For Mandii and Terry Pratt, volunteering has always meant something deeper than ticking off duties on a roster. It means family. It means football. And this summer, it means the FIFA World Cup 2026 — in their home city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The mother-daughter pair have worked side by side as volunteers for close to 20 years, moving through youth football, Philadelphia Union matchdays, and now the biggest sporting event on the planet. Around 600 volunteers are supporting matchday operations in Philadelphia alone, part of a workforce of approximately 50,000 across the entire tournament.

A bond built on the beautiful game

Terry raised her children as a single mother and credits that upbringing for the sporting love she discovered along the way. "Whatever they wanted to do, I took an interest in, even if I didn't like it, just to do it with them," she said. "But little by little I ended up liking what they liked, because it's contagious."

Mandii describes the dynamic simply: "We say all the time that we're partners in crime. If one of us wants to do something, the other one is like, 'OK, let's go'."

The pair, who both work for the US Postal Service, carried that same energy into the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, where they served as Accreditation Volunteers welcoming guests from across the globe. They remain active through the Philadelphia Union's U-Serve Program and were once honoured with the privilege of displaying the club's MLS Supporters' Shield — the trophy awarded to the team with the best regular-season record.

Terry's diagnosis and unshakeable resolve

Last autumn, while helping FIFA recruit volunteers, Terry became disoriented during a lunch break on shift. What followed was a life-altering diagnosis of glioblastoma. Her determination, however, has not wavered for a single moment.

Terry is now living out her FIFA World Cup 2026 dream as a Partner Rights Delivery Volunteer, while Mandii serves in Competition Management — together, as always. One of Terry's most treasured moments came when she led child player escorts onto the pitch before a match. "I led the kids out on the field. That was such a cool experience," she said. "To walk out on the field and see all the people in the stands cheering — the kids were scared but they were excited, they all did a fantastic job, and I was really proud of them."

A message from Tchouaméni

Their dedication has not gone unnoticed. In a surprise video message shown on the stadium screen, France international Aurélien Tchouaméni delivered a personal tribute to the pair. "Hi Terry and Mandii, it's Tchouaméni. I just wanted to thank you for everything that you're doing for the World Cup and for the community," he said. "I've heard that you guys are Real Madrid fans, so hopefully one day we will see each other in Madrid. Thanks again for everything that you are doing, and it's all love."

For Mandii, the experience has stretched well beyond the matches themselves. "It's been a blast so far, not just being very involved with the tournament itself, but my fellow volunteers," she said. "There are people here from all over the world, all different backgrounds, different languages. So just getting to hang out with the other volunteers has been fantastic."

Terry puts the partnership plainly: "She's a good partner to have, because she's adventurous, she likes to try things, and it means the world to me that we have that kind of relationship." Mandii is equally clear about her choice: "She's my best friend. So I wouldn't do this with anybody else — she's definitely my top choice."