Manager, Catering, FIFA World Cup 2026

Reporting organisationally to the Executive Director of Venue Business Strategy, the Catering Manager will be a key member of the FIFA26 Strategy & Planning team, and work in close collaboration with the FIFA Zurich project team and other key individuals responsible for delivering catering efforts for the FIFA World Cup 2026 that for the first time ever, is hosting 48 teams and 1,200+ players across 3 countries and 16 venues. This role will be responsible for planning and executing non-Hospitality operations, ensuring top-quality catering services throughout the tournament. Further, this role will oversee quality assurance of all catering operations for Workforce and Volunteers, Youth Programme, Teams and Officials and Media dining experiences for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

THE POSITION

The main responsibilities and oversights of the Catering Manager for the FIFA World Cup 26™ include:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive catering plan, encompassing menu creation, dietary considerations, and service standards, to meet the diverse needs of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Workforce, Volunteers, Mmedia, Teams and Officials.
• Ensure the provision of a “food-safe” catering programme to all relevant user groups
• Conduct pre-tournament food tasting sessions as required to ensure food quality standards are met to the expectations of relevant user groups.
• Assess existing and temporary catering environments during the planning phase for suitability of purpose.
• Liaise with relevant parties to ensure compliance with product delivery according to the rights of the official F & B partners within areas of responsibility
• Collaborate with the stadium and venue culinary teams to curate menus that reflect regional and international cuisine preferences, ensuring high-quality and culturally relevant dining experiences.
• Ensure catering logistics, preparation, transportation, and timely delivery to venues, guarantees smooth operations during all operational periods via effective pre-planning and compliance with necessary tournament guidelines for each venue.
• Collaborate with all internal customers and functional areas relevant to the catering project to ensure successful delivery of relevant services
• Develop and manage catering budgets, tracking expenses, and analyzing financial data to maintain cost control and achieve financial targets.
• Collaborate with sustainability initiatives, aiming to minimize waste, promote eco-friendly practices, and source local, sustainable ingredients.
• Hire and manage a team of 16 on-site Catering Coordinators to manage delivery of Catering operations during tournament time.
• Compile, provide and deliver high quality training & training materials relevant to the role of the Catering Coordinators to ensure they are equipped to fulfil the onsite role during tournament time.
• Handling and development of all project administration, reporting and briefing. Summarising of tournament daily reporting & statistics relating to the Catering Functional Area.
• Ongoing monitoring of produced meals vs consumed meals and preparation of tournament wastage statistics in relation to workforce feeding.
• Assist with the crisis management of any incident relating to an outbreak of food borne illness to include supplier and local authority liaison as required
• Liaise with catering suppliers in the event of a change to contractual or agreed requirements
• Develop a system of supplier monitoring and evaluation to ensure compliance and fulfilment of all contractual terms.
• Develop an appropriate workforce restaurant access system in conjunction with the workforce and Volunteers Functional areas.
• Develop a meal counting plan to ensure accurate forecasting, ordering and billing of Workforce meals
• Prepare post-tournament reports, evaluating catering operations & suppliers, identifying successes and areas for improvement, and providing recommendations for future events.
• Prepare onward re-charging of costs to relevant functional areas post tournament.
• Finalisation and approval of supplier billing post tournament

YOUR PROFILE

• Bachelor’s degree or similar level of higher education in Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, or Food Service Management
• Intermediate or advanced food hygiene diploma or equivalent qualification
• Group Training Certificate or equivalent qualification
• Minimum of 5 years senior management experience in Catering, Hospitality or Culinary fields (preferably within a Major sporting event or Stadium background
• Multi-outlet catering management experience is essential
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational skills to handle multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and ensure smooth catering operations during fast-paced events
• Excellent attention to detail
• Customer-centric approach and demeanor
• Fluent in English. Spanish and/or French proficiency is a plus
• Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio & Project) and planning software and online collaboration tools

About FWC2026

The FIFA World Cup 26™ will mark the first time that the tournament features 48 teams and will be hosted by three countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

This new format redefines excellence, generating unique opportunities for greater participation and engagement from fans and players in North America and all over the world. Now is your time to be a game changer and join the workforce that is planning and delivering this unique and unforgettable experience.