1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,040 Speaker 1: All right, Well, we're just a few months away from 2 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:04,520 Speaker 1: one of the biggest scoring events in the world, the 3 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 1: FIFA World Cup, and that will draw for that World 4 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: Cup just wrapped up a little bit earlier today at 5 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:12,959 Speaker 1: the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Joining us live from 6 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:16,279 Speaker 1: New York is Alex Lazri. He's the CEO of the 7 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: FIFA World Cup twenty twenty six New York New Jersey 8 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:21,759 Speaker 1: Hosts Committee. Alex, great to have you here and of 9 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,439 Speaker 1: course where our viewers don't know, most of these games 10 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: will be played, of course in the New York, New 11 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: Jersey area. Talk a little bit about the potential impact 12 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 1: that that's going to have for the local economy here. 13 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 2: Well, the impact of these games on the local economy 14 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:38,239 Speaker 2: is going to be massive. I mean, we're looking at 15 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 2: over three billion dollars of economic impact, millions of fans 16 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 2: from around the world that are going to be coming 17 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 2: right here to our region, and I think the potential 18 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:49,599 Speaker 2: legacy is even bigger. Right. What we want to do 19 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 2: is show the world that if you want to have 20 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 2: the premier sports and entertainment event, you want to do 21 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:56,280 Speaker 2: it in the biggest stage right here in New York, 22 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 2: New Jersey. 23 00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: I am curious, Alex about this idea of having all 24 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: of these national visitors coming to the US, particularly at 25 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: a time where there's been a huge crackdown in immigration 26 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: and a lot of concerns about how welcome some of 27 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:09,759 Speaker 1: these people are going to be when they start to arrive, 28 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,679 Speaker 1: and assuming they do arrive, are they going to be welcomed? 29 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 2: They are, and we're going to make sure they are 30 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 2: because we are really excited to welcome the entire world 31 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 2: to our region. And that's what the benefit of this 32 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 2: World Cup is and what makes this World Cup so unique. 33 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 2: The economic impact of this World Cup has a lot 34 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:27,680 Speaker 2: to do with the millions of visitors who are going 35 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 2: to come to this region to participate in the World Cup. 36 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 2: And I think what's unique about a World Cup is 37 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 2: that most people that come aren't going to the stadium 38 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 2: to go to a game. They're coming to come to 39 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 2: our fan fest, come to our fan village, come to 40 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 2: all of our activations, and just be part of the 41 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 2: World Cup experience. And that's what we're really excited about, 42 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 2: to welcome the entire world right to our region. 43 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 3: And you think about that, welcoming the entire world, do 44 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 3: you think about where this is being held. MetLife. MetLife 45 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 3: of course can handle a lot. It's hosted a Super 46 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 3: Bowl before, for example, how will this final compare to that? 47 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 2: For example, this final is going to be the biggest 48 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 2: sporting event, maybe even the biggest event in human history. 49 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,679 Speaker 2: We're looking at If you think about the last the 50 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:13,959 Speaker 2: last World Cup Final, it was viewed by the same 51 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,679 Speaker 2: amount of people as the last thirteen Super Bowls combined. 52 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 2: So if you think of you know, American football as 53 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 2: our sport, football is the world sport and we're going 54 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:24,359 Speaker 2: to be having the eyes of the world upon us 55 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 2: for this final. So this is going to be the 56 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 2: biggest event that we've ever hosted out out pacing a 57 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 2: Super Bowl, Taylor Swift concert, you name it. This is 58 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 2: going to be the biggest event we've ever had, and 59 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:37,639 Speaker 2: we're going to show the world that if you want 60 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 2: to have a sporting event or anything on the biggest stage, 61 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 2: you got to do it right here in New York, 62 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 2: New Jersey. 63 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 3: Well to your point, I mean, this is the world's game. 64 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 3: We're talking about the US market, and it feels like 65 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:52,639 Speaker 3: everyone growing up in the US plays soccer in some form. 66 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 3: Do you think about soccer's popularity though in the United States, 67 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 3: I mean, what do you think the stakes are here 68 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:01,399 Speaker 3: when it comes to raising the profile of the sport domestically. 69 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 2: I think our hope for this World Cup and the 70 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 2: legacy for this World Cup is doing the for football 71 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 2: what you know the Dream Team did for basketball around 72 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:16,639 Speaker 2: the world, Right, it inspired a generation of basketball players, 73 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 2: and now you've had like the last six MVPs not 74 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 2: being from the United States, And I think our hope 75 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 2: for this World Cup is that it inspires a next 76 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 2: generation of athlete. Right You're going to have a bunch 77 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 2: of six seven eight year olds who are going to 78 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 2: be feeling the energy seeing the best players from around 79 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 2: the world competing on the biggest stage, and hopefully it 80 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 2: inspires them to go play football and to go join 81 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 2: the US men's national team to make us the strongest 82 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 2: team in the world. When you look at the ninety 83 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 2: nine Women's World Cup, you know, those images and that 84 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 2: energy led to the women's national team being the most 85 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 2: impressive and biggest powerhouse in women's soccer. So I think 86 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 2: we're hoping for the same thing for this World Cup. 87 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: And absolutely you talk about the formation of MLS back 88 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: in ninety six coming out of the ninety four World 89 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: Cup and exactly all the attention that Americans, who traditionally 90 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: ignored soccer certainly gave it. It gets to the question, though, 91 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: Alex as well as to sort of what is the 92 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: international cooperation going forward? And I don't mean at the 93 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: at the high end World Cup level, but do you 94 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,280 Speaker 1: think we're going to see maybe a little bit more 95 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: symbiosis between say the leagues here in the United States 96 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: with those the big powerhouse leagues in Europe and the UK, 97 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 1: et cetera. 