FROM THE PITCH FROM THE PITCH
FROMTHEPRESIDENT
As we enter October, both globally and locally things continue to move along with the FIFA World Cup 26 In fact, we have some exciting announcements
To start, the City of Fort Worth recently announced that the FIFA World Cup 26™ Regional Draw Party will occur at Billy Bob’s Texas on December 5 Though the official Final Draw announcing where all 48 teams will play in North America for FIFA World Cup 26™ will take place in Washington DC at the Kennedy Center, local fans will get a chance to celebrate the occasion in Fort Worth at Billy Bob’s Stay tuned for more information about attending this event soon!
It was also announced that more than 4.5 million fans – including entrants from 216 countries and territories worldwide - entered the Visa Presale Draw for the first phase of FIFA World Cup 26™ ticketing Successful applicants were notified via e-mail and given a date and time slot to purchase tickets (subject to availability) But don’t worry if you weren’t selected this time because the second phase of the Early Ticket Draw registration window is expected to take place from October 27-31, and a third Random Selection Draw should happen shortly after the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 26
Lastly, FIFA unveiled its official mascots for FIFA World Cup 26™; as Maple the Moose (Canada), Zayu the Jaguar (Mexico) and Clutch the Bald Eagle (United States) were introduced on September 25 Be on the lookout as this trio could make an appearance in North Texas soon!
Cheers,
Monica Paul, NTFWCOC President
Monica Paul
FIFACELEBRATESLAUNCHOF OFFICIALMATCHBALLOFFIFA WORLDCUP26™:TRIONDA
The countdown to the game-changing FIFA World Cup 26™ has reached its latest significant milestone with the launch of the adidas TRIONDA, the Official Match Ball of the competition
The name TRIONDA can be translated from Spanish as “three waves ” , and, alongside other unique and innovative design features, celebrates the fact that, for the first time, three host countries – Canada, Mexico and the United States – are uniting to host the FIFA World Cup™.
“The Official Match Ball for the FIFA World Cup 26 is here and it's a beauty!” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino “I am happy and proud to present TRIONDA adidas have created another iconic FIFA World Cup ball, with the design embodying the unity and passion of next year's host nations Canada, Mexico, and the United States”
“I can't wait to see this beautiful ball hitting the back of the net The countdown to the greatest FIFA World Cup ever is on – and the ball is rolling!”
COLOURFULTRIOOFMASCOTS UNVEILEDFORFIRSTFIFAWORLD CUP™CO-HOSTEDBYTHREE NATIONS
In a celebration as bold and boundary-breaking as the tournament itself, FIFA today unveiled the three Official FIFA World Cup 26™ Mascots, each highlighting one of the host nations of the world’s greatest sporting event Maple™ the Moose (Canada), Zayu™ the Jaguar (Mexico) and Clutch™ the Bald Eagle (United States) have been thoughtfully developed to reflect the vibrant culture, heritage and spirit of their respective countries, coming together to symbolise unity, diversity and the shared passion for the beautiful game.
“The 26 team has just got bigger – and more fun! Maple, Zayu and Clutch are full of joy, energy and the spirit of togetherness, just like the FIFA World Cup itself,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino
“The three mascots are central to the incredible, entertaining atmosphere we ’ re creating for this game-changing tournament They’ll win hearts and spark celebrations across North America and around the world.”
LEAVINGALEGACY: REMEMBERING1994DALLASWORLD CUPHOSTCOMMITTEECO-CHAIRS JIMGRAHAMANDLAMARHUNT
by Jon Arnold
Jim Graham was the ponytailed, Harley-riding life of the party who often wielded a rhetorical sledgehammer during a business dispute.
Lamar Hunt was the meticulous, serious businessman who counted going around a boardroom table and personally editing memo after memo as a workout
But, somehow, their working relationship worked
Dan Hunt, Pamela Graham, Kristin Todora
Hunt and Graham were the co-chairs of the 1994 Dallas World Cup Host Committee, responsible for pulling off nearly every aspect of the six matches - including the celebrations that surrounded them - that took place at the Cotton Bowl three decades ago
Opposites Who Made an Impact
“They were so total opposites and yet there was such a mutual respect because they were in the trenches together with a lot of these negotiations,” said Pamela Graham, who was married to Jim for 45 years until his death in 2019 “I think Lamar, at first, was kind of shocked by Jimmy and his persona and how he operated, but he knew he was right Jimmy could just see through where they were trying to be manipulated and wasn't going to let it happen Dallas had too much to gain”
Hunt and Graham had different styles, but they united to pull off an event that left a big legacy in Dallas, helping to put the region on the map as the business of soccer was just taking off in the country.
