Women in Football - The women shaping the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The women shaping the 2026 FIFA World Cup

18 June 2026

The world’s biggest sporting event took centre stage during the summer of 2026, and women are driving the action like never before, making real impact both on and off the pitch. To celebrate the tournament, Women in Football is proud to launch this spotlight series championing some of the extraordinary women who shaped the FIFA World Cup 2026. From elite broadcasters to tournament legacy managers, the career opportunities within the game are vast. Join us as we go behind the scenes to explore these vital roles and the incredible influence these women hold.

Marina Ayuso

What was your role at the tournament? I am an Editorial Manager at NBC Sports. My role includes being an on-set researcher for our host, Rebecca Lowe, so when Rebecca was hired by FOX Sports ‘on loan’ for the 2026 World Cup, I was given the opportunity to go with her! During the World Cup, I prepared daily research documents which were used by on-air talent. Every morning, Rebecca and I met several hours before our show began. We talked through each segment in the rundown, discussed storylines, and edited scripts for the show. Once on air, I followed each segment of the show live, handing Rebecca cards with stats, reminders, and notes to add colour to the broadcast.

Standout moment from the tournament? Being at the World Cup final was special. It felt like the culmination of all the hard work from the past month and a half, and there was a real sense of pride and camaraderie within the production and talent teams that we had reached this moment together. On a personal note, I was born in Spain and much of my family still lives there, so seeing them lift the trophy was a moment I will never forget.

What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it? Going from an indoor studio environment – where we were for most matches before the quarter-finals – to an on-site stadium set poses unique challenges. You don’t always have access to the internet or a computer, which forces you to be extra proactive. You have to adapt on the fly, and keep clear comms with talent and production crews.

Describe your World Cup experience in three words. Unforgettable. Challenging. Rewarding.

What has Women in Football meant to you throughout your career? In 2021 when I was a freelance researcher working remotely for NBC, I applied to a mentorship programme with WIF. I was matched with Andy Hipkiss, founder and owner of Alta Loma Management, as my mentor he answered my questions, helped me make connections, reviewed my CV, and offered invaluable guidance to help me get to where I am today.

For years, I’ve looked to Women in Football for inspiration, as I’ve furthered my career in a sport that is perhaps not as popular in the US as it is in other countries. The organisation has been a great source of motivation, where I could find stories of other women paving their way in the sport, stay in the loop on events, make valuable connections, and more. Ultimately, it has shown me that there is a strong community of people working towards gender equality in this space, both on and off the pitch, and that we could easily be connected, despite living an ocean apart!

What would you say to other women who aspire to work at major international tournaments? Always be prepared and be proactive – you don’t have to know everything right on the spot, but you do have to know how to find the answer, be flexible and adaptable, and always work towards a solution. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Particularly for those working in the editorial and research space – it’s always better to be correct than to be first – triple check yourself and trust your gut. You will work very odd and long hours in this industry and during major tournaments, and you’ll often sacrifice personal events/plans for work, but if football is your passion and you enjoy the work, it will all be worth it!

Faye Carruthers

At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Faye Carruthers is serving as the on-the-ground England Correspondent for talkSPORT. She is fully embedded inside Thomas Tuchel's England camp across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, delivering live pitchside reporting, breaking news, and direct interviews with the players and coaching staff. Some of Faye's responsibilities include:

Pitchside reporting: Offering real-time updates and tactical observations directly from the touchline
Press conferences and interviews: talkSPORT's primary interviewer for Thomas Tuchel and the England squad
Audio content: Featuring on the network's World Cup Daily podcast
Digital coverage: Providing video logs and updates charting the journey across the host nations

What is your role at the tournament? ⁠I am talkSPORT’s England Correspondent, so I cover all the news from inside the England camp and interview the players. On matchdays I am pitchside behind the goal providing inserts into our coverage and conducting the post match interviews with Thomas Tuchel and the players in the tunnel. I'll be following England wherever they go, so I'm based in Florida first, then Kansas where the base camp is, and then travelling to the games all the way (hopefully!) to the final.

What are you most excited to see? I'm excited to watch England walk out for their first match in Dallas. In terms of player highlights, there are too many amazing players to just pick one. I’m most looking forward to seeing them all shine.

Where are you ⁠most excited to visit? Mexico City and the Azteca Stadium. If England top their group, this would be the venue for their L16 match and potentially against hosts Mexico. Going to the stadium where Maradona scored his hand of god goal against England is bucket list!

Winner prediction? ⁠England – because why not? They have a balanced squad of winners with Harry Kane leading the line.

