FIFA Is Bringing A Fútbol Exhibition, Speaker Series And Internships To MDC
Get ready soccer fanatics—the Fédération Internationale de Football Association is coming to Miami Dade College.
On April 30, MDC announced a new partnership that will bring a FIFA exhibition, internships and a soccer-themed speaker series to the College.
The collaboration, which took two years to finalize, is set to start this fall coinciding with the launch of MDC’s new men and women’s soccer teams.
“A partnership with such an influential and global conglomerate like FIFA helps the notoriety of how important Miami Dade [College] is to this community and how we put students in high places, not just in the United States, but worldwide and FIFA does the same,” said Mike Balado, MDC’s athletic director. “I think both entities have very similar goals and that’s to be successful. What a great way to continue to do that with an organization like FIFA.”
The collaboration will kick-off with an internship program at the new FIFA offices that are opening at 396 Alhambra Circle in Coral Gables in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
About 10-20 internships will be designed based on the students’ interests.
“The internship opportunity will provide students hands-on experience to learn about different careers and from different professionals within the FIFA organization,” said Maryam Laguna Borrego, chief of staff and vice president of external affairs and strategy at MDC.
In a college press release, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “I am proud that students of Miami Dade College will also have the chance to work with FIFA as interns.”
The exhibit will be curated at the Freedom Tower when the iconic building is reopened in the spring of 2025.
“FIFA will open up their first museum in North America here in partnership with Miami Dade College and they’ll have the ability to highlight the history of soccer and bring really prized possessions like artifacts,” Borrego said.
Incoming freshman Alejandro Cumplido, who plays for Inter Miami CF in the U19 division and was recently recruited to play for MDC’s soccer team as a striker, attended the luncheon and is excited for the FIFA exhibit.
“Soccer is my life,” said Cumplido. “The amazing things FIFA has—all the jerseys, all the historic things—that’s gonna be nice to [go] and see them.”
Cumplido, who has been playing soccer since he was five, was able to chat with Infantino at the press conference, which was held at the Eduardo J Padrón Campus.
“It was kind of a dream because I grew up watching FIFA so to be there and have the opportunity to talk with [Infantino was] a beautiful moment,” Cumplido said.
The third component of the collaboration between MDC and FIFA is a speaker series that is in the planning stages. It will include former FIFA soccer players and World Cup winners, Borrego said.
“Miami is on the world stage as far as soccer goes,” said MDC’s men’s soccer coach Guiseppe DePalo. “The visibility that [this partnership] is going to give our program, our university and our community on the world stage with Copa America coming this year and World Cup ‘26 and all the various events next year.”
Click here to subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter, The Hammerhead. For news tips, contact us at mdc.thereporter@gmail.com.
