More Than a Game: The Teamwork Behind an Unforgettable FIFA World Cup 2026™ Experience in South Florida
For millions of fans, the FIFA World Cup 2026™ was a celebration of passion, pride, and unforgettable moments. For Coke Florida associates, it was also an opportunity to help bring those experiences to life on the world’s biggest sporting stage. Supporting The Coca-Cola Company’s FIFA partnership, Coke Florida played an important role in hosting and delivering key initiatives, including FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola, FIFA Fan Festival™, and beverage operations inside the Miami stadium.
After months of preparation and collaboration, the event became a showcase of what can be accomplished when teams come together around a shared goal. In the reflections below, six associates share their personal experiences, highlighting the teamwork, dedication, and excitement that made this World Cup journey one to remember.
Simone Furtado, Fan Fest Manager
As FIFA Fan Fest Miami Manager for Coke Florida, Simone helped bring one of the tournament’s most exciting fan experiences to life. Leading a team of interns, she oversaw countless details behind the scenes, from coordinating equipment and furniture to managing orders and ensuring support was in place for any last-minute needs.
The scale of the event was evident from day one – 44,000 fans came together. More than 600,000 visitors attended the Fan Fest. For Simone, this success over 24 consecutive days was a testament to the dedication, planning, and teamwork displayed by associates across Coke Florida.
“This was the marriage of two of my favorite things: Coca-Cola and soccer,” Simone said. “I’m beyond grateful to have had this experience and to have been involved. Go Brazil!”
Jeffrey Holcomb, City Manager
As City Manager for Coke Florida, Jeffrey oversaw venue operations at both the Miami Stadium and the FIFA Fan Fest, leading a team of two venue managers, four supervisors, and 16 interns. Together, they managed the fast-paced demands of a world-class event, ensuring fans had a seamless experience every match day, from the moment they arrived until the final whistle.
The team’s efforts delivered impressive results, with nearly 700,000 beverages sold during the tournament. Beyond the numbers, Jeffrey reflected on the excitement of being part of a once-in-a-lifetime event that brought fans together from around the world.
“I’m most proud of the teamwork and camaraderie the team built throughout the operation,” Jeffrey said. “It will be a lifelong memory for everyone involved.”
This experience showcased what can be achieved when a team comes together with a shared purpose, creating memorable moments for consumers while delivering exceptional results.
John Mitchell, Sustainability Manager
John helped lead sustainability efforts for Coke Florida across the stadium, Fan Fest, Trophy Tour, and other FIFA-related events, ensuring the Coca-Cola System’s shared commitment to sustainability remained front and center. Through a partnership with a third-party collection company, the team successfully collected, sorted, baled, and recycled more than 30,000 bottles and cans, totaling approximately 3,000 pounds of material.
For John, the most memorable part of the experience was seeing associates and their family members volunteer alongside one another to sort recyclable materials.
“Bringing people together to support our sustainability goals made the impact feel real,” John said. “Seeing the final results made the experience even more rewarding.”
Paige Rodriguez, Project Manager
As a marketing co-lead for Coke Florida, Paige helped coordinate customer hospitality, plan activation elements, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure every detail came together seamlessly from start to finish. For her, the success of the event was a direct reflection of the teamwork and collaboration demonstrated throughout the project.
“Being part of an event of this scale meant so much to me, both personally and professionally,” Paige said. “I was able to combine invaluable professional experience with my love of sports, which made the experience especially meaningful.”
Shannon Smith, Community and Stakeholder Engagement Lead
Shannon led community social impact efforts in South Florida during the FIFA World Cup, helping create memorable experiences for over 40 community partners, government affairs stakeholders, customers, and Coke Florida associates. Her work included hosting and engaging stakeholders at Trophy Tour stops in Miami and Orlando, coordinating access for match day activities and experiences, and planning Coca-Cola Future Careers Academy In Real Life series events.
For Shannon, being part of the FIFA World Cup ranks among the most memorable experiences of her career. While she valued the opportunity to introduce so many community partners and youth to the excitement of the tournament, her most cherished memory was attending her first FIFA World Cup match alongside her 11-year-old daughter.
“Having the opportunity to share these experiences with our community partners and stakeholders was incredibly rewarding,” Shannon said. “I’m especially proud of the relationships we strengthened and the lasting impact these first-time experiences created for so many people.”
Jabari Thompson, Field Service Supervisor
As Field Service Supervisor for the Cooler Movers team in the Equipment Services Department at Coke Florida, Jabari Thompson helped ensure the seamless delivery and placement of approximately 400 coolers across the Miami Stadium, the FIFA Fan Fest, and various welcome hubs and hotels supporting FIFA staff, players, and referees. His team’s work helped lay the foundation for an exceptional fan experience throughout the tournament.
For Jabari, one of the most memorable moments was seeing months of preparation come to life. Watching the stadium and fan experience areas transform with Coca-Cola’s signature branding was a proud reminder of the impact the team made behind the scenes.
“Watching everyone come together to make this event a success was truly rewarding,” Jabari said. “I know we made the Coca-Cola family proud through our execution, and that success was made possible by the support of many people.”