How long have you been a WIF member? ⁠I’ve been a proud WIF member since 2012!

What inspired you to join WIF? Through meeting other members who encouraged me to join. I thank them wholeheartedly because I found an incredible support network of people who have become friends and who genuinely care about the direction of the game.

How has being a member supported your development? ⁠It’s helped my confidence and belief and after taking part in one of the first Leadership Programmes, it’s opened my eyes to many other opportunities in football that compliment my broadcasting career and challenge me as a person and leader. I’m about to complete an MBA in Football Industries at the University of Liverpool because of the encouragement and support from Jane Purdon and Sue Bridgewater who supported me winning a WIF scholarship to study.

Why would you recommend someone to become a WIF member? For all the above reasons I would recommend people to become a member of WIF. It’s pushed me out of my comfort zone, opened doors I thought would be closed and given me a sense of belonging and hunger to continue making positive change.

Helen Dapré

As Content Editor at BBC Sport, Helen leads the editorial direction for live football broadcasts at major tournaments, managing everything from high-pressure multi-game schedules to pre-match build-ups. Working directly with production teams in the US and a diverse roster presenters and pundits, it is a fast-paced, highly collaborative role.

What is your role at the tournament? I am a Content Editor, also known to most as a Programme Producer, for the BBC TV content. I look after some of the live games along with a couple of others. I am responsible for the editorial content of the programmes. Working alongside the presenter and pundits, I decide which features to include, get their input around analysis, live reactions, and what things you want from your content from your teams out in the US.

It’s a varied role. I work with a host of pundits – some regularly on Final Score and Match of the Day, and others who are new. This brings unique challenges, especially when working with people who have never met and need to find their chemistry. It's an interesting role. You meet some great people, hear some fascinating stories, and learn more about them. My day-to-day involves planning those features. It's quite a busy tournament with all the extra games. At one point, I had six live programmes in eight days. That is a lot when you have to plan a half-hour build-up for each.

Winner prediction? My prediction for the winner is France. I just think they have these incredible players with a sprinkling of stardust that can just produce magic. I also think they're all being driven by the fact it's Didier Deschamps' last tournament. So, they really have an added motivation and something driving them together as a team.

How long have you been a WIF member? I’ve been a WIF member since the very first meeting 20 years ago at Upton Park, which I attended with Jo Tongue and some others. Back then, I felt like there were quite a few of us around. Although I wasn't working exclusively in football at the time, I have been in the industry since I was 18, starting as a steward at Spurs when I couldn't afford my season ticket as a student. Because of that, I felt like I'd been a 'woman in football' well before my current career began.

What inspired you to join WIF? It sounded like an interesting initiative to get involved with. I noticed many people wanted to present or report on football, whereas I wanted to champion those in 'unseen roles'.

How has being a member supported your development? There's one person I toured with 30-odd years ago who I saw for a beer not that long ago, and we're still friends to this day. Football becomes a uniting factor. Thanks to WIF, my network has grown alongside my career. You see people coming through with different challenges, and the number of distinct roles is so much greater as well. The sporting world is actually quite small; you meet people and then cross paths again in other circumstances. I was in Brazil for the 2016 Olympics when I met a guy who was the broadcast venue manager for the road cycling. He offered us incredible help. Two years later, I turned up pitch-side at the World Cup, walked down the touchline, and he ran over to give me a big hug. You just can't buy those kinds of relationships and connections.

Make an effort to talk to, meet, and be nice to people as you move up the food chain. You never know who you will encounter again. In this industry particularly, teamwork is crucial. You have to be able to help each other out, and if you don't, you will really stick out.

Why would you recommend someone to become a WIF member? I tell people that WIF is a network you need to use and put effort into, but it can be really rewarding. You never know who you might meet – I’ve been good friends with people like Yvonne Harrison, Jo Tongue, and Gabby Logan for years. WIF is a tight network, and lots of people you wouldn't think know each other actually do. Use it to your benefit, but be mindful of how you treat people. It’s a small world, and as women in the industry, we should really be supporting and promoting each other.

Gemma Frith

What was your role at the tournament? I worked as an Assistant Producer creating team features that were distributed to broadcasters around the world ahead of every match. Across all 104 fixtures, we delivered more than 300 features. My role was to ensure all content met an incredibly high standard under tight deadlines. I sourced archive footage and identified key match moments to help shape story ideas, while also taking full ownership of producing select features myself. During the busiest times, I was working across up to 18 features at once, so organisation, collaboration, and teamwork were essential.

