Kevin Kotoko didn't think twice when Fox offered him $50,000 to watch all 104 World Cup matches. The catch: he'd have to do it inside a custom-built viewing cube in the middle of Times Square, surrounded by gawking pedestrians at every moment.
Kotoko, a Liverpool fan from Florida, was working as a waiter when he learned he'd won the competition. He quit that same week. "I found out on Thursday that I had won and told them on Friday that would be my last day," he recalls.
He shares the transparent box with Austin Franklin, a Philadelphia-based influencer. Both were selected from thousands of applicants who submitted video pitches for the role. Their job extends beyond passive viewing: they're expected to create social media content, record reactions, and engage directly with fans throughout the tournament.
The setup has proven as surreal as it sounds. Franklin describes the experience as something out of "The Truman Show," where he'll suddenly remember he's being watched by crowds peering down at him from above. "There's 30 people watching us watching games most of the time," he says. "It's a weird experience."
Kotoko notes the constant balancing act required. "We're trying to stay authentic while making sure we're engaged with the game but also showcasing what we're doing," he explains.
Curiosity from passersby has been relentless. The most frequently asked question, according to Franklin, involves bathroom logistics. "I like the idea of finding it," he says with amusement. "I've got 15 minutes to figure out where I can find a bathroom that day."
The two have access to a nearby hotel with full facilities and meals served inside the cube featuring cuisine from each competing nation. During the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, a carnival atmosphere erupted outside as fans celebrated Mexico's dominant victory.
Franklin describes a moment that captured the emotional weight of the tournament. A woman sat behind him for the entire 90-minute Mexico match. Afterward, she approached him with tears. "She told me she was born in Mexico, moved to New York, and used to watch matches with her dad," Franklin recounts. "Her dad passed away a few years ago. That connection, that's what the World Cup is all about."
Both men harbor realistic hopes for the U.S. team after its strong opening performance. "I think the expectation is they can get into the quarter-finals at least," Kotoko says. "This is our golden generation, so you should put that pressure on them."
The expanded 48-team format demands endurance. The group stage features four matches daily across three time zones, a relentless schedule that will test both their stamina and commitment to the job. Kotoko, who was born in Ghana, is hopeful his home country can make a mark on the tournament as well.
Despite the intensity ahead, both recognize the unusual privilege of their assignment. "I'm sitting on a couch watching football. It's pretty fun," Franklin says. "There's something about the spirit of the World Cup that takes over. We have pretty much the perfect job."
Author James Rodriguez: "Getting paid six figures to watch soccer from a glass box while crowds gawk is either the dream gig or the world's most elaborate prank, and somehow both men seem content with the outcome."
Comments