KENNESAW, Ga. | Jun 29, 2026

As a young soccer player growing up in Georgia, Sofia Cupertino never imagined that one day she would be standing on the sidelines of a FIFA World Cup match, camera in hand, photographing some of the game's biggest stars on the world’s biggest stage.

Now a journalism student in Kennesaw State University’s Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Cupertino is covering World Cup matches in Atlanta this summer with Soccer Down Here (SDH), an Atlanta-based soccer media outlet. For her, this is the culmination of a lifelong love for the sport after playing soccer for nine years at the recreational, club, and high school levels and later getting into sports photography.

“This summer feels like the ultimate reward for everything I've been working toward over the last few years,” Cupertino said. “I grew up watching the World Cup, so it's still surreal to think I’m there covering it.”

Mostly self-taught, Cupertino fell in love with taking pictures at 12 during a family vacation to Yellowstone National Park, and from there she immersed herself in all things photography, from books to online tutorials and paired that with lots of practice. During her senior year at Whitewater High School, she was assigned sports photographer for the school's yearbook. It was then she quickly realized she had discovered the perfect marriage of her two passions.

“I remember taking photos at a women’s soccer game and having this moment where I thought, ‘This is awesome,’” she said. “I didn't have to be on the field to be part of the game. I could tell the story through my camera. I remember thinking, ‘I want to do this every day’.”

When she came to KSU in 2023, Cupertino began photographing games for KSU Athletics, covering football, basketball, volleyball, and soccer. She later met soccer commentator Jason Longshore while photographing a KSU soccer match. He soon hired her to work with his media company Soccer Down Here.

Through SDH, she has covered youth, high school and professional soccer, including Atlanta United games, photographed Lionel Messi at Copa América, and now counts the FIFA World Cup as her biggest assignment yet.

“I understand the game because I’ve played it,” she said. “You know what moments to look for and what players are trying to accomplish. You can anticipate where the ball is going based on players’ movements, and that helps you capture moments other photographers might miss.”

She easily names the highlight of her World Cup experience so far was photographing Spain's young superstar Lamine Yamal during a match against Cape Verde.

“Lamine comes on the field, and he starts running towards us,” Cupertino said. “His first play of the game is maybe a yard away from us. That was kind of the moment where everything was like, ‘Oh my goodness. I'm taking photos of one of the biggest teams in the world right now. This is crazy.’”

Cupertino's photographs do more than document the game, they capture its emotion.

“Sofia is an incredible photographer who tells a story through her pictures,” said Longshore, chief strategic officer and founder of SDH. “It's such a gift to not just capture these great sports moments perfectly, but to also capture the emotions around the games and big plays. Her work has helped elevate our SDH Network and our brand so much over the past few years.”  

Cupertino's work ethic has stood out in the classroom as much as it has on the sidelines.

“I have had Sofia in several classes, and she is one of the hardest-working students I know,” said Stella Payne, senior lecturer of communication at KSU. “I see nothing but great things ahead for her professionally."

And beyond the World Cup, Cupertino already has her sights set on the future.

“I don't want it to stop here. My ultimate goal is to be the photographer for Atlanta’s women’s soccer team. That would be my dream job.”

–     Story by Christin Senior

      Photos provided

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.