98 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:26,720 Speaker 2: I think you're already seeing a lot of symbiosis, right 99 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 2: You're having Premier League teams playing in European teams from 100 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:32,479 Speaker 2: all over the you know, from all over Europe playing 101 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 2: in the United States. You know, we just hosted the 102 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 2: Premier League series am met Life. We just have the 103 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 2: Club World Cup right here in you know, the finals 104 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:45,159 Speaker 2: and the semi finals right here in MetLife Stadium. So 105 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 2: I think you're already starting to see kind of an 106 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 2: expansion of of football from around the world, you know, 107 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 2: really partnering with with us in the United States. I think, 108 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 2: you know, kind of the next step and next stage 109 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,039 Speaker 2: is for the growth of the MLS to continue, the 110 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 2: growth of the NWSL to continue, and also maybe you know, 111 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 2: you start to see some of these other leagues doing 112 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 2: what US leagues have been doing. Right when you look 113 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 2: at the NBA and the NFL playing regular season matches overseas. 114 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 2: I think the hope is that, you know, we can 115 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 2: start to do that with football and that'll really expand 116 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 2: the game and continue to grow the sport. 117 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: I know you're basically just in charge of what's going 118 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 1: on here in the New York, New Jersey area, but 119 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 1: we should point out obviously these games are going to 120 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,279 Speaker 1: be spread out in other cities as well as other countries, 121 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:31,039 Speaker 1: including Mexico and Canada. What are the discussions that you're 122 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,839 Speaker 1: having with your counterparts in those cities and countries with 123 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 1: regards to what they're doing and maybe sharing some interest 124 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:39,919 Speaker 1: and advice as to what maybe you can do as well. 125 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 2: We're all trying to share best practices because the fan 126 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 2: experience in one city is going to directly affect the 127 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 2: fan experience in another. And so what we want to do, 128 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 2: especially here in the United States, but all across North 129 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 2: America is we really want to put on an incredible 130 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 2: show and we want people from around the world who 131 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 2: are coming here for possibly the first time, or CEOs 132 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 2: of other companies coming here who are looking to maybe 133 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 2: create jobs and invest We want them to see the 134 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:09,040 Speaker 2: United States, especially as as the place to do that. 135 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 2: And so the fan experience in Atlanta or Miami or 136 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 2: Dallas is going to directly affect the fan experience that 137 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 2: you have in New York, New Jersey. And so we're 138 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 2: trying to make sure that we're all in communication, all 139 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,039 Speaker 2: talking about what we can do to make sure that 140 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 2: everyone coming to the United States has an incredible experience, 141 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 2: because I think that the studies that I've seen are 142 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:32,559 Speaker 2: saying that the World Cup could have an over thirty 143 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 2: billion dollar economic impact for the entire United States, expecting 144 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 2: over six million visitors. So this is this is a 145 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 2: very big deal, not just for our region, but for 146 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 2: the entire country. 147 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:45,800 Speaker 3: And you know, you think about an event like this, 148 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 3: I have to imagine a lot of it, you know, 149 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 3: falls on the state governments, the local governments. But talk 150 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 3: to us about the relationship with the federal government. How 151 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 3: much you know, buy in and participation you need from 152 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 3: that level of government in term of putting on something 153 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 3: on this scale. 154 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 2: You can't put on an event like this without coordination 155 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,279 Speaker 2: and buy in from your state, local, and federal government. 156 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 2: And when I look at the planning and all of 157 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 2: the conversations that I've been involved in and all the 158 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 2: preparations that we've made, the connectivity between federal, state, and 159 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 2: local has been truly incredible. Right. I think we're actually 160 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 2: seeing a putting a side of politics to make sure 161 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 2: that these games are successful. And if you look at 162 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 2: you know, kind of the next ten years here in 163 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 2: the United States, this is really the decade of sports, 164 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 2: and the World Cup is kind of the kickoff of that. 165 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 2: Right We've got the World Cup in twenty six, the 166 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 2: La Olympics in twenty eight, We've got the Women's World 167 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 2: Cup in twenty thirty one, and then the Salt Lake 168 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 2: City Winter Olympics in twenty thirty four or thirty six. So, 169 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 2: you know, this is the decade of sports. We are 170 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 2: the first one, and so we really have to make 171 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 2: sure that we put on a great show to you know, 172 00:07:56,880 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 2: I think really set the tone for what these mega 173 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 2: sporting events over the next ten years are going to 174 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 2: look like. 175 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 3: Absolutely, Alex really appreciate your time on this Friday afternoon, 176 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 3: that is Alex Lazri. He is the CEO of the 177 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 3: FIFA World Cup twenty six New York, New Jersey Host 178 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 3: Committee