CSUDH alumna Ilyanna Gutierrez was at the center of one of the world’s biggest events this summer. During the tournament, she took on the role of Senior Manager of Media Partnerships Services for FIFA, overseeing media partnership services operations for all 104 matches.

Working from the FIFA Tournament Operations Center in Miami, Gutierrez led a team that supported media partners in their planning — working on logistics, travel, and on-site preparation for broadcast crews from around the globe. More than 160 media partners descended on Canada, the U.S., and Mexico for the month-long tournament.

“We helped them with visas, securing accommodations, figuring out transportation — a lot of the operational, logistical things that they needed to successfully cover the tournament,” said Gutierrez, who graduated from CSUDH in 2012 with a B.A. in Communications.

“We also prepared all of the operational matters at the venues,” she added. “We figured out where the cameras were positioned on the pitch, where they did player interviews, where the commentators sat to call the matches, studios and platform locations, those kinds of practical issues.”

During the tournament, Gutierrez was stationed in the Miami tournament ops center, monitoring the proceedings at 16 stadiums in three countries. “There were tons of video screens with all the matches on, as well as weather radar. We were in a central point, coordinating and supporting the teams remotely, however we could.”

“I’m Mexican-American, and it was really cool being a part of putting the tournament together in my two home countries,” said Gutierrez. “My parents are from Mexico, and I inherited a love of the game from my father. Soccer is a big part of my culture. It’s been fun to be involved with the whole process and to contribute to something so huge.

“When we sit back and look at the big picture, we literally provided this broadcast to homes across the world. This was the most viewed event in history. It’s cool knowing the big impact that we have had across the globe.

“Even as stressful as it was, as much pressure as we were under, I still woke up excited every day,” she said. “I’m really proud of what we did and proud to have shared these matches with the world.”

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