Vera Gonzalez-Howard, a volunteer from Tumwater, Washington, was moved to tears when United States captain Tim Ream presented her with a Fourth of July-decorated cake and heartfelt thanks for her service at the FIFA World Cup 2026. "I don't deserve this," she said, wiping away tears — a reaction that, for many, perfectly captured the spirit of the thousands of volunteers making the tournament possible.
Four hours a day, no matter what
Vera commutes up to four hours daily from Tumwater to the Seattle training facility at the University of Washington, where she serves on the Team Services team. Her role centres on looking after the national teams based there — carrying water, organising equipment, and ensuring every squad has what it needs to prepare.
Selected as part of FIFA's Unsung Heroes programme for Seattle, Vera made clear that she saw herself as a representative of all local volunteers. "Team Services support our teams that are in this base camp training. We support them with whatever they need," she said. "If they need us to bring some water to them, we do that. Helping them with all the equipment to put it back and arrange it for them. I think that's one of the things I really like — we're there for them."
She also singled out two teams for special mention. "I have to say my favourite team is the US and my second team would be IR Iran because they were so really nice. They interacted with us so much."
Volunteering through chemotherapy
What makes Vera's commitment all the more remarkable is the personal battle she has fought alongside it. Diagnosed with lymphoma, she underwent chemotherapy — yet still found the strength to volunteer at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, travelling to Portland, Oregon, for the tournament.
"I was still going through chemo when the Club World Cup happened, and I had such a good experience that I was like, 'This is worth it'. Even if I was tired, I'm going through this, I was really happy," she said.
Her sister Fatima and husband Allan were present for the ceremony, during which Vera received both the Stars and Stripes-decorated cake from Ream and a miniature FIFA World Cup trophy.
Friendships that last a lifetime
For Vera, the rewards of volunteering extend far beyond the tournament itself. "Meeting other volunteers is a highlight because we have the same goal which is helping. The volunteering, helping others, meeting people from different places, different backgrounds, and to know each other and make friendships forever," she said.
"Helping others just fulfils you, and meeting the new people that you're going to see for the rest of your life."
Her words reflect a sentiment shared by volunteers across all 16 FIFA World Cup 2026 host cities — that behind every match, every training session, and every team's smooth preparation stands a quiet army of people who ask for nothing in return.
