For most soccer fans, watching every match of the World Cup is a fantasy. For Kevin Akoto and Austin Franklin, it became a paying job.
The two were hired as “Chief World Cup Watchers” by U.S. broadcaster Fox One, tasked with viewing all 104 matches of the tournament from beginning to end — and each walking away with $50,000 for their efforts.
Their workplace was anything but ordinary. On matchdays, the duo sat inside a glass-walled viewing cube in New York’s Times Square, with curious pedestrians frequently stopping to peer inside or even pulling up chairs to catch some of the action on the televisions within.
Franklin, an influencer based in Los Angeles, reflected on just how unusual the gig was compared to more traditional work. “My dad cleans up oil spills for a living,” he said. “I sit here with my friend Kevin and watch all of these matches and get to go outside and interact with fans.”
Akoto, who left his position as a line cook in Florida to take on the role, said the experience highlighted a major shift in how audiences engage with sports. “If we’ve seen anything throughout this World Cup, it’s that people are consuming sports more through social media,” he said. “The more behind-the-scenes stuff is how people are consuming sports content.”
Throughout the tournament, both men regularly posted content to their social media accounts, offering commentary on matches and engaging with their followers online.
With Sunday’s final between Spain and Argentina marking the conclusion of the tournament, the two said they have no regrets — and would gladly sign up again, even if the World Cup grows from 48 teams to 64, a potential expansion that FIFA plans to discuss following the event.
“I don’t think we’re sick of watching soccer yet,” Franklin said. “However many more they want to give us, we’ll watch them.”
