For Journalism Alum, FIFA World Cup Kicks Off ‘Once in a Lifetime’ Opportunity

To Jonathan Vasquez, who graduated from Rutgers-New Brunswick in 2025, working at the 2026 World Cup is a dream - and a job - come true

When the World Cup kicks off in Mexico City on June 11, Rutgers-New Brunswick alumnus Jonathan Vasquez will be at work in New Jersey, more than 2,600 miles away.

But to Vasquez, who is supporting the New York-New Jersey World Cup 2026 Host Committee, the distance will feel like a front-row seat.

"I remember telling Matthew Mangam, my radio broadcast partner during our freshman year, 'Yo, the World Cup's going to be in New York and we're going to work it!'" said Vasquez, who graduated in 2025 with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the School of Communication and Information.

"Now, I'm able to say, 'That happened. We really did it!'"

Since May, Vasquez has been supporting the work of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey Host Committee, which will help FIFA put on one of the largest sporting events the world has ever seen.

This year's FIFA World Cup features 48 teams competing across three host countries - U.S., Mexico, and Canada - in 16 cities, including East Rutherford, N.J. Eight matches, including the final on July 19, will be held at MetLife Stadium. Rutgers-New Brunswick will also serve as the home base for Senegal's team during the tournament.

The logistics - from moving team equipment to setting up event infrastructure - are complicated, if not mind-boggling.

Vasquez's portfolio is more manageable. Supporting the regional Host Committee's Marketing and Communications Team, he helps manage media credentialing for the Host Committee's major regional fan events and assists with major announcements.

His role has introduced him to leaders in sports, media and entertainment - from sports executives to senior government advisers.

"There are so many different people involved," he said. "It's crazy to see how much goes into making something like this happen."

Vasquez's journey to the sidelines of the game began in college. He played club soccer during his first year and continued to play as a sophomore, when he studied abroad for a year in Rome.

His interest in sports journalism blossomed when Vasquez returned to New Jersey for his junior year. As an on-air personality for Rutgers Radio WRSU-FM, he covered Big Ten games - soccer and basketball, mostly, and the occasional baseball game. He wrote about sports for the student newspaper, The Daily Targum.

He also launched a Rutgers sports video podcast with fellow Scarlet Knight Matthew Mangam, who also will be working World Cup games as a senior writer for New York Soccer Journal.

After graduation, Vasquez, a New Jersey native, traveled to East Lansing, Michigan, where he spent a year at Michigan State University working with a church group to build community on campus. He credits his time at Rutgers for inspiring his call to service.

"Rutgers helped me out immensely," he said. "The love that the university poured into me and my classmates led me to want to give that to others."

Once the competition starts, Vasquez, a full-time communications associate supporting the host committee, will be busy attending in-person fan events, helping at watch parties and assisting with logistics to support the World Cup in New York New Jersey.

"Every time I tell someone I am working on the World Cup, they're like, 'So, you going to get me a ticket?'" he said with a laugh. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing."