“It is going to ramp up in every area after this weekend.”

Monica Paul
President, North Texas World Cup Organizing Committee
Executive Director, Dallas Sports Commission
…on what’s ahead after this coming Friday’s World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., via the Dallas Morning News.

Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., will determine which national teams play their group stage matches at AT&T Stadium. Once those matchups are set, North Texas organizing efforts are shifting into overdrive.

Paul told the Dallas Morning News that her days have been “a blur”—juggling back-to-back meetings across Dallas, Arlington, and Frisco, with calendars showing no breathing room between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

But these may actually be the slow days. Once the draw reveals the matchups beginning in June, priorities will crystallize fast, according to Paul.

Top priorities include working on safety and security across federal, state, and local levels; securing more host city supporters; and finalizing discussions with national teams about choosing DFW for their base camps, the DMN reported.

Ahead of the draw, Dallas gets a World Cup host supporter

It’s already been a week of momentum for the North Texas organization. The organizing committee announced on Dec. 3 that Choctaw Casinos & Resorts has been named an Official Dallas World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter.

“Unity, culture, and togetherness are core values of the Choctaw Nation, and they have guided us for generations,” Chief Gary Batton, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, said in the announcement. “As we welcome the FIFA World Cup to North Texas, we’re honored to celebrate an event that reflects those same global ideals.”

As a Host City Supporter, Choctaw Casinos & Resorts will support community engagement initiatives and provide visibility throughout the region through special activations and promotions, the committee said.

Paul called Choctaw Casinos & Resorts “an incredible partner in elevating sports and entertainment across the region,” noting the brand’s longstanding commitment to North Texas sports, including partnerships with the Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, and other major sporting events.

For more of who said what about all things North Texas, check out Every Last Word.

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