Director, Ticketing - FIFA World Cup 2026

Contract Type: Fixed-Term Contract (until August 2026) We are seeking seeking an experienced Ticketing Director to oversee and lead end-to-end ticketing operations and guest management for a major football hospitality programme for FIFA World Cup 2026. Based in London, with travel to the United States required during the tournament, you will be responsible for overseeing the end-to-end ticketing process - from planning and allocation through to on-site delivery-while also leading the set-up, deployment, and ongoing management of a bespoke ticket and guest management system. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in one of the world's biggest sporting events, working with global stakeholders, VIP clients, and internal teams to deliver a seamless guest experience.Guest Experience Strategy: Define and implement guest journey mapping and ticket distribution strategies that integrate seamlessly into the broader event ecosystem, ensuring alignment with both FIFA standards and bespoke client requirements.Cross-Functional Coordination: Collaborate with leads from other operational verticals (e.g accreditation, transport, accommodation, F&B) to deliver a cohesive and exceptional guest experience.Compliance & Documentation: Ensure all ticketing processes comply with FIFA protocols, GDPR, and relevant legal/regulatory requirements. Maintain up-to-date documents, guest communications, delivery schedules, and operational playbooks.Cross-functional role: Represent ticketing interests in cross-functional meetings and escalate issues as appropriate to senior leadership.Responsiveness: Manage support teams during onsite emergencies, ensuring minimal disruption to guest experience and operations. Proven leadership in managing complex ticketing operations and stakeholder relationships. Demonstrated ability to manage operational readiness, compliance, and contingency planning. Expertise in data privacy, guest data lifecycle management, and regulatory compliance. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with experience managing diverse teams. Ability to work under pressure, solve problems proactively, and make timely decisions in a dynamic environment. Availability for onsite event support during FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament phases.Extensive experience in large-scale event ticketing management, ideally within international sports or entertainment contexts.Strong knowledge of ticketing systems architecture, vendor management, and integration with hospitality and accreditation systems. Strong project management skills, including budgeting, planning, and team coordination. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to navigate diverse cultural environments. Highly organised, solution-oriented, and capable of working under pressure in fast-paced, dynamic environments. Experience in managing third-party vendors and contractors is desirable. Fluency in English is essential; additional languages (particularly Spanish) are an asset.Proven experience (7+ years) in account management, event operations, or ticketing for major international events-experience with sports tournaments is a strong advantage.In-depth knowledge of ticketing platforms, CRM systems, and digital ticket distribution technologies.Demonstrated ability to manage high-level stakeholders and complex operational delivery under tight timelines.