FROMTHEPITCH FROM THE PITCH
FROMTHEPRESIDENT
What an exciting month it’s been for World Cup updates and announcements! Our North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee remains committed to keeping our community informed andengagedasweprepareforthishistoricevent.
On June 11, all 16 Host Cities marked the “One Year to Go” milestone. Here in North Texas, we celebrated with several major moments. We introduced our Co-Chairs, Dan Hunt and Nina Vaca, and unveiled the official Countdown Clock at DFW Airport. We hosted a press conference with important updates, announced Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages as our first Host City Supporter, launched our Community Soccer Equipment, Cleats, and Shoe Drive, and organized a community cleanupatLakeArlington.
As we move into July, even more events and news are on the horizon. Most notably, FIFA has opened volunteer registration for those interested in being part of the tournament experience, with theofficialsign-updaysetforAugust11.
We look forward to sharing more exciting news each month and hope you enjoy all the latest updatesinthisJulynewsletter.
Cheers,
MonicaPaul,NTFWCOCPresident
DANHUNTANDNINAVACA ANNOUNCEDASCO-CHAIRS
As part of the “One Year to Go” celebration held across North America at all 16 Host Cities for FIFA World Cup 26™, the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee officially announced its co-chairs Dan Hunt andNinaVaca.
“With exactly one year to go until FIFA World Cup 26™, we are proud to officially introduce Dan and Nina as co-chairs of the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee,” said Monica Paul, President of the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee. “Their leadership, commitment and proven expertise are essential to our continued progress as a Host City. As we gear up for the global stage next summer, their guidance will be instrumental in ensuring our region deliversaworld-classexperience.”
Photography by James Smith
Hunt has served as the President of FC Dallas since 2014, and under his leadership has spent yearsworkingonthedesignandconstructionof Toyota Stadium and Toyota Soccer Center with his late father and American sports icon, Lamar Hunt. Since the venue’s opening in 2005, Hunt has used the facility to help establish FC Dallas as the leader in youth development in North America.
Most recently, Hunt oversaw the successful negotiation with the City of Frisco on a $182 million public-private renovation of Toyota Stadium, and also spearheaded the $58 million constructionoftheNationalSoccerHallofFame in the south end of Toyota Stadium, which openedin2018.
“It’satremendoushonortorepresentDallasand the North Texas region as co-chair of the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee,” said Dan Hunt. “The World Cup holds a special place in myheartformyfamilyandme.Welookforward to the legacy and transformative impact this global event will leave on our communities for generations to come. I can’t wait to share the passion of the World Cup with my fellow North Texansandguestsfromaroundtheworld.”
Vaca is an award-winning entrepreneur, CEO, boardmemberandphilanthropistwhofounded Pinnacle Group in 1996, which has grown into the largest Hispanic-owned workforce solutions company in North America serving over twenty percent of the Fortune 100. Under Vaca’s leadership, Pinnacle Group has received numerous awards and recognitions over the years.
Vaca is also a committed civic leader and philanthropist. In 2014, she was appointed by the White House as one of the inaugural Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE), traveling to five continents uplifting individuals, families, and communities. She is currently serving as Entrepreneur in Residence for the City of Dallas appointedbyMayorEricJohnson.
“I am so excited to serve as a co-chair for the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee,” said Nina Vaca. “Hosting the FIFA World Cup 26 is more than a global sports milestone - it’s a defining moment for Dallas. This is our chance to welcome the world, showcase our culture, andcreateunforgettablememoriesforfansand familiesalike.”
TheFIFAWorldCup2026™willkickoffJune11,2026withtheopeningmatchinMexicoCity,whilethe first match in North Texas will be played on June 14, 2026 at Dallas Stadium. In total, North Texas will host a tournament-high nine matches, including a semi-final, throughout the 39-day competition from June 11 to July 19, 2026. This will be the largest World Cup in history with 48 teams playing in 104 matches.
TheNorthTexasFWCOrganizingCommitteeconsistsof:
Board of Directors
DanHunt-Co-Chair
NinaVaca-Co-Chair
MonicaPaul-President
JimmySmith-Treasurer
AndySwift-Secretary
ChadEstis
AdamMcGough
Staff
GillianBreidenbach–ChiefPartnershipOfficer
RickBurkhead–RegionalSafetyandSecurityLiaison
JaimeCabrera–DirectorofDonorRelations
GingerLivelyCade–AccommodationsLiaison
MinalDavis–ChiefHumanRightsOfficer
SteveDavis–DirectorofLegacyPrograms
AllieDunlap–DirectorofVolunteerServices
NoelleLeVeaux–ChiefMarketingOfficer
JairMartinez–SocialMediaManager
NancyRodriguez–ProjectManager
VOLUNTEER
VOLUNTEERREGISTRATIONTIMELINE
Dallas and the North Texas region is excited to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ and volunteers are the backbone of every major sporting event. Many of you have taken the first step by previously submitting a form to the Dallas Sports Commission. Now it is time to take the next step. Scan the QR codetobegintheofficialprocessofbecomingavolunteerforthe2026FIFAWorldCup™.
COCA-COLASOUTHWESTBEVERAGES ANNOUNCEDASOFFICIALWORLDCUP 26™DALLASHOSTCITYSUPPORTER
The North Texas FWC Organizing Committee announced Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages as an Official World Cup 2026™ Dallas Host City Supporter. The announcement was made on June 11 as partofa“OneYeartoGo”FIFAWorldCup26™pressconferenceinNorthTexas.
