For Peter Zhang, volunteering with the FIFA World Cup is an opportunity to help welcome the world to North Texas while also sharing the work happening at UTA Libraries.  
  

Zhang, Associate University Librarian at UTA Libraries, was recently selected as a volunteer for the global tournament after completing a rigorous application and interview process that drew more than 300,000 applicants from across the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  

  
Applicants were asked to complete detailed profiles outlining their experience, interests, and strengths before advancing through interviews and tryouts. According to Zhang, about 10,000 people were selected for in-person interviews, with roughly half ultimately chosen to serve as volunteers during the tournament.  

  
“I’m super excited, and I feel honored to be part of this global event. There will only be one team that wins the World Cup, but every fan can have a memorable experience while they’re here,” Zhang said. “I wanted the opportunity to help welcome visitors to North Texas and play a role in creating that experience.”  

This volunteer opportunity also connects directly to work already happening at UTA Libraries.  

More than a year ago, Zhang and colleagues began discussing ways to connect Special Collections with the international attention surrounding the World Cup. Those conversations helped lead to the “Atlas of Champions” exhibit at the UTA Central Library, along with a satellite version now on display at the Arlington Museum of Art.  

  
The exhibit highlights historic maps of countries participating in the tournament and allows visitors to engage with materials from the UTA Libraries’ map collections.  

Zhang stated that conversations with Meghna Tare, UTA’s chief sustainability officer and a member of the North Texas World Cup organizing committee, helped connect UTA Libraries with the Arlington Museum of Art and move the exhibit project forward.  

  
As part of his volunteer role, Zhang will help answer questions and assist visitors attending fan events. He also sees the opportunity as a way to serve as an ambassador for both Arlington and UTA.  

  
Volunteers support activities connected to the World Cup across North Texas, including airports, hotels, training facilities, stadium operations, and fan events. Zhang will serve at the fan festival at Fair Park in Dallas, where matches from around the world will be broadcast live and visitors from different countries and cultures will gather throughout the tournament.  

  
The role comes with extensive preparation. Zhang shared that volunteers completed interviews, role specific training, hospitality, communication, and cultural awareness training. In addition to in-person training sessions, volunteers also work through online learning modules designed to prepare them to interact with guests from around the world.  

  
“FIFA wants volunteers to understand how to create an inclusive experience where people feel welcomed,” Zhang said.

Growing up, Zhang said he was a longtime soccer fan before later becoming a fan of American football after moving to the United States more than 30 years ago. Now, he is looking forward to helping welcome visitors from around the world to North Texas during one of the largest sporting events.  

“I’m certainly happy to talk about the ‘Atlas of Champions exhibit’,” Zhang said. “I can also talk about Arlington, the Arlington Museum of Art, and the different cultural experiences we have here. It’s a chance to show how UTA is supporting this global event.”  

For Zhang, it all ties together. The World Cup brings the visitors, the “Atlas of Champions” exhibit gives them something local to connect with, and his volunteer role puts him right in the middle of it all, answering questions and helping people find their way, whether that is toward UTA, downtown Arlington, or the Arlington Museum of Art.  

“I’m really excited about the global event and feel honored to be part of it,” Zhang said. “I look forward to being an ambassador for UTA and North Texas overall and helping give visitors a great experience.”