Standout moment from the tournament? The standout was simply realising that I was working on a FIFA World Cup. It's something I've wanted to do for years, but for a long time it felt like one of those career goals that was just out of reach. Although our team was based in the non-live hub in Stratford rather than on location in the US, once the tournament got underway, I felt completely immersed in it. Seeing features I'd helped produce being broadcast around the world was a real pinch-me moment. Knowing our work was helping tell the stories behind the tournament, and reaching millions, made all the hard work feel worthwhile.

What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it? Without question, the biggest challenge was the workload. Tournament football is intense, and the World Cup is no exception. It meant six weeks of long hours, tight deadlines and juggling multiple projects at the same time. What got me through was the people around me. Everyone was working towards the same goal, supporting each other and taking real pride in producing the best possible content. Being part of such a talented team and seeing what we achieved together made every late night worthwhile.

Describe your World Cup experience. Rewarding because I achieved a career goal I'd been working towards for years and loved seeing the content go out. Collaborative because nothing we produced would have been possible without our incredible team who constantly supported one another through the busiest moments. Unforgettable because the experience, the friendships I made and the memories of working on football's biggest stage will stay with me for the rest of my career.

What has Women in Football meant to you throughout your career? Women in Football has played a hugely important role in my career. At key moments, it's given me the confidence to back myself and take risks that I might not otherwise have taken. The Leadership Courses in particular have had a lasting impact. Completing Levels 1 and 2, and later Levels 3 and 4, came at exactly the right points in my career and helped me develop both professionally and personally. Beyond the learning itself, the network has introduced me to people who have become mentors, colleagues, friends and trusted sounding boards. Having that community behind me has made a real difference, and I genuinely believe it's helped me get to where I am today.

What would you say to other women who aspire to work at major international tournaments? Today I came across a quote that really resonated with me: "Every hard thing I've ever pursued has been the direct result of watching a woman I admire do it first."  When I read it, I realised how true it has been throughout both my career and my personal life. Seeing women achieve things I once thought were out of reach gave me the confidence to believe I could do them too. I'd love to be that person for someone else. If another woman or girl working in football sees my journey and thinks, "if she can do it, maybe I can too," then that's something I'd be incredibly proud of. We still need more women in football, especially in these spaces, so my advice is to back yourself, say yes to opportunities that push you outside your comfort zone and don't be afraid to take that leap. You never know where it might take you.

Betty Glover

What was your role at the tournament? I was a presenter for Men in Blazers, a US football media network, hosting the daily 'Morning Cupdate' throughout the tournament. In total, I presented 35 live shows. It was the first time I'd fronted a programme entirely on my own, so it was a brilliant challenge. I worked closely with producers to develop ideas, helped shape the scripts and put them into my own words, before presenting the show in the early hours of the morning, usually between midnight and 2am. The tournament also took me across the United States, travelling to seven different host cities, which gave me the chance to report from the heart of the World Cup atmosphere.

Standout moment from the tournament? One of the biggest highlights for me was seeing fans from all over the world transform the host cities and watching the US really embrace the tournament. I was in Seattle for the USA's group game against Australia, and the atmosphere was incredible. Speaking to American fans who were completely new to football but were quickly falling in love with the sport was really special. It felt like you could see the game's popularity growing in real time, and being there to witness that was something I'll never forget.

What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it? The biggest challenge was the pace of the tournament. We worked every day for over a month, often through the night, so the lack of sleep definitely caught up with me (my caffeine intake certainly increased!!). Being away from home for 43 days was also tough. As amazing as the experience was, I really missed my family—and my dog! The constant travel could be exhausting, but I was lucky to be surrounded by an incredible team who supported each other throughout the tournament, which made all the difference.

Describe your World Cup experience in three words. Intense. Epic. Exciting.

What has Women in Football meant to you throughout your career? I joined the industry in my early twenties as a researcher and broadcast assistant, and it was incredibly reassuring to know there was a network of women experiencing many of the same challenges and celebrating the same successes. Women in Football has given me opportunities to connect with people across the industry, learn from women who paved the way before us, and build friendships that have become a real source of support throughout my career.

What would you say to other women who aspire to work at major international tournaments? Keep going and stay curious. Opportunities like a World Cup don't usually happen overnight, so don't be discouraged if your path takes time.
Say yes to as many experiences as you can, because every role teaches you something new. Whether you're researching, producing, reporting or presenting, you're building skills that will prepare you for those bigger opportunities when they come along. And when they do, you'll be ready to make the most of them.

Ayisha Gulati

What was your role at the tournament? ⁠I'm a football reporter with Hayters TV, a football agency. During the World Cup, I attended matches, spoke with fans, wrote match reports and features - including for national newspapers such as The Telegraph. Post-match, I worked in the mixed zone, interviewing players. I filmed those interviews, edited the best clips for social media, and produced video content alongside my written coverage.