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“We are proud to introduce Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages as our first Official World Cup 26™ Dallas Host City Supporter,” said North Texas FWC Organizing Committee President Monica Paul. “Coca-Cola brings 50 years of World Cup experience to our market and we have no doubt CCSWB, as the local Coca-Cola bottler, will be a valued and active partner alongside the North Texas FWC Organizing CommitteeasweaimtodeliveranincredibleexperienceforDallasandtheNorthTexasregion.”
As a Host City Supporter, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages will play a key role in community initiatives aligned with the North Texas FWC Legacy commitment. Additionally, Coca-Cola Southwest will have significant branding opportunities throughout the North Texas region, including custom-branded deliverytrucks.
“The FIFA World Cup is more than a tournament – it’s a global movement that unites people across borders, cultures and generations. As someone who grew up watching fútbol in Colombia and France where passion for the game runs deep, this partnership is especially meaningful,” said Jean Claude Tissot, president of Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages. “Hosting the World Cup is a major business and cultural opportunity for Dallas-Fort Worth. We’re proud to serve the community as Host City Supporter andcelebratefansthroughnewandinnovativeexperiencesonlyCCSWBcandeliver.”
Dallas-based Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages (CCSWB), a company of Arca Continental, is one of the largest Coca-Cola bottlers in the United States. CCSWB produces, markets and distributes Coca-Cola brands throughout Texas and parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The company employs more than 9,000 associates who operate seven production plants and 37 distribution facilities, serving more than 31 million consumers. Headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico, Arca Continental is one of the largest Coca-Cola bottlers in the world with an outstanding history spanning more than 97 years. Within its Coca-Cola franchise, Arca Continental serves more than 118 million consumers in Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru and the Southwestern U.S. Arca Continental also produces and markets snacks under the brand names Wise in the U.S., Bokados in Mexico and Inalecsa in Ecuador. For more information,visitwww.cocacolaswb.comandwww.arcacontal.com
ONEYEARTOGO:NORTHTEXASLOOKS AHEADTOFIFAWORLDCUP26™
The countdown is officially on! In a spirited press conference on June 11, 2025, at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco, the North Texas FIFA World Cup 26™ Organizing Committee celebrated the thrillingmilestoneof“OneYeartoGo”untiltheworld’sbiggestsportingspectaclearrives.
With local sports voice Mark Followill as emcee, Monica Paul, President of the North Texas FWC OrganizingCommittee,sharedupdatesandinsightsintotheregion’spreparations.
“I can’t believe we’re at the one-year mark,” she said. “We started this back in 2017, and it’s a special feelingtobeheretoday.”
Monica spoke about the significance of the tournament for the region—not only the projected economicimpact,butalsothelastingbenefitsitcouldbring.
Dan Hunt and Nina Vaca were announced as co-chairs for the committee—pairing deep soccer heritage with powerhouse business leadership. Together, they’ll help guide preparations and engage partnersacrosstheregion.
Monica emphasized that hosting the World Cup is a team effort. No single city, she explained, has everything required for an event of this size—from stadiums and hotels to airports and fan spaces. Collaboration across the entire region has been key, with local leaders, transportation experts, and governmentagenciesworkingsidebyside.
She shared updates on several fronts. North Texas will host the International Broadcast Center, bringing more than 2,000 media professionals from around the world to Dallas—a chance to share the city’sstoryonaglobalstage.
The region also leads all host cities with six designated base camp locations, offering training facilities and accommodations for teams before and during the tournament. Exactly which teams will use whichlocationswon’tbeknownuntilMarch2026,leavingplentyofanticipation.
Monica also touched on the region’s careful work around transportation, safety, and security, ensuring that fans will move smoothly between venues and that every piece of the massive puzzle fits together seamlessly.
As for tickets, she noted that general sales are expected to open in the fall. Meanwhile, suite and hospitality packages are already available for fans looking to secure their place for North Texas’s nine matches.
By the end of the press conference, the excitement and sense was clear: there’s still plenty of work ahead, but North Texas is steadily preparing for its moment in the global spotlight—and the countdowntosummer2026isofficiallyon.
NORTHTEXASFWCORGANIZING COMMITTEELEADSLAKEARLINGTON PARKCLEANUPEVENT
The North Texas FWC Organizing Committee led a park cleanup event of Lake Arlington on June 13. Joining the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee were the City of Arlington, City of Fort Worth, Trinity River Authority, UTA and Trinity Coalition, as the event brought nearly 200 volunteers that collected over 6,000 pounds of trash overmultiplelocationsacrossLakeArlington.
The event helped kick off the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee’s first of numerous community and sustainability planned efforts aimed at enhancing the local environment while leaving a legacy for generationstocome.
“The World Cup is not just an opportunity to host one of the biggest global sporting events, but also to leave a positive and lasting environmental legacy,” said Meghna Tare, Chief Sustainability Officer for theNorthTexasFWCOrganizingCommittee.
“In addition to enhancing public spaces, the cleanup was a call-to-action for long-term environmental responsibility. The event was supported with partnerships with local organizations laying the groundwork for ongoing efforts to support our sustainability goals,” Tare said. “Through this cleanup, wearedemonstratingourcommitmenttoenvironmentalstewardshiponaglobalstage."
DALLAS POSTER
Dallas unveiled its Official FIFA World Cup 26™ Host City Poster in April, designed by Fort Worth artist Matt Cliff. His bold artwork blends Dallas’ urban energy and cowboy heritage, symbolizing North Texas’ passion for soccer and culturalidentity.
SONIC ID
The 2026 FIFA World Cup™ introduced Sonic IDs for each Host City, blending local sound with global spirit. Dallas’ Sonic ID, produced by Grammy winner Tre Nagella, celebrates the city’s musical diversity and will feature prominentlythroughoutthetournament.
