FIFA is responsible for organising the men's and women's futsal tournaments at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Behind the on-court action, a dedicated team works to ensure that the match officials have what they need throughout the competition. Among them is Accommodation Coordinator Valentina Grossi, who has worked in FIFA's accommodation department for two years.

What do you do?

Here in Dakar, my main focus is the referees' hotel, where I work closely with the hotel staff to make sure everything runs smoothly. It's important because the referees need to be able to perform at their best throughout the tournament, and looking after their wellbeing is a very important part of my job.

That includes checking the meeting rooms and catering arrangements, reviewing food and beverage charges, and addressing any issues that might affect their stay. I also support our accommodation project leader at the FIFA staff hotel.

What does a typical day in your life at this tournament look like?

I usually start my day at the office we've set up here in the FIFA staff hotel, checking emails and messages. At 10:00, we have our main team meeting, where I can flag any major issues and discuss them with the wider team. At around 11:00, I head to the referees' hotel. It's a 20-to-30-minute drive through Dakar, which I actually enjoy because it gives me a chance to see a bit of the city along the way!

The evening before, I usually check with my colleagues from FIFA's refereeing team to find out whether they've received any feedback directly from the referees. That way, I know what needs attention before I arrive.

At the hotel, I meet our designated contact person from the hotel staff to go through any issues. I then check the restaurant and meeting rooms, making sure everything is running as it should – even the coffee station, very important! I also always try to speak directly with the referees to hear how they're finding their stay. Their feedback is incredibly valuable.

What are the challenges you're facing?

Sometimes it's the small things that need immediate attention. For example, during this tournament I visited the referees' hotel and noticed that pasta was missing from the menu. I also tried the food and found it quite spicy.

I wasn't sure whether that was just my personal preference, so I spoke to some of the referees, who confirmed that they also found it too spicy. I raised both issues with the hotel, and they quickly responded by adding pasta to the menu and making some of the dishes less spicy. We found a good solution, and everyone was happy with the outcome.

The referees need to eat properly, so food is a priority. More generally, I don't think people always realise how much work goes into an event, even one on a smaller scale. There is a lot of preparation and coordination behind the scenes, from accommodation arrangements to daily communication with the hotels.

What do you enjoy most about working for FIFA?

What I enjoy most is being on site at events and tournaments and supporting the daily hotel operations. It's a nice change from my usual work at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, and I love having the opportunity to experience the countries and cultures where our tournaments take place.

I've always enjoyed exploring new places and meeting new people. When I was studying, I lived abroad, including in Spain, and that experience really strengthened my interest in different cultures.

It's also something I appreciate about working at FIFA. Even within our own team, we have around 15 people from different nationalities. I find it fascinating to work with colleagues from so many different backgrounds and learn from one another.

What’s your most cherished FIFA moment?

The final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025. It was my first tournament and the first time I'd worked so closely with teams. I spent five weeks in Santiago, which was an amazing experience.

I worked particularly closely with the Moroccan team, so seeing them win the tournament was a fantastic moment. We had spent so much time together, and I was really happy that the hotel staff could celebrate with the Moroccan players when they returned as champions.

Seeing how much it meant to everyone involved made it even more special. It's a moment I'll never forget.