Standout moment from the tournament? My standout moment was interviewing Jude Bellingham after England's win over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium - the most iconic football stadium and match I've ever been to. I asked him about the fans who had stayed up all night to watch in England, and he gave his now-viral response: "Call your boss and tell them you're not coming in, it's as simple as that!"

I pride myself on asking questions that bring out players' personalities and help fans connect with them, so I’ll always remember that interview.

What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it? The biggest challenge was managing the logistics of travelling alone across a new country while covering such a demanding tournament. Landing in Dallas, hiring a car and driving on the opposite side of the road for the first time, including a four-hour solo drive to Houston, was daunting. At times it could be lonely, but I focused on the job, tried to be resilient and took each challenge as it came. Looking back, I'm really proud of the work I produced.

Describe your World Cup experience in three words. Whirlwind. Growth. Unforgettable.

What has Women in Football meant to you throughout your career? I joined Women in Football while I was still working in finance. At the time, working in football felt like a dream and I had no idea how to break into the industry. Over the years, the network has helped me feel like I belong in football. I've met so many inspiring people and built valuable connections.

I’ve met so many trailblazers who have paved the way for the next generations - including creating opportunities like covering a men’s World Cup possible for people like me. But there is still more work to be done and every member of WIF is vital in playing a part in that journey.

What would you say to other women who aspire to work at major international tournaments? Go for it. Put yourself forward and say yes to any opportunity that could get you there. It can feel intimidating, but it will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your career. You'll learn so much and create lifelong memories. If anyone wants to know more about what it's really like, I'm always happy to chat.

Laura McAllister

What was your role at the tournament? ⁠It was a positive tournament with lots of meetings with FIFA and UEFA colleagues and federations. I also spent some time working with the DFB on their Future Leaders in Football Programme – a fantastic programme run by the German Federation. This year they had some talented women from CONMEBOL and CONCACAF there who were just fantastic, as well as a couple from the European federations.

It is pleasing to see the talent that exists in every confederation across football, and the drive there is to improve and accelerate the profile of women in football. We want to make sure that we are there by right and because we know about the game. We're not there just to talk about women's football; we are there to talk about football generally. There was an incredible buzz in the room of talented women who were clearly going to go on to great things.

Standout moment from the tournament? I attended the opening game, Mexico versus South Africa, at the iconic Azteca Stadium. I have to say this was a real bucket list tick for me as an absolute mad football fan – it certainly lived up to its billing. I love the fact that the stadium has retained its original architectural design. Mexico City itself is just an incredible place. The streets were lined with Mexican fans and local people playing music, dancing, and selling different food and drink – it felt really special. They don't need any encouragement to talk about football. I had lots of conversations about Gareth Bale and Jess Fishlock, which is very pleasing to all of us Welsh people, of course.

What has Women in Football meant to you throughout your career? I am a proud member of Women in Football. I think WIF does a tremendous job of promoting, mentoring, and supporting all of us who work in football at a time when, unfortunately, women do not have the voice or agency that they deserve. It is always a pleasure to work with Yvonne and the Women in Football team wherever I can.

Connie McLaughlin

What was your role at the tournament? I was the Scotland reporter for ITV Sport at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. My role involved following the Scotland team throughout the tournament, reporting on all the latest news from camp, conducting interviews with players and staff, delivering live broadcasts, filming pieces to camera and helping bring the stories from the tournament back to viewers at home. It was a role I’d dreamed of doing for as long as I can remember.

Standout moment from the tournament? Professionally, it has to be standing in the centre circle before Scotland’s opening match in Boston and doing a live piece to camera with Ally McCoist. Looking around the stadium, seeing the Scotland team warming up behind us and a packed crowd of Tartan Army supporters, I had one of those pinch-me moments. Scotland hadn’t been at a Men’s World Cup since I was 12, so seeing my country back on that stage and being there to tell the story was a career highlight.

Personally, having my husband and son travel to the US for Scotland’s opening game made it even more special. My little boy absolutely loves football, and these are memories we’ll cherish forever.

What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it? Without question, the heat and humidity, particularly in Boston. You’d step outside and within seconds you’d be soaked. From a broadcasting perspective, trying to stay camera-ready while filming outdoors all day was definitely a challenge! In the end, you adapt, stay hydrated, prepare as well as you can and remember that telling the story is what matters most.

Describe your World Cup experience in three words. Unforgettable. Proud. Magic.

