Two soccer fans began watching all 104 tournament games from a clear enclosure inside Times Square on June 29, 2026, after being selected as Fox One's Chief World Cup Watchers.
Content creators Kevin Akoto and Austin Franklin secured the roles, which pay a $50,000 reward alongside access to state-of-the-art televisions, surround sound systems, and snacks.
Fox One collaborated with employment website Indeed to recruit individuals for the positions, which require navigating matches broadcast across four different time zones.
Both selected participants have established social media followings that continue to expand through the public initiative.
Application Process and Lifestyle Changes
Akoto applied for the role through the employment platform after recording a video application and waiting several weeks for a response from the organizers.
"I thought this was a great opportunity, I took out the phone, started recording, made a video, went through Indeed, and put the application in," said Kevin Akoto, Chief World Cup Watcher.
"After weeks and weeks of waiting got the email that the good people at Fox wanted to meet with me, and from then on it's been a wonderful adventure."
The demanding broadcast schedule across multiple time zones forced changes to the daily routines and professional lives of the chosen participants.
"I quit my job to be here, so it's completely changing my schedule to be here, and also going through the mentality, this is a marathon, not a sprint, making sure that you take just taking it one day at a time," said Akoto.
Visibility and Community Engagement
The high visibility of the glass structure in New York has expanded the digital reach and global audience for both participants during the tournament.
"It's great for visibility, more people, not just in the US but around the world, can see what we're doing, can see the unique things that we're doing, it just gives us more visibility," said Akoto.
The campaign leverages modern digital connectivity to highlight the international community growing around the tournament, contrasting with previous tournaments hosted in the country.
"Back in '94 when the World Cup was played here social media wasn't a thing so we couldn't see what was really going on throughout the country," said Akoto.
"But now 2026 you know we get to see how the Japanese fans are liking barbecue we get to see the Scottish people taking over Boston, drinking all their beer so it's definitely great that a lot of people can see basically the community that soccer builds and I feel like that's gonna help uh grow the game in this country more."
Franklin managed to adjust his personal schedule around major social obligations, supported by friends who encouraged him to take the unique opportunity.
"The only thing I had to work around was a bachelor party and a wedding, but thankfully, my buddies were excited for me to have the opportunity and said that I couldn't miss doing this, and that you know I have plenty of money for their wedding gifts now, so it's good," said Austin Franklin, Chief World Cup Watcher.
The glass enclosure, nicknamed the Cube, draws significant public attention from pedestrians and international visitors passing through Manhattan daily.
"I'm like a little fish in an aquarium, just kind of swimming around, letting people watch me.
Sometimes, they feed me too, so it's been pretty good," joked Franklin.
Large crowds frequently gather around the installation to celebrate the matches, turning the local area into a central hub for soccer enthusiasts.
"I just think having everyone congregate in Times Square has been the coolest experience for whatever reason.
Anybody who has a match in the in in New York decides to have like a big party in Times Square, and thankfully, we get to be here to go celebrate it with them, and that's been my favorite part of all of it," said Franklin.
Direct interactions with international supporters have provided unique memories for the participants inside the glass installation.
"Being told that I have a Brazilian spirit and getting gifted a Brazilian ultras Jersey by a Brazilian fan, it's tough to top that.
I mean, that was like the coolest World Cup experience ever," said Franklin.
