STANDARDS

CCSS: 6.G.A.2, 7.G.B.6

TEKS: 6.8D, 7.9A

Soccer On the Move

See how Alex Bizzarri moves an entire soccer team for every away game.

May/June 2026

By Stephen Zorio

Shea MacNeil/Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Alex Bizzarri

This July, 48 soccer teams from around the world will travel to 16 cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. They all have one goal: to win the 2026 World Cup. Not only is that a lot of work for the players, but it’s a big job for each team’s operations manager. This person is in charge of getting everyone—and all of their gear—to every match.

Each squad has more than 20 players, as well as coaches, assistants, trainers, luggage, and equipment. In the first stage of the World Cup, teams travel an average of 5,200 miles between matches!

The World Cup only happens every four years, but Alex Bizzarri orchestrates travel all season for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer. For away games, his operations team arranges travel for up to 45 people, their personal luggage, and 50 to 60 bags of team equipment! “That includes player gear, medical equipment, and more,” he says.

Bizzarri and his operations team have calculated that they can fit everyone—and all their things—onto one plane or two charter buses.

This July, 48 soccer teams from around the world will travel to North America. They all have one goal: to win the 2026 World Cup. Matches will take place in 16 cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The tournament is a lot of work for the players. But it’s also a big job for each team’s operations manager. This person is in charge of getting the team to every match. That includes all their gear too!

Each squad has more than 20 players. There are also coaches, assistants, trainers, luggage, and equipment. In the first stage of the World Cup, teams travel a lot. In the first stage, the winning teams will travel an average of 5,200 miles to all their matches!

The World Cup only happens every four years. But soccer teams travel all the time. Alex Bizzarri manages travel for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, a Major League Soccer team. For away games, he has to move up to 45 people, their luggage, and 50 to 60 bags of equipment. “That includes player gear, medical equipment, and more,” he says. Bizzarri and his team have carefully calculated how much space they need. They can fit everyone—and all their things—onto one plane or two charter buses.

The History of the World Cup

Watch this video about soccer's World Cup tournament.

But Bizzarri says there is another planning challenge when it comes to the extreme distances World Cup teams travel. The most crucial item on the packing list is snacks! Bizzarri says that keeping players fed is particularly important on match days, when they burn hundreds of calories. “We have to ensure that our post-match meals arrive on time, especially after players have just spent 90 minutes running around.”

After all the hustle of getting the players, their gear, and snacks to the stadium, Bizzarri’s team gets to relax when the match starts. “For most of those 90 minutes, we get to enjoy the game,” he says.

But World Cup teams travel much farther than usual. Bizzarri says that presents another planning challenge: packing snacks! Feeding players well is extra important on match days, when they burn hundreds of calories. “We have to ensure that our post-match meals arrive on time,” says Bizzarri. “Especially after players have just spent 90 minutes running around.”

It can be stressful getting all the players, their gear, and food to the stadium. But once a match starts, Bizzarri’s team gets to relax. “For most of those 90 minutes, we get to enjoy the game,” he says.

Career Pathway: TEAM OPERATIONS MANAGER

NOW:
Manage a sports team or join a school dance planning committee. Practice making budgets with spreadsheets.

NEXT:
Many have a degree in sports management or business and complete internships with sports clubs or event planners.

FUTURE:
Estimated salary: $60,000 to $110,000

NOW:
Manage a sports team or join a school dance planning committee. Practice making budgets with spreadsheets.

NEXT:
Many have a degree in sports management or business and complete internships with sports clubs or event planners.

FUTURE:
Estimated salary: $60,000 to $110,000

Career Pathway: TEAM OPERATIONS MANAGER

NOW:
Manage a sports team or join a school dance planning committee. Practice making budgets with spreadsheets.

NEXT:
Many have a degree in sports management or business and complete internships with sports clubs or event planners.

FUTURE:
Estimated salary: $60,000 to $110,000

NOW:
Manage a sports team or join a school dance planning committee. Practice making budgets with spreadsheets.

NEXT:
Many have a degree in sports management or business and complete internships with sports clubs or event planners.

FUTURE:
Estimated salary: $60,000 to $110,000

Volume

Watch a math video about how to calculate volume.

WORKING WITH VOLUME

Volume is the amount of space inside a 3-D object. When packing up gear, Bizzarri and his staff need to fit objects of various dimensions into different spaces. Sometimes that means not using all the available volume in a given space.

V = l × w × h

V = volume

l = length

w = width

h = height

EXAMPLE

An average soccer duffel bag measures 2 feet long, 1 foot wide, and 1 foot tall. How many duffels can fit inside the trunk of an SUV that measures 4 feet long, 2.5 feet wide, and 2.5 feet tall? How would you pack them to fit? How much extra space will you have?

STEP 1

Draw a diagram of the given space and mark how many duffels will fit inside.

STEP 2

Determine the volume of the container.

Trunk volume: 4 ft × 2.5 ft × 2.5 ft = 25 ft³

STEP 3

Determine the volume of the duffels to pack.

Single duffel volume: 2 ft × 1 ft × 1 ft = 2 ft³

Total volume of duffels: 8 × 2 ft³ = 16 ft³

STEP 4

Find the difference between the total volume and the space the duffels take up.

25 ft³ – 16 ft³ = 9 ft³

So 8 duffels will fit in the trunk with an extra 9 ft³ of space.

WORKING WITH VOLUME

V = l × w × h

V = volume

l = length

w = width

h = height

EXAMPLE

STEP 1

Draw a diagram of the given space and mark how many duffels will fit inside.

STEP 2

Determine the volume of the container.

Trunk volume: 4 ft × 2.5 ft × 2.5 ft = 25 ft³

STEP 3

Determine the volume of the duffels to pack.

Single duffel volume: 2 ft × 1 ft × 1 ft = 2 ft³

Total volume of duffels: 8 × 2 ft³ = 16 ft³

STEP 4

Find the difference between the total volume and the space the duffels take up.

25 ft³ – 16 ft³ = 9 ft³

So 8 duffels will fit in the trunk with an extra 9 ft³ of space.

Answer the questions about storing and moving the Vancouver Whitecaps’ gear. Round answers to the nearest tenth when necessary. Record your work and answers on our answer sheet.

When traveling by charter bus, the team’s gear goes into a compartment that measures 8 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 4 feet tall. How many duffels 2 feet long, 1 foot wide, and 1 foot tall could fit inside?

The inside of an airport baggage cart is 4.75 feet long, 9 feet wide, and 4.25 feet tall. How many duffels measuring 2 feet long, 1 foot wide, and 1 foot tall could fit inside? How much extra space will you have?

A. If all 32 players on the Whitecaps store their duffels measuring 2 feet long, 1 foot wide, and 1 foot tall in the same storage area, what’s the minimum volume the storage area must have?