“Lamar Hunt is one of the true gentlemen of the world,” Graham said in a 1994 Fort Worth Star-Telegram interview “We have spent hundreds and hundreds of hours together We’ve had a lot of fun times together and a lot of serious working times together One of the highlights of my involvement with this has to be to get to work with Lamar to get to know him and his family”
The families of the two co-chairs became close during the run-up to the 1994 World Cup and they remain close today They know Hunt and Graham would be thrilled to see Dallas at it again, preparing to host nine matches and again serve as the site of the International Broadcast Center (IBC).
“I think they would be really excited,” Dan Hunt,
Lamar’s son and co-chair of the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee, said as he sat next to Pamela Graham in the National Soccer Hall of Fame during an interview “I think they would be amazed at the scale of it”
Icons of the Game See Dallas’ Potential
After all, Dan Hunt noted, while his father and Graham were visionaries who understood soccer ’ s potential in the United States before most people, they had their ups and downs with the game in North Texas Hunt founded the Dallas Tornado in 1967, long before the game of soccer was popular in the United States, and Graham was president of the Dallas Sidekicks of Major Indoor Soccer League in the 1980s
“We were in the desert of professional soccer, ” Dan Hunt said “The hope for both of them was that they were going to reinvigorate the game ”
Both men were big thinkers and dreamers, and were convinced that Dallas needed to be a host city in 1994 - not just for the sport, but also to help the region realize its potential gain international recognition recognized as a great place to visit, watch a soccer match, and do business
“Jim had a unique passion for Dallas, and he just loved the people of Dallas and the city of Dallas He knew this would be a really monumental thing for the city,” remembers Kristin Todora, Graham’s long-time assistant, who still has the co-chair’s calendar and many promotional materials from the tournament.
Not everyone shared this passion and vision because, in 1994, Dallas was still mostly known for the iconic nighttime television soap opera that bore its name
Graham and Hunt met with group after group from various international clubs, along with television producers based at the IBC and foreign dignitaries
Eventually, they won the right to host the matches
Their work set the stage for Dallas’ emergence as a premier venue for soccer Not only did it pave the way for the city’s successful bid for FIFA World Cup 2026, it helped the Dallas Sports Commission to establish Dallas, as the Mexican national team’s second home, and to secure bids for events like the Concacaf Gold Cup in Frisco, Dallas and Arlington
At times, Graham and Hunt would clash heads with parent organizations like FIFA or World Cup USA, and even local or venue leaders, but they were usually able to find a way to charm their adversaries,
Lamar Hunt
Jim Graham
whether it was Graham mixing up a signature margarita at a pool party, or Hunt finding the right time to pull an executive aside for a quiet word or a sharp suggestion In doing so, they got what Dallas needed to be successful
“Jimmy would come in like a buzz saw, ” Pamela Graham said “Then Lamar could come in and make it palatable, and people would not think they had just gotten knocked over by a Mack truck because he was so sincere and such a gentleman at all times It was real cute to see their dynamics together”
Dallas Ready to Build on Legacy of 1994 World Cup
Cute, perhaps, would not be the word either man would’ve selected to describe their working relationship,
but both families agreed that duo played off one another other in order to make sure Dallas earned a reputation as a top venue for global sports events
The duo’s work did not stop once the games began Hunt and Graham made sure everyone involved with the Host Committee in Dallas got where they needed to be and that events went smoothly. Pamela Graham was able to enjoy some of the perks of having hosted a number of VIPs In fact, the 1994 World Cup led to a lifelong friendship with pioneering Spanish television producer Manolo Romero, among others At one point she was even serenaded by opera singer Plácido Domingo
This time around, it is Dan Hunt’s turn to feel the weight of playing host during the tournament The FIFA World Cup 26™ also will be a family affair His brother Clark Hunt is serving as a co-chair of Kansas City’s host committee When hosting the 1994 World Cup, Lamar Hunt dreamed of bringing matches to the Midwest as well, and next summer that dream will be fulfilled with matches at the home of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Pamela and Jim Graham
LEAVING A LEGACY
It is a legacy the younger Hunts are happy to take on, working to make sure their host cities once again make the most of the international spotlight
