From MCC to FIFA: Former Tribune Living His Dream
April 6, 2026
Kevin Messam at the FIFA World Cup Team Workshop.
When the World Cup begins in June, an MCC graduate will be a big part of making it a success. FIFA hired Kevin Messam as a Team Liaison Officer for the FIFA World Cup. Team Liaison officers are the bridge between teams and the tournament organizer, with a myriad of responsibilities, including but not limited to managing logistics such as scheduling, lodging, and travel. Messam will be one of at least 48 Team Liaisons at the World Cup, which kicks off in June in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He will be the Team Liaison Officer for the Curacao Men’s National Team.
Messam graduated from MCC in May 2024 with an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Degree. He is currently attending St. John’s University in Queens, New York, and is expected to earn his Bachelor of Science Degree in Sports Management in May. Last semester, he earned a 3.98 GPA, has made the Dean’s List three times, and is a Fulbright Scholar Endorsed Candidate.
Veronica: How did you react when you found out?
Kevin: Ha! I was in my Economics class when the email came in, and I jumped up and yelled YES!!!! I had to apologize to the professor, but when I shared the news with him, he laughed and said, “I would’ve yelled it out loud, too!” But overall, it was a great moment, one that I will cherish forever.
Veronica: What excites you most about being a World Cup Team Liaison?
Kevin: The challenge of the unknown. I’ve been a Team Liaison before, but without question, this is the crowning achievement of my life and career, playing a significant part in the biggest sports event in modern history. I’m looking forward to all of the highs, lows, and everything in between.
Veronica: You overcame some major obstacles to get to this point. Can you elaborate?
Kevin: At age 26, I moved to New York City from my hometown of Toronto, Canada, with two garbage bags of clothes and $200 to my name to do an internship at a record company. This was the start of my career in the record business doing international marketing, but it did not work out through no fault of my own. I worked tirelessly to consistently refine my skills, with a strong focus and attention to detail, so that, despite whatever was going on in my life, I had the belief in my skills and in God that I would reach my goal.
Veronica: How did you end up at MCC?
Kevin: I ended up at MCC after being out of school for more than 20 years. It was during the pandemic that I felt I had to make a shift in my life and career. I saw an ad about SUNY online, applied, got in, and got started.
Veronica: Would you recommend MCC to others and why?
Kevin: Most definitely. The flexibility of being an adult student working full-time with a family made it ideal for me. More importantly, I’ve met some amazing people like Kim Ross, who helped me a lot with the onboarding process into MCC, and professors like Donna Burke, who was the first person I met at MCC. She was not only kind, caring, and empathetic, but also held me to a high standard, making me believe I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. Dr. Lydia Tien, Dr. Kim McKinsey Mabry, and Christy Anderson Evans were also extremely supportive of my journey at MCC.
Veronica: What inspires you?
Kevin: What inspires me is the power of the human spirit. One of my favorite quotes is by Berry Gordy Jr. (Founder, Motown Records). Obviously, he’s a person of great resolve, great vision, endless creativity, and business acumen – he’s a hero of mine. A quote from him is what I live by – he said that “The sky is NOT the limit, it’s only the first stop, so if the sky is the first stop, there’s no limit to what one person can do or achieve. That gets me going!!!
Veronica: How has your family been instrumental in your success?
Kevin: My wife of 15 years, Lan, has been my rock and my biggest cheerleader. When I decided to go back to finish my degree, she supported me in every possible way (financially and otherwise). She made incredible sacrifices for our family so I could pursue my goals and dreams. My lovely daughter Morgan, now 11 and a 6th-grader in middle school, has been making amazing strides. She’s demonstrated leadership in many ways and is a consistent straight-A student. I couldn’t be prouder of her and proud that she chose me as her dad.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Team Liaisons Group Photo
Veronica: What are your plans after graduation from St. John’s and the World Cup?
Kevin: I’m going to take a break, then apply to business school for a 2027 start in either May or September.
Team Curacao, the team Kevin is the liaison for, plays on Sunday, June 14, in Houston. The FIFA tournament website has a list of all of the matches throughout the tournament.