Aramco Americas volunteers call it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
Volunteers are the heart of the FIFA experience. For Logistics Advisor Imran Tahir (second from left with fellow volunteers) it was an incredible behind-the-scenes look at the logistics of an event of this magnitude.
With sixteen host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, organizers needed about 65,000 volunteers for matches in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico—making it the largest FIFA volunteer program ever.
With Houston as one of the eleven host cities in the U.S. and a major tournament hub with seven matches, volunteers were the backbone of helping to make the tournament a success.
Volunteers supported operations at stadiums, airports, hotels, training sites, fan areas, and other tournament venues. They underwent an extensive application process, an in-person interview, and two days of training to match them in roles.
Collectively, 29 Aramco Americas employees were selected as official FIFA volunteers to help deliver an unforgettable experience in Houston.
Here’s how a few described their experience as ambassadors at the world’s largest and most watched sporting event, attracting billions of viewers and fans worldwide.
Imran Tahir, logistics advisor, Procurement & Supply Chain Management, observed event operations in play, moving more than 70,000 spectators in and out of the stadium, masterfully synchronized for a safe, fun, and seamless experience.
Logistics professional in awe of operations
Imran Tahir, logistics advisor, Procurement & Supply Chain Management, observed event operations in play, moving more than 70,000 spectators in and out of the stadium, masterfully synchronized for a safe, fun, and seamless experience.
“The most rewarding part was seeing the disciplined logistical operations and clockwork taking place behind the scenes,” said Tahir. “The whole experience—just to be associated with the tournament in my home city—was a once-in-a-lifetime moment for me.”
When his last six-hour shift ended on July 4, Tahir logged 36 hours of volunteering time and, for one shift at the FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston, he recorded an impressive 22,331 steps or eleven miles of walking.
But more impressive were the additional duties he performed beyond his given assignment with the Partner Rights Delivery (PRD) team, including assisting a FIFA Team Leader in setting up for a press conference, making sure the table had iPads, water, and microphones for the participants.
How has his passion for sports and soccer shaped the way he interacted with fans and visitors from around the world? Tahir explained, “the connection and love for the game brings people together working toward a common goal. What a beautiful memory to see and experience this firsthand.”
Imran Tahir, logistics advisor, Procurement & Supply Chain Management, observed event operations in play, moving more than 70,000 spectators in and out of the stadium, masterfully synchronized for a safe, fun, and seamless experience.
“The most rewarding part was seeing the disciplined logistical operations and clockwork taking place behind the scenes,” said Tahir. “The whole experience—just to be associated with the tournament in my home city—was a once-in-a-lifetime moment for me.”
When his last six-hour shift ended on July 4, Tahir logged 36 hours of volunteering time and, for one shift at the FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston, he recorded an impressive 22,331 steps or eleven miles of walking.
But more impressive were the additional duties he performed beyond his given assignment with the Partner Rights Delivery (PRD) team, including assisting a FIFA Team Leader in setting up for a press conference, making sure the table had iPads, water, and microphones for the participants.
How has his passion for sports and soccer shaped the way he interacted with fans and visitors from around the world? Tahir explained, “the connection and love for the game brings people together working toward a common goal. What a beautiful memory to see and experience this firsthand.”
A trio of volunteers greet visitors at the entrance to FIFA Fan Fest. Aramco Americas’ Diana Rocha and Sajee Kadambathil (left to right) join with other volunteers to make it a memorable experience for visitors.
Greeting visitors serves as a global classroom in cultural exchange
Sajee Kadambathil, supply chain analyst, Procurement & Supply Chain Management, is no stranger to volunteering. He is a familiar face at many of AACO’s volunteer events; however, the chance to meet people from around the world and help others were the two motivating factors in applying.
“I am an avid soccer watcher, not a soccer player,” laughs Kadambathil. His assignment was to greet visitors in the FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston. Equipped with a ‘We Are Houston FIFA 26’ sign and a smile on his face, he met thousands of people with many stopping to talk with him.
Commenting “hey, thanks for volunteering” or asking for the location of exhibit areas or pavilions were typical.
He recalls meeting fans from El Salvador, Mexico, and the Netherlands. One group of super fans stood out: a group from Cape Verde, the small island country off the coast of West Africa, whose team made history by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time. Their unexpected success against more established teams made them a Cinderella story in this year’s World Cup.
“They were quizzing me, asking what I knew about their country,” he says. “I had to admit I knew very little but went home that night after my shift and watched a video online to learn about Cape Verdean culture and its African and Portuguese influences.”
An unexpected reward for Kadambathil was the chance to work with another volunteer greeter who is legally blind. With a heart for helping others, they teamed up on the greeting assignment, learning from each other and sharing their local volunteering experiences.
Lastly, he found ways to let visitors know he was a proud volunteer from Aramco, which has an office in Houston, and considers volunteering in the community a key part of being an Aramcon.
Sajee Kadambathil, supply chain analyst, Procurement & Supply Chain Management, is no stranger to volunteering. He is a familiar face at many of AACO’s volunteer events; however, the chance to meet people from around the world and help others were the two motivating factors in applying.
“I am an avid soccer watcher, not a soccer player,” laughs Kadambathil. His assignment was to greet visitors in the FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston. Equipped with a ‘We Are Houston FIFA 26’ sign and a smile on his face, he met thousands of people with many stopping to talk with him.
Commenting “hey, thanks for volunteering” or asking for the location of exhibit areas or pavilions were typical.
He recalls meeting fans from El Salvador, Mexico, and the Netherlands. One group of super fans stood out: a group from Cape Verde, the small island country off the coast of West Africa, whose team made history by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time. Their unexpected success against more established teams made them a Cinderella story in this year’s World Cup.