“It’s such an honor to get to be part of these matches that we will host here in North Texas, and we got to have one of the best matches ever played in World Cup history in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl in 94 with the Brazil vs Netherlands contest,” Dan Hunt said “I think my dad would just love to see how much the city has grown and embraced soccer where it is today And now, we get to share nine incredible matches and more with our fellow North Texans next summer ”
As North Texas FWC Organizing Committee President Monica Paul, Co-Chairs Dan Hunt and Nina Vaca, and the rest of the local organizing committee work to make the 2026 World Cup another milestone event in the region's history, they can look to the path Hunt and Graham set before them: despite personality differences and other divides, a shared passion for a sport and for a city can create a spectacular experience that leaves fans, and the world, in awe once again
Pamela Graham and Dan Hunt
COMMUNITYENGAGEMENT
Community engagement is the soul of the FIFA World Cup 26™ in North Texas. The North Texas FWC Organizing Committee is actively collecting contacts from local businesses to connect with upcoming RFI, RFQ, and RFP opportunities We are also gathering information on potential sites for mini-pitch installations that will leave a lasting legacy across the region In addition, we invite North Texans to share their talent in music, dance, and culture for performances at the FIFA Fan Festival™ Dallas, and we are compiling restaurant and entertainment venue listings for official guidebooks that will showcase the best of our community to the world
If you are interested in any of these opportunities, whether it is showcasing your business, sharing your talent, contributing a site for a mini-pitch, or helping shape the fan experience, please visit our website to learn more and get involved Together, we can make North Texas shine on the world stage Click here for more
Supporting Sustainability Efforts
North Texas Food Bank
�� 3677 Mapleshade Lane, Plano, TX 75075
�� October 25, 2025
�� 12:30 PM check-in, 1 PM – 3:30 PM
�� Register Here
*Volunteers must be 18+ T-shirts and light refreshments will be provided
Tree Planting
In celebration of Arbor Day, the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee and the City of Richardson invite you to join a tree-planting event in Breckinridge Park that will help create a greener, healthier, and more sustainable community
�� 2785 Brand Road, Richardson, TX 75082
�� November 6, 2025
�� 9:00–11:00 AM
�� Register Here
North
Texas Business Connect Program
This program is your chance to be part of the excitement while showcasing the strength and diversity of North Texas businesses Whether your company provides catering, printing, event services, transportation, or countless other goods and services, Business Connect is your gateway to upcoming RFPs and official opportunities
GARVEY-ROSENTHAL SOCCER STADIUM
Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium and Jane Justin Field House, home to TCU Women’s soccer, features a 360’ x 225’ pitch with Tiftuf Bermuda grass The venue has hosted NCAA 1st and 2nd rounds and the 2025 Big 12 Tournament International teams, including Canada, Chile, and Mexico’s Women’s National Team have played here, with a record 3,648 fans attending TCU vs Duke in 2022 A fun fact: TCU hosted and played the Mexican Women’s National Team in 2009 in front of 2,000 fans
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
The University of North Texas, home to UNT women ’ s soccer and track and field, features a 180’ x 112’6” pitch with Latitude Bermuda grass Opened in 2019, the stadium seats 1,500 and saw a record 1,216 fans for UNT vs Oklahoma in 2024 It has hosted major events, including the 2023 C-USA Outdoor Track and Field Championship and served as a Concacaf training site in 2025. Internationally, the Costa Rica Men’s National Team trained here A fun fact: the venue sits on the former site of an 18hole golf course
ONSALENOW
Show your North Texas pride and celebrate the FIFA World Cup 2026™ by sporting official Host City merchandise. Every purchase is a chance to rep your city, share in the excitement, and be part of this once-in-a-lifetime moment coming to our region
COUNTDOWNTOTHECUP: THEDRAWEXPERIENCE(DEC.5)
Mark your calendars for the official FIFA World Cup 26™ Draw, which will take place on Friday, December 5, 2025 the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee will take over Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth for a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-generation celebration Countdown to the Cup: The Draw Experience will bring North Texas together to watch the official reveal of the teams that will take the pitch right here in our backyard when the world’s biggest sporting event comes to town
In true Texas fashion, expect a celebration filled with country flair and exclusive experiences you will not find anywhere else From the moment the matchups are announced to the lively entertainment that follows, this will be a day of pride, excitement, and unforgettable memories.
Stay tuned for more details on how you can be part of the legendary festivities are coming soon
