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How a Nepali came to be part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup behind the scenes

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Ashwin Raj Pokharel, a Nepali man living in the US, is working as a supervisor for Coca-Cola at the AT&T Stadium, a major venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
  • Pokharel's journey to this role involved years of work in various sectors in Nepal and the US, including event management and running an education consultancy.
  • He also founded AshFinances to help the Nepali community in the US with guidance on education, finances, and careers.

A Nepali man, Ashwin Raj Pokharel, is gaining attention for his behind-the-scenes role at the AT&T Stadium, a prominent venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Pokharel, 29, who has lived in the United States since 2018, works as a lead supervisor for Coca-Cola at the stadium, which will host numerous matches during the global tournament.

His involvement with the World Cup is the culmination of a diverse career path that began in Nepal. During his school days, Pokharel worked for Highlights Nepal, an entertainment platform. He later assisted his parents in their wholesale shop and gained experience in the travel and tourism industry before starting an education consultancy. In 2018, he moved to the US, where he pursued higher education, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in business management and business analytics, respectively. He also held a supervisory role at Amazon.

Nepalis coming to the USA for the first time get cheated in different contexts. I started the platform to guide Nepalis as they start their life in this country.

— Ashwin Raj PokharelPokharel explains his motivation for creating AshFinances, a platform to assist the Nepali community in the United States.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Pokharel is dedicated to supporting the Nepali diaspora. For the past year, he has managed AshFinances, a platform offering educational guidance, utility savings advice, career support, and essential information for Nepalis navigating life in the USA. He aims to prevent newcomers from being exploited, stating, "Nepalis coming to the USA for the first time get cheated in different contexts. I started the platform to guide Nepalis as they start their life in this country."

Pokharel's current position at the Dallas Stadium was an unexpected opportunity. After seeing an advertisement, he applied and successfully completed multiple selection processes and interviews. He described his experience since starting orientation on May 8 as deeply fulfilling, saying, "Ever since the orientation, I have been the happiest. To be part of this big of an event is beyond my wildest dreams."

Ever since the orientation, I have been the happiest. To be part of this big of an event is beyond my wildest dreams.

— Ashwin Raj PokharelPokharel expresses his joy and fulfillment at working for a major event like the FIFA World Cup.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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