Lorenzo Claassen, a football coach from Cloetesville, was the only person from Africa that FIFA sent to volunteer at the 2026 football World Cup collectively hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico. A former Bafana Bafana player and the co-founder for training4changeS, a Stellenbosch sports academy, shared their remarks on Claassen’s unique contribution to his community.
Lorenzo Claassen (right), a football coach from Cloetesville, stands with three other international volunteers at the FIFA World Cup in North America. Claassen was the only volunteer from Africa and was selected based on his contribution to his community through football. PHOTO: Supplied/Lorenzo Claassen
A few months ago, FIFA launched the FIFA Foundation Community Leaders Volunteer Programme, through which they selected volunteers based on their contribution to the football community. Claassen applied with a one-page letter detailing his desire to attend the World Cup.
“Football has changed my life,” Claassen wrote in the letter. “Growing up, the game provided me with an escape from crime and brokenness in my community. Football helped me gain confidence as a leader and inspired me to devote my life to empowering children through the game.”
Claassen was selected as one of four international volunteers, one other from Germany and two from Colombia. The main aspect of his role was to interact with the fans and hand out fan cards. These cards include QR codes that allow fans to access exclusive, digital information about the stadium, merchandise and games.
Lorenzo Claassen, a football coach from Cloetesville and co-ordinator of community partnerships for training4changeS, wears his FIFA volunteer kit at Cloetesville sportsground. Claassen was selected to volunteer at the FIFA World Cup in North America. Part of his role was to interact with fans and hand out fan cards which link to exclusive, digital information about the tournament. PHOTO: Emma Giles
His role also included assisting in the test run of the opening ceremony where he sang the anthems in place of where the players would be on the official day.
“That was one of my stand-out moments. To be on the field and sing the national anthem,” said Claassen.
Another special moment for Claassen was visiting the locker room assigned to the South African team. “I saw the big flag. I was shocked, and everyone [the other volunteers] was just cheering, because I was the only one from South Africa,” he said.
Unexpectedly, the FIFA staff surprised the volunteers, allowing them to watch the opening game between South Africa and Mexico live.
George Dearnaley, a former Bafana Bafana striker, manager for Kaizer Chiefs Radio and player adviser, saw Claassen at his layover in Germany. Claassen’s volunteer jacket caught Dearnaley’s attention.
“Just from the excitement in his voice you could hear how much it meant to him,” Dearnaley told SMF News, describing him as “a great ambassador for the country”. This is “quite simply an extraordinary story and couldn’t have happened to a better guy”, he said.
Claassen’s experience has been an inspiration for Stellenbosch football players. “I think a lot of young people might not have applied just thinking that the odds were against them […] yet, here we have a guy who did all the paperwork and ended up at the opening game of the 2026 World Cup in Mexico!” said Dearnaley.
Claassen was also the U19 captain at Cloetesville High School and achieved Boland and Western Cape colours in football.
Since 2013, Claassen has been involved with training4changeS, a Stellenbosch based non-profit organisation with a focus on football. As a coach and co-ordinator of community partnerships, he contributed significantly to the development of football in Stellenbosch and surrounding areas such as Cloetesville, Kayamandi and Ida’s Valley.
The training4changeS’ football teams started in the Stellenbosch Local Football Association (LFA) league three years ago, starting in the first division. After back-to-back wins, the senior team moved up to the premier league and then to the promo league. Recently, they placed second in their stream.
Daniel Thomae (right) is the co-founder and international director for training4changeS, a Stellenbosch-based non-profit organisation with a focus on football and holistic development. Lorenzo Claassen, the co-ordinator of community partnerships for training4changeS, was selected as a volunteer at the FIFA World Cup. PHOTO: Supplied/Daniel Thomae
“Training4changeS was started with a desire to provide high quality soccer coaching while focusing on holistic development to create a brighter future for children and communities,” said Daniel Thomae, co-founder and international director for training4changeS.
According to Thomae, the secret to their teams’ success is “a supportive environment which provides social connectedness” and a “unique blend of high-level coaching alongside quality education inside and outside the classroom”.
“Lorenzo is a humble servant leader who sacrifices so much for his family and community,” said Thomae. Claassen attending the World Cup “was a good reward for his hard work”, he said.