Halle Hamilton ’26 found herself in the middle of a global experience this summer, interning during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, thanks to a network of Trinity University faculty and alumni.
Hamilton majored in communication, minored in sport management, and was an all-Southern Athletic Association runner on Trinity's track and field team. We asked her about her experience working in sports media and managing social media coverage for matches played on the pitch in Dallas. Here’s what she shared.
Throughout my final semester at Trinity, I was completing my "Sport in England" class with Dr. Jacob Tingle ’95, P’30, Dr. Angela Breidenstein ’91, M’92, and Coach Paul McGinlay, three people I consider huge mentors in my life and a great support system, when it came to deciding what my next opportunity was going to be post-grad.
The class introduced me to the passion surrounding soccer and the deep emotional attachment fans form with their teams across the world. As we delved into topics surrounding sport in England, we spent a great deal of time studying soccer, which allowed me to branch out into a sport I had not previously been passionate about. This sparked my interest and motivated me to explore opportunities across different sports for my next internship.
With the help of my track coach and fellow Trinity alum Todd Wildman ’09, M’10, I was connected with Rob Sender ’09, another Trinity alum. Rob was teaching a class at Trinity with Rick Hill ’91 and would occasionally come down from Dallas to host guest lectures that I attended. Knowing that he's the brand marketing and communications executive for the Dallas Cowboys and that I was moving to Dallas post-grad, I was extremely excited to build a relationship with Rob.
After several conversations and calls, Rob helped me gain a better understanding of different career paths within the sports industry. He introduced me to Joe Trahan from Tony Fay PR, one of the agencies that collaborates closely with the Dallas Cowboys, and encouraged me to apply for an internship with the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee. Shortly after, I was fortunate to be accepted as one of their interns.
What stood out most about the internship was the opportunity to explore multiple areas of sports communications. While we initially interviewed for either media operations or social media and content creation, Tony Fay PR encouraged us to experience both. I assisted media operations at FIFA Fan Fest as a photo marshal, ensuring media members were properly credentialed and in designated areas, while also learning the importance of social listening and public perception.
I also worked with the social media team for the @FWC26Dallas Instagram page, helping capture the energy and excitement that fans from around the world brought to North Texas. Creating reels, graphics, and fan-focused content while attending team matches and watch parties was an incredible experience. Marching with Egypt fans and watching matches alongside Mexico supporters showed me firsthand how deeply football is tied to culture and identity.
Next, I will begin my post-graduate career as a customer success manager with Iron Sheepdog, a software company in the transportation industry, while continuing to strengthen my PR skills, stay connected to the sports industry, and build my professional portfolio.