What would you say to other women who aspire to work at major international tournaments? Know your sport inside out. Work hard, and most importantly, be yourself. It’s easy to think you have to be like someone else, but authenticity is your biggest strength. Everyone brings their own perspective, and that’s what makes great storytelling. Believe in yourself, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to put yourself forward for opportunities – you never know where they might take you.

Hayley McQueen

What was your role at the tournament? I’m an anchor on Sky Sports News, and during the 2026 World Cup I presented our World Cup Breakfast Show. My role was to guide viewers through the biggest stories each morning with plenty of energy. While I wasn’t at the tournament, I felt lucky to be part of it back at base. We also recorded our Cheat Sheet podcast which went live every single morning throughout the tournament—a challenge to do before we went on air at 7am. A major part of the job was making sure we delivered all that information in a way that felt clear, engaging, and accessible, but as non-rights holders, we had to be creative when we lacked footage.

Standout moment from the tournament? The Scotland fans were hands down my favourite part of the tournament. I was gutted they didn’t get out of the group, but I loved the Tartan Army in Boston and was obsessed with following them on social media. I also loved seeing Norway and the smaller nations get their spotlight – like when Vozinha’s heroics caused his social following to explode into the millions by the time we came off air. Our team even came in at 1am to watch England and Mexico with a full snack spread, putting a three-hour show together right after, despite being shattered. Sharing those moments with such a talented production team was incredibly rewarding.

What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it? The biggest challenge was the timing of the matches. Getting up at 4am for an early shift meant an early bedtime, meaning I missed a lot of the action – or, if I did stay up, there was a lot of coffee flowing at work. There was always so much to take in first thing in the morning just to get up to speed before going on air.

Describe your World Cup experience in three words. Exhilarating. Demanding. Unforgettable.

What has Women in Football meant to you throughout your career? WIF has been an important and positive presence throughout the career, I’ve met some incredible friends through it too, I wish they were around in my 20s when starting out. The network creates a genuine sense of community, while also providing visibility, encouragement and support for women working across every area of the game at every level.

Being part of that network is a reminder that, although everyone’s career path is different, many of us have faced similar challenges. It gives women the opportunity to share experiences, learn from one another and support the next generation. That sense of solidarity is incredibly valuable in an industry that has changed significantly, but where there is still more progress to be made.

What would you say to other women who aspire to work at major international tournaments? Believe that you belong there, prepare relentlessly and take every opportunity to develop your craft. Major tournaments are exciting, but they are also intense; confidence has to be supported by hard work, knowledge and the ability to stay calm under pressure.

I would also encourage women to build strong relationships, seek out mentors and support other women along the way. Do not be afraid to ask questions, put yourself forward or take up space. Setbacks are part of every career, but persistence, professionalism and authenticity will take you a long way.

Pien Meulensteen

What was your role at the tournament? I was one of four main presenters for the Fox Sports World Cup coverage in the US. I was responsible for hosting the pre-match, half-time and post-match shows in the studio in LA.

Standout moment from the tournament? Working on the biggest World Cup to date and being part of the team that was bringing live coverage of every single match for the host country.

What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it? Getting used to the autocue prompter! They use it a lot in the US which was something I didn’t have lots of experience with. I had good practice before my first show and got more comfortable as the days went on.

Describe your World Cup experience in three words. Exciting. Enriching. Inspiring.

What has Women in Football meant to you throughout your career? Having a support network of women in the industry has been invaluable. It has given me the confidence to grow, learn and improve as a broadcaster. There is always a friendly face to speak to when I need advice or just a chat about the industry.

What would you say to other women who aspire to work at major international tournaments? Dream BIG! Take every opportunity you get and keep learning everyday. Trust yourself and be yourself.

Tyra Mills

What was your role at the tournament? ⁠I am currently a FA Women's Talent reporter as well as a sports social media content creator. During the world cup, I created some amazing content for brands such as Visa UK, Dove and the NWSL. My tasks are always to capture the energy, atmosphere, community and culture of the tournament. I was also tasked with speaking about Dove's mission to Keep girls confident and keep girls staying in sports, which is my type of vision as I have a love and hate relationship with Sports due to my own body confidence.

Standout moment from the tournament? A standout moment for me was creating content that I was truly passionate about and allowing my viewers, friends and family to experience the world cup through me and my content. I also had my own vision for the content which has got thousands of views.

What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it? Honestly, it's really hard being the only Black female in some spaces. It does feel intimidating, and it also does feel much harder to get opportunities, without feeling you are the token pick for diversity. However, I believe in myself and talent! I've worked so hard and completed multiple courses to ensure I am in the best position possible and I know I deserve to be in all spaces.

