Behind the Badge, Angelica Guerra’s Journey from Rural Texas to FIFA World Cup 2026™

By Gloria Romano-Barrera

Raised in the small rural Texas town of Falfurrias, about 90 miles north of the Mexican border town of Reynosa, Angelica Guerra never imagined her career would one day connect her with one of the largest sporting events in the world. But from an early age, she understood the value of hard work, resilience, community, and service — lessons that continue to guide her today.

Angelica Guerra, Commercial Partner Accreditation Liaison
Officer (ALO), The Coca-Cola Company.

Growing up in a close-knit South Texas community, Guerra was surrounded by strong family ties, deep cultural traditions, and a profound appreciation for America, Texas, and the institutions that connect communities together.

“My love of American culture runs deep,” Guerra says. “Growing up in a small South Texas town gave me a unique perspective on what it means to be American. There’s a sense of community, service, and pride that stays with you.”

That appreciation extends to institutions like the United States Postal Service and the U.S. Military, both of which played an important role in her family story. 

UPS Panel, Guerra gifted them Coca-Cola x FIFA Jerseys.

Her father and uncles served in the military, as did her daughter’s late father. One uncle returned home from Vietnam and built a successful career with the USPS.

“In small towns, the post office was part of everyday life and part of the community,” she recalls. “I loved going to the post office and talking with the postmaster. Of course, I knew our mail carrier, but going inside the post office was different. You connected with people there.”

Watching her uncle build a stable and meaningful life through the USPS left a lasting impression.

Angelica Guerra as a panelist during Hispanic Heritage Month.

“He came back from Vietnam, went to work for the Postal Service, and built a beautiful life for himself and his wife,” Guerra says. “It showed me the dignity of work, public service, and perseverance.”

A graduate of Falfurrias High School, Guerra went on to attend Texas A&M University-Kingsville, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in political science. Passionate about politics, law, and government, she became fascinated by how laws vary from state to state, county to county, and city to city throughout the United States.

“What has always interested me about the law is that it is constantly evolving depending on where you are,” she explains. “There’s always something new
to learn.”

She later earned her master’s in human relations (MHR) in Diversity, Equity, and Strategic Impact from the University of Oklahoma, further expanding her focus on leadership, organizational culture, and inclusion.

Guerra has now spent more than 20 years in the legal field, including the last 13 years within The Coca-Cola Company system. She began her Coca-Cola career in Sugar Land, TX, at the Minute Maid Business Unit, where she worked as a paralegal supporting legal operations. Today, she serves as a Senior Paralegal supporting North America Marketing and Claims.

In late 2025, Guerra stepped into one of the most unique roles of her career when she joined the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Host Countries Project Team as the Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) supporting The Coca-Cola Company’s commercial partnership with FIFA.

In the role, Guerra supports approvals and accreditations tied to tournament operations across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Her work helps ensure authorized personnel can access stadiums and operational venues throughout one of the world’s most anticipated sporting events.

“It’s an incredible experience because it combines so many parts of my background,” she says. “I’ve spent years supporting legal operations and marketing work, and now I get to apply those skills to a global event like the FIFA World Cup. It truly feels like one of those moments that only Coca-Cola could provide.”

While the role happens largely behind the scenes, Guerra understands how critical these operational details are to the success of an event of this scale.

“These may seem like small things, but they become incredibly important once tournament operations begin,” she explains. “Helping support the people and teams who make these events happen is something I’m very proud of.”

Her Coca-Cola journey has also connected her back to another lifelong passion: sports. Before joining the company, Guerra had considered opportunities in professional baseball, including a role with the Houston Astros. Instead, she chose Coca-Cola — a decision that eventually brought her back into the sports world through legal and partnership support work involving FIFA, the Olympics, McLaren Racing, and other major partnerships.

Coca-Cola C-Suite including the new CEO Mr. Henrique Braun. 

Ask Guerra what she loves most about working for Coca-Cola and the answer comes quickly: the people, the culture, and the connection the brand has to communities around the world.

“Coca-Cola was always part of my upbringing,” she says with a smile. “Family gatherings, fiestas, carnivals; there was always Coke around. My grandmother loved Fanta Orange from Mexico and Topo Chico. Those memories stay with you.”

After relocating from Texas to Atlanta, Guerra also experienced another layer of her identity. As a Mexican American woman whose family has been in the United States for more than four generations, moving into a more internationally diverse Latino community challenged her understanding of what it means to be Latina in America.

“The authenticity piece has been an interesting journey,” she shares. “In Atlanta, many members of the Hispanic and Latino community come from completely different countries and experiences than mine. At first, that was difficult because my experience as a Mexican American from South Texas felt very different.”

Rather than closing herself off, Guerra embraced the opportunity to learn from others.

“I stayed open, and I’ve fallen in love with another part of what it means to be Latina in America,” she says. “It’s been a beautiful journey of discovery and self-love. You can learn so much from other cultures.”

Her advice to others is simple but deeply personal:

“Never be afraid of being yourself. Some people may not understand you, but the ones who do become part of your story.”

Bea Perez, Ms. Ingrid Saunders Jones, Mr. Javier Goizueta, and Angelica Guerra celebrating the Legacy of Latino Leadership and honoring the late Roberto Goizueta at The Coca-Cola Company during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Outside of work, Guerra remains deeply committed to mentorship, community involvement, and inclusion efforts. She serves as Co-Lead of Coca-Cola’s Hispanic Inclusion Network and Vice President of Operations for the Hispanic Corporate Council of Atlanta. She has also volunteered with organizations including the Junior League of Atlanta, Cool Girls, Inc., and the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

In partnership with BODYARMOR, Angelica Guerra presented Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

She is also a proud mother to “one human and one furry mongrel,” both girls, whom she describes as the center of her world.

Throughout her career, Guerra has remained grounded in authenticity, curiosity, service, and relationship-building. From a small South Texas town to helping support one of the biggest international sporting events in the world, her story reflects the power of staying open to opportunity while remaining proud of where you came from.

Hot Pink Party with Monica Howard Douglas and the ladies from the legal team.

“Your dreams are not always in the same place,” Guerra says. “Sometimes they take you somewhere completely different than you imagined. But if you
stay open, work hard, and keep learning, those experiences become part of who you are.”

Angelica Guerra alongside Robert Bard, CEO, LATINA Style, Inc., and Lupita Colmenero, COO, LATINA Style, Inc.