This edition of From Our Eyes spotlights Broadcast Journalism major and Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) minor Violet Gude (’29), who spent her summer interning with Host Broadcast Services (HBS) during the FIFA Club World Cup at Los Angeles Stadium. In her firsthand account, Gude reflects on the unforgettable experience of working behind the scenes at one of the world’s premier sporting events, sharing what she learned, the people she met, and the excitement of being part of the global broadcast operation.
I know, I know– many of you were devastated to hear that I wouldn’t be playing in the World Cup this year, but not to worry, I still found my way onto the pitch. Jokes aside, this summer I had the surreal honor of serving as a Broadcast Liaison Assistant Intern (BLA) for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Los Angeles Stadium (for locals, that’s SoFi Stadium), and it was truly an experience I will never forget.
As a Broadcast Journalism major, I am drawn to everything involving broadcast production and storytelling, especially the exhilaration and unpredictability of covering large live events. From seeing how all the broadcast teams come together to experiencing the rare opportunity to engage with colleagues and media partners from all over the world, this internship unlocked so much for me. Getting to be a part of the biggest live sporting event on the planet was both a professional and personal dream come true.
My internship was with Host Broadcast Services (HBS), the company responsible for broadcasting every FIFA World Cup match to the world. While networks like Telemundo and FOX air the broadcast, HBS produces the main feed that those networks rely on. These media partners still send their own reporters, commentators, and camera operators for their network’s broadcast– and that is where the liaison team comes in. We manage their bookings, coordinate their positions, and ensure clear communication across all teams so every broadcaster gets what they need.
Preparation days—known as Match Days (MD) -1 (the day before the match) through MD-3 (the days leading up to the match for broadcast teams)—were dedicated to ensuring every detail was in place before kickoff. Our team created match-day operational outlines, prepared media partner position labels, updated stadium maps, and coordinated the countless logistics required to keep game day running seamlessly. One of my favorite moments was installing the media labels throughout the stadium on MD-1. Walking through the quiet, empty venue created a unique sense of calm before the storm, knowing that within 24 hours it would be transformed into a vibrant sea of more than 70,000 passionate fans cheering on their favorite teams.
Then came the real excitement: Match Days. Depending on how the team divided responsibilities between the liaison team, I would be stationed somewhere in the stadium to help supervise media partners at that position and escort them where they needed to go. Sometimes that meant being stationed on the pitch with sideline reporters and digital content creators. Other days, I monitored the announcer platforms — the elevated broadcast desks where the on‑air hosts and analysts film their pre‑game, halftime, and post‑game coverage with the stadium behind them. I also spent some matches up at the media tribune, where you’ll mostly find commentators and media partners’ observer seat bookings.
The excitement didn’t end when the match did, however. After each game, the liaison team oversaw several more key areas:
- The Flash Interview Area: Where the superior player of the match came in right after the game to do interviews.
- The Mix Zone: Where players from both teams walked through after the game and had the option to stop and speak with waiting media partners and press. One or more players from both teams would also come to the mix zone podium to answer questions.
- The Press Conference: One for each team, usually featuring a coach or standout player.
Every minute of this 6-week experience was memorable, but something I will never forget is the very first match at the stadium: U.S. vs. Paraguay. I was positioned on the right side of the pitch, right behind the goal. Ahead of the game, it was go, go, go– a busy opening with plenty of bookings as I ran around ensuring media partners found their positions, running back and forth between the broadcast compound and the stadium, and solving any last-minute needs. But then, as kickoff time approached, everything was in order, and just as the excitement was about to begin, there was a kind of calm.
The opening ceremony began with stunning performances from Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema, and Tyla, which I had been lucky enough to witness in rehearsals; seeing them live in front of such a large audience was a special experience. Then I watched as flags from around the world circled the field and the players entered, lining up shoulder to shoulder. Up until then, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity almost felt surreal, and now with my feet on the pitch, I knew this was the beginning. And just around seven minutes after kickoff, when the U.S. scored their first goal, it happened right in front of me; a moment I’ll replay forever.
The energy was no less exhilarating all the way up to the final LA Stadium match of the quarterfinals, featuring Spain and Belgium. Though more confident in my work and familiar with the experience, I was no less in awe. From rotating positions around the stadium to working with colleagues and media partners whose perspectives taught me something new every day, to coordinating across all the teams that contribute to the broadcast, this internship broadened my perspective and deepened my understanding of what it takes to bring a global event to life.
While I may not have scored one on the pitch, this opportunity allowed me to achieve countless goals I had set for myself and confirmed that this is exactly where I’m meant to be.
(Pictured in header: Violet Gude (’29 Broadcast Journalism major; CCI minor) during her summer internship Host Broadcast Services. Photo courtesy of Gude.)
