Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we partnered with Coca-Cola to create the Future Careers Academy, an interactive program designed to help underserved youth build skills and confidence for careers in sports marketing and beyond. Built alongside partners like Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Special Olympics, and Girls Inc., we shaped the entire program from strategy to naming, content, and design.
The Academy blends 2.5+ hours of online coursework, led by industry experts, with interactive modules across topics like media, marketing, creative, and leadership, giving participants a well-rounded view of the sports industry.
Beyond the digital experience, the program had real-world impact, training 130 volunteers for FIFA World Cup 2026 and supporting over 2,000 U.S. Soccer referee certifications, turning learning into tangible opportunity.
Eleven professors helped bring the program to life with video lessons covering creative and design, media and broadcast, marketing and sponsorship, global events and leadership. Experts like Jenny Chiu, Matthew Wolff and Diana Matheson shared their real world experience to show students the many ways to go pro in soccer beyond the pitch.
Across six videos per subject, we built a clear curriculum that defined what each course would cover and why it mattered to young soccer fans. The launch brought in several thousand sign ups, and Coca Cola plans to grow the program beyond the 2026 World Cup, expanding into careers across the wider world of sports.