Careers in Sports Media: Inside ESPN’s World Cup Productions | S3E12
ON THIS EPISODE OF LIFE AT DISNEY
In this episode of the Life at Disney Podcast, we scored a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the preparation for one of the biggest sporting events of the year — the FIFA World Cup. Two seasoned ESPN employees explore the victories and challenges of working on a production this large, and advice for those looking to start a career with ESPN.
MEET OUR GUESTS
Daniel, Senior Manager Producer, ESPN, Mexico
As a production assistant with ESPN in 2008, Daniel started his career helping on the SportsCenter studio floor. He advanced through production roles and became senior manager producer at ESPN in 2025, overseeing studio shows like Fútbol Picante. He is currently leading production planning for ESPN’s World Cup coverage and is based in Mexico.
“What shaped me the most were the big live events — World Cups, Olympics, because they push you in ways that regular production just doesn't. More than 17 years later, I'm still learning something new.”
Mercedes, Supervisor, Tape Library, ESPN, Argentina
Mercedes began her Disney journey 28 years ago in the production department of ESPN and has supported operations and talent coordination along the way. She assisted with the launching of SportsCenter in 2000, which shaped her career and made her eager to embrace new challenges. She now serves as the supervisor of ESPN’s tape library, where she continues to contribute to production success. Mercedes is project manager supporting Colombia and other Latin American regions for the World Cup and is based in Argentina.
“It has been a very challenging but rewarding experience. There is a tremendous amount of coordination involved, but it is also an exciting opportunity to contribute to such a major event.”
Working on a Global Scale
On a typical ESPN production day, Daniel and Mercedes know their show, team and routine. The World Cup demands a whole new level of operation — long days, multiple locations, many moving pieces and very little room for error. Every decision is important, and communication is key.
“It carries a great deal of responsibility,” Mercedes said. “Success depends on your ability to stay organized, prioritize effectively, make decisions quickly and keep your energy up from start to finish.”
Daniel and Mercedes said collaboration is crucial for an event as big as the World Cup, and the outcome depends on how people can work together, support one another and achieve a common goal.
“We’ve been working with sales, marketing, programming, digital, technical operations and HR all at the same time,” Daniel said.
Daniel’s team at ESPN Mexico also collaborated with regional teams in Argentina, Brazil and Bristol for coverage.
“Working closely with colleagues from other parts of the company made the whole project feel much bigger,” Daniel said. “The key was getting everyone aligned early, so that when we got close to air, we were already executing, not still figuring things out.”
Overcoming Challenges
Working on a project as expansive as the World Cup comes with a unique set of challenges. Daniel said he ran into two major problems along the way: staffing and determining the right locations.
“Staffing at this scale is always hard — you’re building teams that need to work well together from day one,” Daniel said. “Finding the right locations from scratch was also overwhelming. When you work with an outside vendor, a lot of things fall outside your control — logistics, availability, technical needs.”
The best way to stay ahead of these challenges was to ask plenty of questions early on and stay organized, according to Daniel. But there’ve been times when he’s thought everything was covered and something shifted last minute.
“What I learned is that you have to stay flexible without losing your structure,” Daniel said. “Those two things can actually work together.”
In Mercedes’ case, the accountability of leading a global project like the World Cup was a challenge.
“There are moments of doubt, but I have learned that confidence doesn’t come before the journey — it grows as you move forward,” Mercedes said. “By taking on challenges, learning from them and trusting the process, you gradually build confidence in yourself.”
Building a Career in Corporate Social Responsibility
For anyone looking to start a career at ESPN, both Daniel and Mercedes said the ability to collaborate with others is essential. In a company as vast as Disney, it’s also important to communicate clearly with those from different personal backgrounds or lines of work.
“You're always working with someone who sees things differently than you do,” Daniel said. “The people who do well are the ones who listen, adapt and never assume everyone is starting from the same place.”
Mercedes agreed that the best results come when people listen to and support each other when working towards a larger goal. She also urges to never give up on a dream.
“Work hard, keep moving forward and take chances without being afraid to fail,” Mercedes said.
Another piece of advice from Daniel is to always say yes to hard assignments that push your comfort zone. He said events like the World Cup and Olympics that come with long nights and quick live production can truly have a lasting career impact.
“Be patient, genuinely patient. In this career, going through every step of the process is what builds you,” Daniel said. “You can't skip the early years. That experience is what helps you plan better, solve problems faster and stay calm when everything is moving at once.”
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