“They were quizzing me, asking what I knew about their country,” he says. “I had to admit I knew very little but went home that night after my shift and watched a video online to learn about Cape Verdean culture and its African and Portuguese influences.”
An unexpected reward for Kadambathil was the chance to work with another volunteer greeter who is legally blind. With a heart for helping others, they teamed up on the greeting assignment, learning from each other and sharing their local volunteering experiences.
Lastly, he found ways to let visitors know he was a proud volunteer from Aramco, which has an office in Houston, and considers volunteering in the community a key part of being an Aramcon.
Gang Han, petroleum engineering consultant, R&D, observed nothing but smiles, friendship, and peace from everyone he met. “Being on our home turf in Houston, representing Aramco, was a rare opportunity and blessing,” he said.
Aramco volunteer gets ‘thumbs up’ from visitors
Gang Han, petroleum engineering consultant, R&D, observed nothing but smiles, friendship, and peace from everyone he met. “Being on our home turf in Houston, representing Aramco, was a rare opportunity and blessing,” he said.
Han says, wherever he went, he got a ‘thumbs up’ from people recognizing his volunteer service and contributions as an Aramco employee. His work was not within the stadium for a match but at the FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston, recalling the passion and vibe was just as electric.
After a long shift ending at midnight, Han was stopped by a group of fans who “thanked him for his service.” This phrase is typically reserved for military service, but the simple gesture reflected the appreciation visitors felt for those helping to make the tournament such a great experience.
“Everyone at Aramco Arena within the festival came with positive and friendly attitudes, greeting and cheering not only for themselves but also for each other,” he said.
There seemed to be no language barrier with soccer fans. They all shared the same passion and love for the sport. “Soccer itself becomes a common bridge with no need for translation,” said Han.
“What we did was far beyond soccer. We promoted friendship and cultural exchange.”
Gang Han, petroleum engineering consultant, R&D, observed nothing but smiles, friendship, and peace from everyone he met. “Being on our home turf in Houston, representing Aramco, was a rare opportunity and blessing,” he said.
Han says, wherever he went, he got a ‘thumbs up’ from people recognizing his volunteer service and contributions as an Aramco employee. His work was not within the stadium for a match but at the FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston, recalling the passion and vibe was just as electric.
After a long shift ending at midnight, Han was stopped by a group of fans who “thanked him for his service.” This phrase is typically reserved for military service, but the simple gesture reflected the appreciation visitors felt for those helping to make the tournament such a great experience.
“Everyone at Aramco Arena within the festival came with positive and friendly attitudes, greeting and cheering not only for themselves but also for each other,” he said.
There seemed to be no language barrier with soccer fans. They all shared the same passion and love for the sport. “Soccer itself becomes a common bridge with no need for translation,” said Han.
“What we did was far beyond soccer. We promoted friendship and cultural exchange.”
Karina Valentiner, procurement planner, Procurement & Supply Chain Management, said soccer has long been part of her life.
Deep roots and family tradition nurtured passion for soccer
Karina Valentiner, procurement planner, Procurement & Supply Chain Management, said soccer has long been part of her life. From early vivid memories of watching Mexican professional football club Rayados de Monterrey until now, the ties remain strong.
“I remember the excitement that spread across the country back in 1986 when Mexico hosted the FIFA World Cup. People came together, united by the joy of the game,” said Valentiner. “I never imagined that I might one day have the opportunity to be part of the World Cup, now across North America.”
Serving as a FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston volunteer gave her a newfound appreciation for everything that happens behind the scenes of a global sporting event. Creating an enjoyable and memorable experience for thousands of fans requires months of planning and the dedication of countless individuals.
What stood out most was watching visitors and volunteers from different backgrounds come together, united by their love of soccer. “Experiencing that sense of community firsthand made the opportunity far more rewarding than I ever imagined,” said Valentiner.
She often found herself cheering for teams that she does not follow, simply because of the energy and enthusiasm.
“The atmosphere was contagious, creating a sense of connection that transcended team loyalties.” While each shift was long and demanding, she always left feeling inspired, grateful, and incredibly happy to have been part of such a memorable experience.
Beyond the opportunity to participate as a volunteer, representing Aramco is a source of pride. Having worked for the company for 19 years, Valentiner is grateful for the many opportunities and experiences it has provided throughout her career.
“I have a deep appreciation for the impact that volunteerism can have in bringing people together and creating meaningful connections,” she said.
Karina Valentiner, procurement planner, Procurement & Supply Chain Management, said soccer has long been part of her life. From early vivid memories of watching Mexican professional football club Rayados de Monterrey until now, the ties remain strong.
“I remember the excitement that spread across the country back in 1986 when Mexico hosted the FIFA World Cup. People came together, united by the joy of the game,” said Valentiner. “I never imagined that I might one day have the opportunity to be part of the World Cup, now across North America.”
Serving as a FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston volunteer gave her a newfound appreciation for everything that happens behind the scenes of a global sporting event. Creating an enjoyable and memorable experience for thousands of fans requires months of planning and the dedication of countless individuals.
What stood out most was watching visitors and volunteers from different backgrounds come together, united by their love of soccer. “Experiencing that sense of community firsthand made the opportunity far more rewarding than I ever imagined,” said Valentiner.
She often found herself cheering for teams that she does not follow, simply because of the energy and enthusiasm.
“The atmosphere was contagious, creating a sense of connection that transcended team loyalties.” While each shift was long and demanding, she always left feeling inspired, grateful, and incredibly happy to have been part of such a memorable experience.
Beyond the opportunity to participate as a volunteer, representing Aramco is a source of pride. Having worked for the company for 19 years, Valentiner is grateful for the many opportunities and experiences it has provided throughout her career.
“I have a deep appreciation for the impact that volunteerism can have in bringing people together and creating meaningful connections,” she said.
