Casandra Asoufi is volunteering at five FIFA World Cup games in Toronto (PROVIDED BY C. ASOUFI/University of Windsor)
By Kate Hargreaves
When Casandra Asoufi applied to volunteer at the 2026 FIFA World Cup back in September, she didn’t think much of it.
That was until she received word just a few weeks before kick-off that she had been selected from thousands of applicants.
Not only was Asoufi going to be part of the World Cup; she was going to be on the pitch in the centre circle as part of pre-match ceremonies at Toronto Stadium.
“I get to be on the field with the players and everything,” says Asoufi, a fourth-year kinesiology student at the University of Windsor. “I’m really excited.”
To get the role, Asoufi had to stand out in an interview process among thousands of hopefuls all vying for different volunteer positions.
“The ceremony position was one of the most competitive ones, so it was really cool that I got it,” she says.
Being a ceremony volunteer means Asoufi will be front and centre before each match. While she was initially scheduled to help carry in one of the giant flags as part of the ceremony, a broken hand meant her role had to pivot.
Instead, she’ll be guiding the children who will join each national team on the pitch for anthems prior to each game.
“I’ve always been a soccer fan and have grown up around soccer,” Asoufi says, noting that her family has been even more excited than she is.
“Honestly, I more did it for my dad,” she laughs. “He’s really happy.”
While she is staying neutral on World Cup predictions, Asoufi says her family will be cheering for their home country of Iraq, although she’s also a fan of Brazilian footballer Neymar.
“Really, I’m just happy to be there,” she says.
While the pre-match volunteers don’t get to stay at the stadium to watch the matches, Asoufi says she doesn’t mind.
“I get to be there for the beginning, and then I’ll probably go watch the game with my family out in Toronto after that,” she says.
“The energy is going to be so cool everywhere, and everyone’s going to be excited.”
Prior to the Cup’s first game in Toronto, Asoufi headed to the city for rehearsals and says that the atmosphere was already electric.
While rehearsing in Toronto Stadium, she had the chance to meet other volunteers and chat with some who had volunteered at the World Cup in Qatar.
She also got to see the giant flags that until the opening ceremony had to be kept a strict secret.
“These flags, once they’re done in Toronto they go to Vancouver,” Asoufi explains, “and they kept telling us ‘no pictures, don’t record anything’ because they wanted to make it a secret for the fans.”
Now that the Cup has started and the ceremony secret is out, Asoufi is ready to move from rehearsal to the real thing.
“I’m just excited to be in the stadium and feel the energy of all the fans,” she says. “It’s going to be really exciting.”
While she had to miss the first game, she is scheduled for pre-game ceremonies at each of the five remaining Toronto-based games.
“It’s so cool to be part of this,” she says. “It’s a lot of people’s big dreams and a once in a lifetime opportunity.”