Two lucky football fans being paid $50,000 to watch every single World Cup match in a glass cube
Two football fans are paying a whopping $50,000 (around £37,200) to sit in a glass box in Times Square and watch every single match of the 2026 World Cup. Isn’t it hard to see someone else living your dream?
Austin Franklin and Kevin Akoto beat thousands of other applicants for the unusual job of ‘Chief World Cup Watchers’.
The role was created by Fox One, who launched a US-wide hunt for the biggest football fans asking them to send in a short clip detailing why they should be selected.
Following an ‘overwhelming response’, Fox One decided that two heads would be better than one and signed up Franklin and Akoto.
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As Chief World Cup Watchers, the duo - who each have thousands of followers on TikTok - will be sitting in a custom-built ‘viewing cube’ to watch all 104 World Cup 2026 matches live.
As well as sitting through around 12,600 minutes (plus extra time) of footy this summer, the pair have also been tasked with creating content and sharing the reaction from fans in real time.
As you can probably imagine, the football fanatics were delighted to be selected, with Franklin saying: “It still feels pretty surreal. Being able to watch every World Cup match and share those moments with fans everywhere from Times Square is a dream. I’m so excited to bring fans along for every moment of it.”
Akoto was equally as chuffed after landing his ‘dream job’.
“To call this a dream job almost feels like an understatement,” he said.
“Getting a front-row seat to all the matches from what might be the ultimate World Cup watch party is unbelievable.”
Footage of the pair hard at work… if you can call it that, has been shared online and invoked the green-eyed monster in some football fans.
“God, I see what you’re doing for others,” one wrote.
Another commented: “Some guys have all the luck.”
While a third X user was asking the real questions: “But are they allowed beer?”
The competition officially kicked off today, with co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa at the
Estadio Azteca in a match featuring three red cards and a couple of goals.
Mexico claimed the victory with Julián Quiñones scoring in just nine minutes, followed by a 67th minute goal from Raúl Jiménez.
After Thursday night’s opening fixtures, the World Cup continues on Friday with co-hosts Canada and the United States getting their turn in the spotlight.
In Toronto, Canada will take on Bosnia-Herzegovina, who earned their place by beating Italy in the qualifying play-offs in March. The match kicks off at 8pm UK time.
Night owls can then see fellow hosts the US take on Paraguay in Los Angeles at 2am.
England will kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday 17 June at 9pm UK time.
And of course, Franklin and Akoto will be watching both games live from their cube in Times Square.
Claire Reid