Fern Perez ’27 Turns Passion for Soccer into FIFA Internship Opportunity

MACON, GA — For most soccer fans, attending a FIFA World Cup match is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For Wesleyan College student-athlete Fern Perez, it's an opportunity to help create those unforgettable moments for fans from around the world.

A double major in Business Administration and Advertising, Marketing & Communications, the rising senior is serving as a FIFA World Cup Fan Experience Intern, where she helps guests navigate the stadium, find parking and seating, and enjoy a welcoming and memorable event experience.

As a member of the Fan Experience team, Perez has witnessed firsthand the power of sport to bring people together.

"Genuinely, it's been life-changing," she said. "I am super excited for this opportunity and to be able to be in the stadium where the whole world is coming. Wesleyan has prepared me by introducing me to all types of people and cultures. I am ecstatic to grow my career in sports, and Wesleyan has been a stepping stone for me."

In fact, Perez, who is a captain of the Wesleyan Soccer Team, credits her experiences on campus with helping prepare her for the collaborative, fast-paced environment of an international sporting event.

"Playing soccer at Wesleyan has helped me become a team leader," she said. "They've helped me develop my skills of communication and leadership and learn to accept everyone, all ethnicities and all races. That's who I'm working with here."

In addition to her FIFA experience, Perez is interning with Soccer in the Streets, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that uses soccer to provide access and opportunities for youth throughout the community. Her work there helped pave the way for her current role and reinforced her passion for using sports as a force for connection and positive change.

Looking ahead, Perez hopes to build a career in sports diplomacy, combining her love of athletics with a desire to connect people and cultures on a global scale.

As she helps welcome the world to one of the globe's premier sporting events, Perez is turning her passion into purpose and proving that Wesleyan students are prepared to make an impact wherever opportunity takes them.