Latest news with #2026WorldCupHostCommittee
New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
NY/NJ World Cup Committee vows to keep crowds orderly at MetLife Stadium
The New York/New Jersey 2026 World Cup Host Committee is sending the message that scenes like the ones that occurred at the Copa America final in 2024 in Miami won't happen next year when the World Cup final takes place at MetLife Stadium. Alex Lasry, the head of the NY/NJ host committee, promised that the organizers would do everything to make sure that 'nothing like that' could happen when the home of the Jets and Giants hosts the biggest soccer match in the world in July 2026. 'People need to know that going to a game — children are going to be at these games — that everyone can feel safe and secure and know that they are going to a safe and secure environment,' Lasry told amNewYork in an interview published this week. Advertisement MetLife Stadium will host the 2026 World Cup Final. USA Today Sports The Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia was delayed more than an hour as fans without tickets rushed the gates at Hard Rock Stadium to 'forcibly enter' the venue and create a chaotic scene that overwhelmed stadium security and police. The wild turn of events led to 27 arrests and 55 ejections from the stadium. Advertisement Lasry called the dangerous scenes 'unfortunate,' but labeled them 'one-in-a-million' for a sporting event in the United States. The committee head acknowledged that the situation is one that they can '100 percent learn from,' and Lasry told the outlet that the security plan for matches at MetLife would keep ticketless fans from overrunning stadium staff. 'That doesn't mean that we shouldn't be taking all the precautions and ensure and taking lessons from that, but I've got all the faith and belief in the world in our security plan and our ticketing plan and ensuring that something like that's not going to happen,' Lasry said. Large crowds of fans try to enter the stadium amid disturbances prior to the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Final match between Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium on July 14, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Fla. Getty Images Advertisement MetLife Stadium is scheduled to host eight World Cup matches in 2026, with the tournament culminating with the championship game taking place in New Jersey on July 19, 2026. The United States, Canada and Mexico are jointly hosting the 2026 World Cup that will wrap up an exciting run of soccer in North America. The U.S. hosted Copa America in 2024, will hold the Club World Cup this summer and then will have the World Cup next year. Local officials have estimated that the tournament will generate more than $2 billion for the region and bring millions of visitors into the area over the entire run of the World Cup.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Milwaukee Bucks exec Alex Lasry lead host group for 2026 FIFA World Cup in New York area
WASHINGTON – Former Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry is turning his attention to the largest sporting event on Earth. Lasry is the new CEO of the New York New Jersey 2026 World Cup Host Committee, a nonprofit tasked with preparing the New York area for the wildly popular soccer tournament when it comes to North America next year. 'This is the biggest sporting event in the world, and to be able to have a role in helping put it on in the biggest region in the world, being able to work on the finals, is an honor,' Lasry told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this week. The work, Lasry said, will be similar to putting on a major political convention — 'just on a much bigger scale.' The committee is tasked in part with handling security and transportation logistics and putting on FIFA Fan Fests and other hospitality events during World Cup games played in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The World Cup runs from July 11-19, 2026, and will be played across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In addition to New York/New Jersey, 10 other U.S. cities will host matches, and each city has its own host committee. MetLife Stadium, the home of the NFL's New York Giants and Jets in East Rutherford, however, will see eight games, including the coveted World Cup final. About 1.5 billion people watched the last World Cup final in Qatar in 2022, according to FIFA, soccer's global governing body. 