Describe your World Cup experience in three words. Dreams. Purpose. Impact.

What has Women in Football meant to you throughout your career? WIF has given me opportunities to shine! I'll never forget when I replied to an announcement late and the following week, I was off to Switzerland to cover the announcement for Women's EUROs and I believe that still to this day had been a highlight for me as I went not knowing anyone and I fitted right in! Being part of the WIF space has allowed me to connect with likeminded women who are in the same spaces or even making a change in that sports space and is making a real difference! 

What would you say to other women who aspire to work at major international tournaments? My main advice is, build an actual relationship with people. Sometimes we get lost in the what people can do for you instead of actually building that rapport first. Network, connect and engage with people. Also, don't be afraid to put yourself forward to multiple things and come out your comfort zone! Also, its okay to do things for free and gain experience!

Sarah Nurse

What was your role at the tournament? ⁠I was one of the programme editors for ITV at the World Cup out in New York. In this role, you oversee exactly what goes into each broadcast. I devised the running orders and decided which features to produce – such as music montages – and which talking points we would cover. It is a highly collaborative process; I discuss everything with our presenters and guests to tap into their expertise and ensure they are happy. I have editorial control of the programme, managing the running order and the timings of the show. As it is live TV, things can and do change often. It’s always exciting and unpredictable.

Standout moment from the tournament? The standard of the football was really brilliant, and I was lucky enough to produce some of the best games of the tournament. The ones that stand out are Cape Verde against Argentina and Egypt against Argentina. They had everything, drama, controversy and incredible goals. It was a complete joy being involved in them.

What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it? The biggest challenge was the sheer size of the tournament and the sheer volume of shows we were producing. We put an immense amount of effort into every production; almost all my shows included an hour-long build-up followed by extended post-match coverage. This required an incredible amount of preparation. Because there were four games a day, we often had only a couple of days to prepare for each broadcast. It was demanding work but deeply rewarding.

On a personal note, juggling a major tournament with being a parent is incredibly tough. As a single parent, I am forever indebted to my family and friends for helping me make this career work.

Describe your World Cup experience in three words. Privilege. Brooklyn. Teamwork.

Natalie Pike

What was your role at the tournament? ⁠During the World Cup, I continued to host my weekly podcast with Sam Allardyce while also presenting 606 on BBC Radio 5 Live. Hosting the morning debrief alongside David James right after England were knocked out by Argentina made for an incredibly interesting show. Afterward, I spent just under two weeks in Boston with the Scottish FA. Working at a World Cup for Scotland has always been a lifelong dream of mine, so it was an absolute honour. While out there, I hosted the official fan zone for the SFA in Boston, managed corporate hospitality behind the scenes, and coordinated a variety of social media content.

Standout moment from the tournament? The standout moment of the tournament for me was walking into the stadium for the Haiti match. To see Scotland win a game, score a goal, and to be able to sing the national anthem at a World Cup was incredible. Being right in the middle of that Haiti game was easily one of the best moments of my life, and it will stay with me forever.

What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it? I went home after Boston. I could have gone on to work in Miami, but as a single parent, I face certain limitations. With the childcare availability I have at home, I decided that two weeks away from my son was the comfortable maximum I could manage. I hope that in four years' time my situation will be different and I'll be able to spend much longer at a World Cup, but currently, that was my limit.

Describe your World Cup experience. My World Cup experience was magical. To be completely immersed in a city that fell in love with Scotland – and that Scotland fell in love with in return – was truly magical. It was unforgettable to see Scotland win a game at a World Cup, although I am still disappointed by our ultimate exit. I think we should have gotten out of the group, and I truly believe we were capable of doing so. I feel incredibly blessed to have been there, to have experienced it, and to have had the opportunity. I always feel immensely grateful for the experiences I get.

Rafaela Pimenta

What was your role at the tournament? ⁠I'm a football agent and I manage players' careers. My core mission is to help players find their true identity and ambition, transforming their dreams into reality. I’ve walked this path many times with different players, so I am uniquely equipped to give them the tools to navigate it. The World Cup is one of the highest moments a player can experience. My role during the tournament is to handle everything on the outside, allowing the players to focus on the tournament experience they are going through.

Standout moment from the tournament? In special tournaments like this the professional gets mixed with personal emotions. Peak moments for me were Gilberto Mora for the first time on the pitch in his own country and Erling Haaland playing the drums for the row after the game.

