The FIFA World Cup is known worldwide as the biggest event in the sport of soccer, and students from Ohio University have the chance to travel to Brazil this summer to cover the global spectacle.
The university announced a partnership with the U.S. Soccer Federation in November. It will allow 10 students to travel to Brazil to cover the U.S. soccer team at the World Cup. Some students were told this week about an additional opportunity to cover fans and coaches watching the games in Europe.
The new opportunity arose when Dean Linke, a 1991 OU alumnus, heard about the U.S. Soccer Federation’s partnership with OU.
“He came to us and said, ‘Let’s take students to Europe,’” said Robert Stewart, director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.
Linke works for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as part of its broadcast team. Students who are selected to accompany the association to Europe will spend time reporting on the atmosphere of events happening in major European cities during the World Cup.
Both the European and Brazilian opportunities are being developed by OU’s Office of Education Abroad and the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and will be offered to students in a variety of majors for internship.
Student opportunities in each program will include sports and feature journalism in written and visual media such as broadcast and photography.
“I’d love to represent the U.S. and OU at the World Cup,” Tessa Brediger, a freshman studying journalism and photojournalism, said in an email. “I’d be honored to live out a long-time dream of covering a sport I love at one of the most famous international competitions there is.”
The timeline for students looking to take advantage of these opportunities is still not set in stone, but more details about the application processes can be expected in late February. Students who apply will be interviewed by OU journalism professors and possibly the U.S. Soccer Federation and National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
In the meantime, students are advised to read and learn as much about soccer as they can to prepare, Stewart said.
Stewart suggested with the growing popularity of soccer, having the chance to work with organizations like the U.S. soccer team could create a reputation of OU being the school for soccer journalism.
“And that’s what I’m excited about,” he said.
Being that the 2010 World Cup was broadcast to 204 different countries and the sport is on the rise in the U.S., Stewart said these opportunities offer students a chance to gain experience in a growing market.
“Soccer is the world sport,” Stewart said. “Everyone grew up playing soccer.”
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