When Kevin Kotoko heard that he had been selected as one of Fox’s chief World Cup watchers he had no hesitation in accepting. What self-respecting football fan could turn down the opportunity to be paid $50,000 (£37,000) to take in all 104 games at this World Cup, after all?

The only issues were that he would have to watch every match in a custom-built viewing cube in the heart of Times Square and let his employers know that he wouldn’t be coming in for work the next day. “I quit my job,” admits Kotoko, a Liverpool fan who is from Florida and was working as a waiter in a restaurant. “I found out on Thursday that I had won the competition and so I told them on Friday that would be my last day!”

He is sharing the giant fishbowl for the next six weeks with Austin Franklin after they were selected from thousands of applicants who uploaded videos on social media pitching for the role. Both are expected to “create social media content, record their reactions, and engage with fans” throughout the tournament as part of the deal.

According to Franklin, who describes himself as an influencer from Philadelphia, it has been a surreal but enjoyable experience so far.

“It has really felt a bit like being on the Truman Show,” Franklin says. “I forget at times that we’re here. I’m watching a game for minutes and then I look over at Kevin and I see people on top of me. It’s like: ‘Oh my God!’ There’s 30 people watching us, watching games, most of the time. It is a weird experience.”

Kotoko adds: “We’re trying to stay authentic in the process of the job, I guess. So it’s finding that balance between making sure we’re engaged with the game, but also showcasing what we’re doing.”

Their presence in one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares has certainly attracted plenty of interest. One curious onlooker was overheard asking whether they are living in the cube for the whole tournament, while Franklin reveals that the most common question they have been asked is where do they go to the toilet. “I like the idea of finding it,” Franklin says. “That’s kind of fun for me. I’ve got 15 minutes to be, like, ‘all right, let’s see where I can find me a bathroom today.’”

There are facilities at the swanky hotel both are staying at around the corner, with food inspired by each participating nation also being served up inside the cube. When the Guardian visited for the opening match of the tournament between Mexico and South Africa, there was a carnival atmosphere outside as the co-hosts swept to a convincing victory and both watchers partied on the streets afterwards.

“There was a woman who sat right behind me in one of those chairs for the entire 90 minutes, and I went up to her and said: ‘Thank you so much for your time’,” says Franklin. “I gave her a big hug, and she told me about how she was born in Mexico, moved to New York, and used to watch all the Mexico games with her dad. Her dad passed away a few years ago, so I was like: ‘You’re going to make me cry’. So now I’m like that’s a team that I want to do well. You feel this connection and that’s what the World Cup is all about.”

Both have high hopes for the United States too after their excellent start against Paraguay. “I think the expectation is they can get into the quarter-finals at least. Then, who knows?” says Kotoko. “This is our golden generation so I think you should put that pressure on them.”

The unprecedented and unrelenting schedule of the expanded 48-team tournament means this will be a marathon and not a sprint. For the next three weeks there are four games every day stretching across three time zones as the group stages continue and both are fully aware of the challenge that schedule will pose.

“I think it’s just, like, trying to feed ourselves and making sure that we’re trying to keep the energy up, making sure we’re taking care of ourselves,” says Kotoko, who is also hoping that Ghana can make an impression at this World Cup, having been born there.

“I mean, I’m sitting on a couch, watching football. It’s pretty fun,” says Franklin. “There is something about the spirit of the World Cup that takes over. We have pretty much the perfect job.”