'We're going to have to raise a few hundred million bucks to put this on,' Lasry said. Lasry, 37, was previously senior vice president for the Bucks, the team his father, Marc Lasry, once co-owned. He led the host committee for the 2020 Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee, though the events turned virtual amid the coronavirus pandemic, and he came up short in his 2022 bid for a Wisconsin Senate seat. More recently, Lasry served as deputy assistant secretary for travel and tourism in the U.S. Department of Commerce until President Donald Trump took office in January. The World Cup, he said, was part of his portfolio. Soccer won't be an entirely foreign transition for the former NBA executive. Lasry said he has become a bigger fan of the sport over the last 10-plus years. His best friends are English Premier League fans, and his father's sports fund recently bought into Ipswich Town Football Club. Now, Lasry will oversee day-to-day operations for the New York New Jersey host committee 'as it transitions from planning mode to execution mode,' the committee said in a release. 'His experience in business, sports, government, fundraising, travel, tourism and community-building will be essential to the next phase of the Host Committee's work,' the committee said. Lasry will work alongside Tammy Murphy, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's wife, who was named chairwoman of the committee. He told the Journal Sentinel that he and his family will temporarily relocate to New York in the fall but will keep their home in Milwaukee. 'Just being able to work on this and help put it on is the opportunity of a lifetime,' Lasry said. 'Who knows when we'll get a World Cup again in the United States?' This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ex-Bucks exec Alex Lasry lead host group for 2026 FIFA World Cup
USA Today
11-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Former Milwaukee Bucks exec Alex Lasry lead host group for 2026 FIFA World Cup in New York area
Former Milwaukee Bucks exec Alex Lasry lead host group for 2026 FIFA World Cup in New York area Show Caption Hide Caption USMNT opens 2026 World Cup at SoFi Stadium FIFA announced the schedule for the 2026 World Cup. The U.S. Men's National Team will open at SoFi Stadium, while MetLife Stadium will host the World Cup final. Fox - LA WASHINGTON – Former Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry is turning his attention to the largest sporting event on Earth. Lasry is the new CEO of the New York New Jersey 2026 World Cup Host Committee, a nonprofit tasked with preparing the New York area for the wildly popular soccer tournament when it comes to North America next year. 'This is the biggest sporting event in the world, and to be able to have a role in helping put it on in the biggest region in the world, being able to work on the finals, is an honor,' Lasry told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this week. The work, Lasry said, will be similar to putting on a major political convention — 'just on a much bigger scale.' The committee is tasked in part with handling security and transportation logistics and putting on FIFA Fan Fests and other hospitality events during World Cup games played in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The World Cup runs from July 11-19, 2026, and will be played across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In addition to New York/New Jersey, 10 other U.S. cities will host matches, and each city has its own host committee. MetLife Stadium, the home of the NFL's New York Giants and Jets in East Rutherford, however, will see eight games, including the coveted World Cup final. About 1.5 billion people watched the last World Cup final in Qatar in 2022, according to FIFA, soccer's global governing body. 'We're going to have to raise a few hundred million bucks to put this on,' Lasry said. Lasry, 37, was previously senior vice president for the Bucks, the team his father, Marc Lasry, once co-owned. He led the host committee for the 2020 Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee, though the events turned virtual amid the coronavirus pandemic, and he came up short in his 2022 bid for a Wisconsin Senate seat. More recently, Lasry served as deputy assistant secretary for travel and tourism in the U.S. Department of Commerce until President Donald Trump took office in January. The World Cup, he said, was part of his portfolio. Soccer won't be an entirely foreign transition for the former NBA executive. Lasry said he has become a bigger fan of the sport over the last 10-plus years. His best friends are English Premier League fans, and his father's sports fund recently bought into Ipswich Town Football Club. Now, Lasry will oversee day-to-day operations for the New York New Jersey host committee 'as it transitions from planning mode to execution mode,' the committee said in a release. 'His experience in business, sports, government, fundraising, travel, tourism and community-building will be essential to the next phase of the Host Committee's work,' the committee said. Lasry will work alongside Tammy Murphy, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's wife, who was named chairwoman of the committee. He told the Journal Sentinel that he and his family will temporarily relocate to New York in the fall but will keep their home in Milwaukee. 'Just being able to work on this and help put it on is the opportunity of a lifetime,' Lasry said. 'Who knows when we'll get a World Cup again in the United States?'
