Why My Role as a FIFA World Cup Ambassador Is About More Than Just Soccer

Yvette Pegues, Ed.D., a STEM professional and disability advocate, has been selected as a 2026 FIFA World Cup Host City Ambassador for Atlanta.

The appointment places Pegues in a visible leadership role for one of the world’s largest sporting events. As a Black woman and wheelchair user, Pegues describes the role as more than a volunteer assignment, framing it as a matter of presence and service for groups that are not historically visible beyond the spectator stands, Essence reports.

Accessibility and Representation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Pegues brings a professional background in accessibility to her role as an ambassador. She is the founder and Chief Prevention Officer of Your Invisible DisAbility Group, an organization focused on preventing accessibility failures within high-visibility environments, according to Essence.

In her account of the volunteer training in Atlanta, Pegues notes the mental and physical preparation required for disabled individuals to occupy professional spaces. She describes a history of entering environments where accessibility existed on paper but failed in practice, making her selection as an ambassador a shift toward being a participant rather than a symbol, Essence reports.

Pegues links her current role to the legacy of pioneers in women’s soccer, specifically citing the influence of Black women like Kim Crabbe and Briana Scurry. She states that the visibility of these athletes expanded the possibilities for others long before she joined the World Cup volunteer effort, according to Essence.

The Role of Power Soccer and Adaptive Athletics

Beyond her ambassadorial duties, Pegues advocates for the recognition of disabled people as athletes and strategists. She specifically highlights the United States Power Soccer Association (USPA) national team, which utilizes a version of the sport designed for power wheelchair users, Essence reports.

Pegues argues that access to the game must extend beyond accessible seating. She identifies the USPA national team as evidence that disabled individuals contribute valuable skills to the sport, rather than remaining on the periphery as viewers, according to the Essence profile.

Her personal engagement with adaptive sports is extensive. Pegues has participated in more than 25 adaptive amateur sports since becoming a wheelchair user, Essence reports.

Overcoming Barriers in U.S. Soccer Pathways

The profile also addresses the systemic barriers within the United States soccer infrastructure. Pegues identifies several factors that have historically limited who can imagine themselves on the field, including:

• High club fees and travel costs
• Transportation challenges
• Geographic limitations
• A lack of diverse representation

Pegues views her role as a Host City Ambassador as a way to address these gaps. She describes her objective not as waiting for doors to open, but as utilizing the opportunities available to make access easier for the next generation of participants, according to Essence.

Being all of me at the World Cup reminded me that I am part of that legacy. My job isn’t to wait until every door opens. My job is to walk—or in my case, roll—through the ones that do, take them off the hinges, and make it easier for the next person to gain access.
Essence