The best summer job? Two fans earn $50K watching World Cup
FOX One hired Kevin Akoto and Austin Franklin as its Chief World Cup Watchers, paying each $50,000 to watch all 104 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches from a glass cube in Times Square while creating social content for fans. The Indeed-backed promotion turns the streaming platform into a street-level spectacle—and raises an obvious question: could this be the best summer job on earth?
Key Takeaways
- Kevin Akoto and Austin Franklin each earn $50,000 to watch every match of the expanded 104-game World Cup.
- FOX One, FOX Sports, and Indeed selected the pair from thousands of video applicants.
- They work from a custom glass cube in Times Square with recliners, large screens, and room to engage passing fans.
- Beyond viewing, the role requires social content creation to build excitement around FOX One's tournament coverage.
- They do not sleep inside the cube and leave at the end of their shifts.
Who Are the FOX One Chief World Cup Watchers?
Kevin Akoto is a line cook from Florida. Austin Franklin is an influencer from Philadelphia. Both beat thousands of rivals for a job that sounds like a fever dream: get paid to watch the world's biggest soccer tournament on FOX One.
According to BBC News, the BBC caught up with the pair just over a week into their assignment. amNewYork reports that Fox One collaborated with Indeed to find candidates with content-creation experience. Both men have built audiences of hundreds of thousands across social platforms—a skill set that mattered as much as their love of the game.
What Does Life Inside the Times Square Cube Look Like?
It is hard to miss their setup. A custom-built glass cubicle sits in the middle of Times Square, outfitted with recliners, a brown leather sofa, two large televisions, a foosball table, snacks, and toys to pass time between fixtures.
The "Cube" draws crowds throughout the day, especially during matches. Franklin told amNewYork that celebrating with fans who flood Times Square for big games has been his favorite part. The visibility lets the pair connect with supporters from around the world without leaving Midtown.
Importantly, the gig does not require sleeping on display. When their shifts end, they leave the fishbowl to recharge before the next fixture marathon begins.
Why Is FOX One Running This Stunt?
FOX One is the official streaming home of the 2026 World Cup in the U.S. The Chief World Cup Watcher role is marketing wrapped in monoculture: two relatable fans, a viral-ready glass box, and a $50,000 paycheck that practically writes its own headline.
The assignment runs through the tournament window, with the watchers creating reactions and behind-the-scenes posts for FOX One, FOX Soccer, and Indeed's channels. For a platform competing in a crowded future tech and streaming landscape, the cube is both billboard and content studio.
Do New Yorkers Think This Is the Dream Job?
Reactions on the street are mixed. A Norway fan told the BBC that watching all 104 matches without privacy might be an "overdose." An 18-year-old passerby said sharing the tournament with friends or family would beat life in a glass box.
Others were less skeptical. "What? It's even better than going in person—getting paid to watch the World Cup, that's crazy," one 20-year-old told the BBC. Love it or loathe it, the stunt has succeeded at one thing: making FOX One impossible to ignore in the city hosting the world's biggest sporting event.