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As the final whistle blew on the FIFA World Cup 2026 on July 19, billions of fans celebrated the tournament's unforgettable moments. What most never saw was the technology working seamlessly behind every match. At SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where the U.S. Men's National Team played its opening match on June 12, Mount Saint Mary's University alumna Crystal Calvillo, MBA '21 was helping make it all possible.

As Manager of Venue Technology for FIFA World Cup 2026 at SoFi Stadium, Crystal oversaw the technology operations for all eight World Cup matches — including a quarterfinal — hosted in Los Angeles, coordinating the systems that powered one of the tournament's busiest venues. She led the planning and execution of the technology that kept the venue running—from stadium networks and broadcast systems to media operations, team communications and the thousands of devices used by tournament staff. Every Wi-Fi network, broadcast connection and behind-the-scenes operation required meticulous coordination.

"You become the point of contact for everyone and everything," Crystal said. "It is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done."

For Crystal, the role carried meaning far beyond the technical challenges. A first-generation Mexican American, she grew up loving sports through her father, who passed away in 2020 before seeing where her career would take her.

"It is everything I never knew I always wanted," she said. "My nieces will be able to look back and say, 'My aunt worked the World Cup,' and my son gets to see what his mom accomplished."

While millions of fans watched the action on the field at SoFi Stadium, Crystal and her team were ensuring every match in Los Angeles ran seamlessly behind the scenes. “This world-wide event only comes around every four years," she said. "I feel very proud to have accomplished this dream, and I am very fortunate to work with an amazing team.”

The work was demanding and often overwhelming, and she rarely had time to reflect on the scale of what she was helping deliver. Instead, she focused on solving problems, leading her team of over 20 staff members and preparing for whatever came next.  "When I stop and think about it, it is incredible to know I played a part in something the entire world experiences," she said.

That journey began unexpectedly during her MBA admissions interview at the Mount.

When then-MBA director Michelle French-Holloway, EdD, asked about her interests outside of work, Crystal shared her lifelong passion for sports, music and dance. Professor Holloway responded with a simple question that changed everything: “Why don't you go into sports and entertainment?”

"That light bulb had never turned on," Crystal said. "I didn't know I could marry the things I was good at with the things I was passionate about."

Inspired by the conversation, Crystal immersed herself in networking events, connected with professionals across the sports industry and pursued every opportunity she could find. Just months after earning her MBA, she landed a project management role at SoFi Stadium, where she helped deliver the Super Bowl VLI before returning to the same venue a few years later to oversee technology operations for every FIFA World Cup match played there.

The Mount also supported Crystal through one of the most difficult periods of her life. She began the MBA program after a difficult breakup and, just months later, lost her father. Encouragement from classmates, faculty and staff gave her the strength to continue.

"I thought, 'I cannot do this,'" she recalled. "But my friends told me, 'You are not quitting, and you are going to graduate with us.' They believed in me when I couldn't believe in myself."

Today, Crystal is helping pave the way for other women in technology, a field where female leaders remain underrepresented. She hopes her story encourages students to pursue opportunities they may never have imagined for themselves.

"Just do it. Don't be scared," she said. "You don't have to know everything. Be willing to learn, ask questions and trust that if you have been given the opportunity, it is because you are capable."

Looking back, Crystal credits the Mount with giving her more than an MBA. It gave her mentors who helped her see possibilities she had never imagined, classmates who carried her through one of the hardest seasons of her life, and the confidence to pursue a career that ultimately led to the world's biggest sporting event.

"All it takes is for one person to believe in you," she said.