What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it? While amazing, it’s an intense and physically challenging event. Traveling back and forth between Mexico and the US every two days meant 10 to 12 hours of transit at a time. Coping with the time difference, arriving at stadiums hours in advance, and working under extreme heat for weeks on end was pretty tough.

Describe your World Cup experience in three words. Absolutely amazing experience.

What has Women in Football meant to you throughout your career? I am honoured to be a part of WIF. It’s a vital platform to empower women. When we empower women in football, we also empower women in other professions to lead with courage. WIF gives me a sense of purpose and motivates me to position women as equals.

What would you say to other women who aspire to work at major international tournaments? The sky is the limit. If you believe in yourself nobody can take away your self-esteem. You are your biggest ally. Don’t let anybody put you down using your gender. We can’t get rid of idiots, but we can ignore them in heels and our beautiful bags.

Lianne Sanderson

At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, former England Lionesses forward Lianne Sanderson is serving as an official studio pundit and match analyst for beIN SPORTS. This marks her third major tournament working with the network's global English-language broadcast squad. Some of Lianne's responsibilities include:

Studio punditry: Providing live, tactical pre-match, half-time, and post-match analysis
Expert analysis: Leveraging her perspective as a former international player
High-profile panelist: Featuring on premium panel segments alongside other high-profile hosts and legends
Dynamic insights: Heavily involved in analyzing World Cup matches

What is your role at the tournament? ⁠Pundit for BeIN SPORTS in Doha, Qatar.

What are you most excited to see? The player I am most excited to see is Cristiano Ronaldo, while the team is France.

Where are you ⁠most excited to visit? I'm based in Doha for the tournament but my favourite stadiums at the tournament are SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and Lumen Field in Seattle.

Winner prediction? France because they have the best squad and quality in my opinion, unbelievable depth.

⁠How long have you been a WIF member? For as long as I can remember. Since the very beginning when Jo Tongue and Jacqui Oatley first got involved.

What inspired you to join WIF? It felt like a no brainer. I love going to the events and I’ve also hosted several events. There are so many inspiring people and stories in the room.

What is your standout moment as a WIF member? Hosting the recent event at Brentford FC’s Gtech Community Stadium for the inaugral FIFA Women's Champions Cup.

Why would you recommend someone to become a WIF member? Because it’s a place where you feel supported, it’s an inspiring space and everyone is welcome. There are a lot of bad ass women in the room that want other women to be elevated.

Sirayah Shiraz

What was your role at the tournament? ⁠I was lead presenter on The Morning Cup, the tournament’s global breakfast show, broadcasting live to millions of viewers across more than 40 million households. I also worked as a pitch-side reporter and presenter, covering live matches, conducting interviews, and bringing viewers closer to the biggest stories on and off the pitch. Every day required extensive research, scriptwriting, editorial meetings and the ability to react to breaking news in real time. My role was about making football engaging for everyone.

Standout moment from the tournament? Being trusted to lead such a significant global show at the biggest sporting event in the world was something I didn’t take for granted. Being one of the youngest people in the world to host live throughout the tournament and seeing the incredible response from audiences was particularly special. It was a reminder of how far I’ve come. As someone whose own playing journey ended through illness, to now be telling the stories of the world’s biggest tournament felt incredibly meaningful.

What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it? The pace was relentless and preparation was everything. I relied on detailed research, strong teamwork, and staying adaptable. Live television is unpredictable, but I’ve learned that confidence comes from preparation; when plans changed, I trusted my knowledge and experience to keep the broadcast flowing naturally.

Describe your World Cup experience in three words. Historic. Inspiring. Rewarding.

What has Women in Football meant to you throughout your career? Women in Football has been a positive part of my journey. Working in this industry can feel isolating, so a community that celebrates achievements, encourages collaboration, and advocates for opportunities is so valuable. The supportive network provides a vital sense of belonging.

What would you say to other women who aspire to work at major international tournaments? Believe you belong in these spaces. Keep learning, asking questions, and putting yourself forward. Your preparation will silence self-doubt. Stay authentic. Football needs diverse perspectives, and seeing women lead coverage shows the next generation what is possible.

Velvett Stratford-Wright

What was your role at the tournament? I lead the strategic management and global delivery of Unilever’s FIFA partnership across our Personal Care brands. My role essentially sits at the intersection of FIFA, our Unilever brands, markets and agency partners, making sure we maximise the value of the partnership while delivering our commercial rights effectively at both a host-market, and at a global level. For me the World Cup was the culmination of 3 years of preparation. More than 35 brands activated across more than 120 markets, so my responsibility was to inspire, educate and ensure these years spent planning translated into world-class execution on the ground.

