SEMO Alumnus Brings 2026 World Cup Dallas FIFA Fan Festival™ to Life

The FIFA Fan Festival takes place through July 19 at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas, throughout the duration of the FIFA World Cup 26. The free event allows fans to experience the excitement of the tournament without a stadium ticket, offering live match broadcasts and entertainment that bring together soccer supporters. Fans can reserve complimentary admission through the FIFA Fan Festival™ website.

Lee is a project manager for AMS Events in Carrollton, Texas. AMS Events was selected to help produce the FIFA Fan Festival in Dallas, one of the official fan destinations associated with the FIFA World Cup 26. The festival has live showings of the games throughout the day, featuring four, 140-foot-wide screens for viewing and concert-quality sound systems. The FIFA Fan Festival offers one of the most exciting ways to experience the World Cup, combining the energy of a live sporting event with entertainment and celebrations that unite viewers from across the globe.

Lee believes one of the concepts that helped secure the project was a 38-foot-tall LED sphere designed by AMS Events. The structure can transform throughout the day, appearing as a soccer ball or even a moon-like display at night. The sphere also has a QR code where fans can scan and upload photos of themselves at the festival, creating an interactive experience that connects visitors to the event in real time.

"People don't always realize the scale of the World Cup," Lee said. "Texas is hosting nine matches, and the economic impact of one World Cup match is comparable to hosting a Super Bowl. To be involved in an event of that magnitude is something I never imagined when I was a student at SEMO."

While fans experience the excitement of live entertainment, watch parties and interactive activities, months of planning happen behind the scenes to make it all possible. As Lee worked on preparations for the FIFA Fan Festival, he couldn't help but think back to the opportunities that first introduced him to event management at SEMO.

Originally from Manchester, Missouri, Lee came to SEMO as a first-generation college student and earned a degree in mass communication: public relations with a minor in organizational communication. He worked as a student in communications at the Show Me Center, writing and publishing press releases, and quickly became an event coordinator.

"I fell in love with the process of events, from conception to planning, to every intricate detail," said Lee. "Working at the Show Me Center was my first introduction into event coordinating."

That opportunity helped transform his classroom knowledge into practical skills that demonstrated the value of a SEMO education. His journey to the FIFA Fan Festival began long before the World Cup came to Dallas.

After graduating from SEMO, Lee started his career as an event coordinator at The MARK of the Quad Cities in Moline. Over the years, he gained experience in Audio Visual Headquarters (AVHQ), now Encore Global, building the skills and expertise that eventually led him to opportunities with the 2026 World Cup and a few passion projects along the way.

"When we were planning the FIFA Fan Festival, I had one of those moments where I just stopped to reflect how I even got here," said Lee. "I remember the trust SEMO put in me as a student while I was an event coordinator and eventually an event supervisor."

Beyond his work with the FIFA Fan Festival, Lee has dedicated much of his career to producing meaningful events that bring people together. For the past 17 years, he has served as producer of Sky Ball, an annual gala benefiting the Airpower Foundation that honors military service members and veterans.

What began as a student job at the Show Me Center evolved into opportunities to lead events on both national and international stages, a journey he says started with the trust, experience and support he received at SEMO. Lee says he credits his faculty and the Show Me Center supervisors who pushed him and gave him real responsibilities as a student.

"SEMO gave me opportunities to lead before I thought I was ready," he said. "Those experiences taught me how to solve problems, work with people and take ownership of projects. I still rely on those skills every day."

The experiences that launched Mark Lee's career are the same experiences available to students across SEMO today. From campus event coordination to international stages like the FIFA World Cup 26, you can begin your fearless future today. Visit semo.edu/apply.

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