What Does It Take to Run a World Cup Host City? | Brandy Thigpen

How do you lead a World Cup operation when there’s no roadmap and your team is working for months away from home? As Los Angeles host city director for FIFA World Cup 2026, Brandy Thigpen oversaw operations outside the stadium, from transportation and hotels to safety and security. Years of relationships in the city helped her take on the role, but the tournament tested her in ways she hadn’t expected. Brandy talks with Amani Roberts and Mandi Graziano about supporting an exhausted team, working inside an emergency operations center and building trust before a crisis happens. She also shares why she returned to school as a working single mom, the uncertainty of finding her next role and why it took six weeks to feel like herself after the tournament ended. 🔗 Connect with Brandy Thigpen on LinkedIn:   / brandythigpen   Episode Chapters 00:00 Meet Brandy Thigpen 00:42 World Cup Memories and Unexpected Fan Favorites 04:01 What a World Cup Host City Director Does 07:17 Coordinating Across 16 Host Cities 10:37 Building Relationships and Supporting Your Team 17:31 Taking on the World Cup Role 19:48 Finding the Next Career Opportunity 22:00 Discovering a Talent for Emergency Management 26:56 Going Back to School as a Working Single Mom 31:14 Flip the Script: Finding Your Voice and Sharing Your Experience 37:08 Advice to Her Younger Self 38:28 Recovering After the World Cup 41:35 How to Support Brandy