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?'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Revealed – Combination Of Results Inter Milan Need To Advance From FIFA Club World Cup Group Vs River Plate & Monterrey
Revealed – Combination Of Results Inter Milan Need To Advance From FIFA Club World Cup Group Vs River Plate & Monterrey Inter Milan would only need a draw against River Plate to advance from their Club World Cup group. Today's print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, note that if the Nerazzurri lose to the Argentines and Monterrey beat Urawa Red Diamonds, however, they will be eliminated. Advertisement Inter Milan are heading into their final match of the Club World Cup group stage. The Nerazzurri have already drawn with Mexican side Monterrey. Then, they got a dramatic late win over Japanese team Urawa Red Diamonds. Early Thursday morning (Wednesday evening local time), Inter take on Argentine giants River Plate. And that match will be decisive for both Inter and River. Whilst Urawa Reds are already mathematically eliminated from the tournament, all of Inter, River, and Monterrey could progress. Inter Milan Only Need Draw Vs River Plate To Reach Club World Cup Knockouts PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 17: Nicolo Barella #23 of FC Internazionale Milano warms up prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group E match between CF Monterrey and FC Internazionale Milano at Rose Bowl Stadium on June 17, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by) In the event that Inter Milan were to beat River, then they would go through to the round of sixteen top of their group. Advertisement However, where things get more interesting is in the event that there is a different combination of results. As the Gazzetta notes, a draw would also guarantee Inter a place in the knockouts. This would be due to head-to-head results and goal difference. If Thursday's match ends 0-0 and Monterrey beat Urawa Reds then Inter and Monterrey will go through. If Inter and River draw 1-1, then River and Monterrey's progression will go down to goal difference. Then, if Inter and River draw 2-2, 3-3, and so on, it will be the Nerazzurri and River who go through no matter what. Meanwhile, if Inter are to lose to River Plate, they'll be hoping that Monterrey don't beat Urawa Reds. That combination of results would send the Nerazzurri packing. On the other hand, if Inter are to lose but Monterrey fail to beat Urawa Reds, then Inter would still go through.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Low USMNT Gold Cup Attendance Is About The Tournament, Not The Team
Sebastian Berhalter of United States controls the ball during a Group D match Saudi Arabia on ... More Thursday. The United States men's national team has always had trouble competing with the kind of crowds the Mexico national team is able to pull on U.S. soil on. There's socioeconomic factors at play, of course. People who go to USMNT games – especially friendlies and lesser competitive fixtures – do so out of fandom of American soccer in particular. For Mexican expats living in the States, El Tri games have a far wider and more visceral patriotic appeal, the kind that Americans associate more with the Olympics and men's and women's World Cup. But in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, what is most striking about the sparse attendances at USMNT games is that they've not only lagged El Tri fixtures, but also many others in the group stage. Crowds of less than 13,000 greeted the USMNT in the first two group matches. Here's a sampling of some other matches that outdrew the Americans' wins over Trinidad and Tobago and Saudi Arabia. It doesn't include the early games in single-venue doubleheaders where it was clear most fans appeared showed for the later match. *Match played in Canada The crowd of 20,918 that viewed the Americans' 2-1 win over Haiti on Matchday 3 in Arlington, Texas, was a modest improvement, but still underwhelming. This isn't the first time the American team has struggled to draw crowds in this tournament on its home soil. Trending Downward The numbers from the 2021 group stage – in which the USA played all three games in Kansas City – were actually worse. And it's important to understand most of the above matches were also held in markets where the same expatriot effect that boosts El Tri attendances also applies to other Central American communities, on a lesser level. But maybe the sparse numbers – as opposed to the somewhat more promising total of 54,625 combined fans who watched earlier friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland – suggests that the tolerance for endless Concacaf competition among the region's elite nations is fading, at least as it pertains to spending hard-earned money to watch those competitions in person. Mexico's matches have also drawn disappointing crowds relative to previous Gold Cups – albeit still far larger than those at USMNT games. Some have attributed that to fears over the games becoming targets for activity by the federal government's Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Yet those same concerns theoretically would have also applied to the communities likely to attend matches involving Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. That doesn't appear to have happened. And much larger crowds have turned out to watch Mexico's representatives in the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup in recent days against River Plate at the Rose Bowl and Real Madrid in Charlotte. Since the creation of the Concacaf Nations League in 2019, Mexico and the United States have played more competitive fixtures than ever on U.S. soil. (Mexico has also relentlessly hosted friendlies in the U.S. rather than Mexico because of the far higher ticket revenue potential.) Throw in the Gold Cup every two years, and Concacaf is asking American fans of its two biggest nations to care about five regional competitions every World Cup cycle. The struggles at the gate could be as simple as the confederation simply overestimating American fans' endurance when it comes to competition in a region they've always dominated, when it's clear that where both would rather be – realistic or not – is on a global stage.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Today's Papers – Magic Yildiz, Samp safe, Italy U21 out
La Gazzetta dello Sport Club World Cup: Juventus fly to the Round of 16 Yildiz worth 10 A champion-like performance of the Turkish talent: provokes an own goal, scores a brace and blasts Wydad. Vlahovic scores too Advertisement Lautaro the boss The Argentine wants to cancel the Champions League. Interview with Sucic: 'What a derby with Modric' Red with rage Referee on tilt: U21 down to ten men Samp safe Ultras' fury, game suspended in Salerno Corriere dello Sport 160m to Osimhen! Al-Hilal, incredible relaunch, but Victor hasn't decided yet Shocking offer from Inzaghi's club to convince the Nigerian forward: 40m net per season until 2028 and an option for the following campaign. De Laurentiis pushes for Ndoye, another appointment with Bologna today MagiKenan Poker Tudor Juventus, Turkish things: Round of 16 in their pocket The attacking midfielder shines: 'It's a hat-trick.' He provokes Boutoil's own goal and hits twice. Vlahovic penalty. On Thursday night against Man City. Transfers: Comolli thinks of David Advertisement Baby Italy: close to the semifinal down to 9 men Salerno chaos: game stopped, Samp safe Inter, the Carboni card Milan pick Zinchenko Viola sign Viti as well Tuttosport Kenan's show against Wydad A champion brace, plus the first goal, which, according to FIFA, is an own goal. 'I'll take the hat-trick, the second goal is the best.' Juventus see the Round of 16. MundialYildiz Vlahovic scores from the spot as well. Nine goals in two games and spectacular football at times. Thuram, the master of midfield. Kelly regenerated. Tudor: 'Two nice wins. Yilidz? A golden guy.' On Thursday against Man City. Chelsea and United on Kolo Muani, whose priority remains Juventus. An agreement with PSG is needed to extend the loan. Advertisement Heroic U21, but it's not enough Heads held high ahead of the new coach Gattuso and Buffon. Neither red cards to Gnonto and Zanotti beat the Azzurri (ahead with Koloesho for the 1-0 and with Ambrosino for 2-2). Nunziata: 'We were spectacular, the referee ruined the game.' Toro-Milan in talks for Bondo as well Bologna, Fiorentina and Genoa also want the midfielder. Ngonge: new appointment with Napoli Samp is safe, craziness in Salerno Coda and Sibilli score, the rage explodes. Firecrackers and seats were thrown on the pitch. Granata in Serie C amid controversy.
