to see the world coming together in this way."
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Bringing FIFA to Revere
Joe Gravellese 鈥�10 and Taylor Giuffre-Catalano 鈥�22 both work for the city of Revere鈥擥ravellese as a community development planner and Giuffre-Catalano as the mayor鈥檚 communications director鈥攁nd this summer they co-chaired the city鈥檚 "Field of Play" World Cup initiative, which involved public watch parties, business partnerships, activations, and cultural programming. 鈥淪eeing the streets of my hometown come alive with chants, flags, cheers, and energy from fans of so many different teams was a tremendous joy,鈥� said Gravellese.
Marketing and media coverage
TJ Hartnett 鈥�18
Professional soccer player Alejandro Bedoya '08 was on the field as part of Team USA in 2014, but this year, he joined the Telemundo broadcast team, serving as a color commentator for the Spanish language telecast. Former professional soccer player Charlie Davies 鈥�04-06 also covered the tournament as a broadcast analyst on CBS Sports and reporter for The Athletic. 鈥淟ife doesn鈥檛 always unfold the way you planned,鈥� Davies, whose playing career was cut short after a car accident in 2009, 鈥渂ut sometimes it gives you a different way to live the dream. Grateful.鈥�
The media footprint of the World Cup in 2026 was unprecedented, with thousands of cameras capturing footage behind the scenes and on the field for an audience of millions. Paul Gallagher 鈥�29 served as a Media Operations and Services Volunteer, helping journalists check in before matches and passing the microphone during press conferences.听
Senior Marketing Manager at N自慰视频 Universal TJ Hartnett 鈥�18 worked for years leading up to the tournament on advertising and sponsorship placements for brands like McDonald's and Coca-Cola. One of his most memorable projects involved capturing a 鈥渄ay in the life鈥� of a Powerade Ball Crew Member in Miami Stadium during Uruguay vs. Saudi Arabia. 鈥淕etting to see these brand marketing elements come to life on live TV after being involved in the process from ideation to sell to creative to activation is very rewarding,鈥� he said.
“ Our brewery, located in Jersey City, teamed up with the American Outlaws supporter group for Team USA to brew a beer鈥擶orld Pint鈥攆or the World Cup. We also supplied beer to the New Jersey watch party at Sports Illustrated Stadium and hosted game watches in our Tasting Room with partners such as Adidas! ”
Training facilities
Alfonso Gonzalez '20
Few people have visited more soccer fields in the past two years than Alfonso Gonzalez 鈥�20,听who, as the Team Facilities Lead in the Central North region, was charged with locating and overseeing training sites for 11 World Cup teams to use while in the United States. 鈥淔rom more than 40 sites we assessed, 15 facilities were ultimately selected within my region,鈥� he explained. 鈥淢y role was to ensure every venue was fully prepared to deliver a world-class training environment and serve as a true home away from home for participating member associations.鈥澨�
And in New Jersey, 自慰视频 parent Tim Lear P'29 was quoted in the for hosting Team Morocco鈥檚 training site at the Pingry School, where he is Head of School (working alongside Dawn K. Lozada 鈥�02 and Brad Fadem '13). 听听