I spent 43 days travelling across the host cities, overseeing our commercial rights delivery, solving issues in real time and managing the partnership with the several FIFA functions and departments. It was incredibly intense, but also a huge privilege to see something that we had built from the ground up come to life at this scale.

Standout moment from the tournament? For me, the standout was the people in both a professional and personal sense. Delivering something on the scale of a World Cup for a commercial affiliate really does take a village, and you need a village of absolute superstars by your side. I was incredibly fortunate to have an extended global team of 27 agency colleagues from THE TEAM who gave so much over the last few years and during the tournament to make our ambition a reality. When you are in the trenches and your back is against the wall, teamwork is the difference between success and failure.

What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it? Without doubt, the biggest challenge was the sheer scale and the always-on nature of this tournament. At any given moment, we would have commercial rights being delivered in several locations simultaneously, each with its own teams, stakeholders and unique operational considerations. Maintaining the required level of focus and attention to detail across 104 match-days meant no downtime.

I was able to contain this challenge through advance scenario planning and extensive preparation pre-tournament to enable our teams to be able to focus on the unexpected and unplanned challenges that are inevitable in event-based environments. Coupled with clear roles and responsibilities and clear communication channels, we could make decisions quickly, prioritise what genuinely needed attention and prepare our teams to feel confident to problem-solve independently on-site in real-time. You quickly learn at a World Cup that you can’t be everywhere at once. The key is creating a team and operating structure that can be.

What has Women in Football meant to you throughout your career? Being part of WIF has given me a real sense of community within an industry that I’ve now spent a significant part of my career working in.

Networks like WIF matter because representation and community matter. Being able to connect with women at different stages of their career, working across the football ecosystem, share experiences and celebrate our collective successes creates both confidence and perspective. Although there are more women taking on influential roles across football, there is still progress to be made and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us all. Having a network that advocates for that progress whilst creating opportunities for women to connect, learn and support each other is incredibly valuable.

What would you say to other women who aspire to work at major international tournaments? Go for it – and don’t wait until you feel like you know everything. Major tournaments can look incredibly glamorous from the outside, but behind them are years of planning, problem-solving, relationship building and incredibly hard work, I won’t sugarcoat it – there is no easy short-cut. You must be curious about the entire process. Learn the commercial side, get into the operational details, volunteer for the unglamorous part of the projects and get comfortable operating outside of your comfort zone.

I’d also say build relationships and protect them. Sport is an incredibly interconnected industry and hard work, and effective delivery will be recognised and remembered whether that be the 1st tournament you work on, or your 10th. And when you do get the opportunity as if you’re reading this, you’re already part of an amazing community that’ll help you get there, enjoy it! There were moments during the World Cup when I had to remind myself to look up, take a breath and enjoy the view.

Jo Tongue MBE

What was your role at the tournament? I run the sports management agency, TTM, representing players and talent in sport both on and off the pitch. At the World Cup, we had eight clients working with various broadcasters, platforms, brands, and stakeholders across the United States and across all hours. My team was responsible for their contracts, itineraries, visas, wellbeing, and all the other things which come up during a six-week tournament: illness, missed flights, performance, clothing, missing families, and general therapy!

Standout moment from the tournament? It was incredible having clients like Ade Oladipo anchoring from the World Cup final, and Sam Matterface commentating on the games – including broadcasting to 14 million viewers during the quarter-finals. It was also fantastic to catch up with friends I worked with back during the 2006 World Cup in Germany – such as Pete Gibbons, who was producing the daily 'Two Robbies' show from New York in association with Pepsi. I also met up with one of my very first clients, Jason Roberts, who is now the Director of Development for CONCACAF. The World Cup was a huge moment for everything he has worked towards over the last ten years.

What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it? Childcare for my three-year-old. It was the first time I’d been to a tournament without him, but I decided it was just too hectic this time for him to join. I missed him and felt the usual guilts.

Describe your World Cup experience in three words. Proud. Nostalgic. Buzzy.

What has Women in Football meant to you throughout your career? WIF has given me a community, a voice, and a network of incredible people who have supported and inspired me throughout my career. It’s played an important role in driving change for women in our industry, and I’m proud to have been part of that journey, helping the network grow and grow. Most importantly, I’ve met some beautiful people who have become my best friends.

What would you say to other women who aspire to work at major international tournaments? When I was 15, I saw that you could get a free buffet breakfast in the Hilton and get paid to watch football—and I thought, 'This is where I need to be.' In seriousness, though, while it looks glamorous, much of life on the road is far less glamorous than it appears. My advice is to build strong relationships and surround yourself with good people.

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