North Texas FWC Organizing Committee adds its Fourth Official Host City Supporter
DALLAS, Texas (Feb. 23, 2026) – The North Texas FWC Organizing Committee announced that UT Southwestern Medical Center has been named an Official World Cup 2026™ Dallas Host City Supporter, joining a select group of leading organizations welcoming the world’s largest sporting event to North Texas.
“We share the enthusiasm for bringing the FIFA World Cup to North Texas and look forward to connecting with fans from all over the world,” said Marc Nivet, Ed.D., M.B.A., Executive Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Professor in the UT Southwestern Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health. “This is a unique opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate not only the spirit of the game, but also the power of shared experiences to inspire healthier, stronger lives.”
As a Host City Supporter, UT Southwestern will participate in special activations and promotions throughout the region designed to celebrate the “beautiful game” and connect with soccer fans during this summer’s tournament. Additionally, UT Southwestern will help support the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee’s Legacy initiatives through various community engagement opportunities in the local area.
“We are proud to introduce UT Southwestern as our newest Official World Cup 2026 Dallas Host City Supporter,” said North Texas FWC Organizing Committee President Monica Paul. “UT Southwestern has a storied tradition of helping so many in our North Texas community, the entire state of Texas and around the globe, and we’re honored to collaborate alongside such an incredible organization during FIFA World Cup 2026.”
UT Southwestern, one of Dallas’ top employers, is an internationally recognized academic medical center nationally ranked for its research, medical education, and clinical care. UT Southwestern has more than 25,000 employees, including 3,300 faculty members. Collectively, UTSW employees provide care to more than 143,000 hospitalized patients and more than 470,000 emergency room cases, as well as oversee approximately 5.3 million outpatient visits annually.
UTSW also conducts more than $800 million in research annually and trains 4,000 learners at four degree-granting institutions: UT Southwestern Medical School, UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UT Southwestern School of Health Professions, and UT Southwestern Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health.
With the FIFA World Cup 2026™ coming to North America for the first time in 32 years, Dallas will serve as one of 16 Host Cities, hosting nine matches, including a semifinal, and events throughout the tournament. The North Texas FWC Organizing Committee continues to build momentum through corporate partnerships, Legacy initiatives, and community programs designed to ensure that the impact of the tournament extends far beyond 2026.
About UT Southwestern
UT Southwestern, one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty members have received six Nobel Prizes and include 24 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 25 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 13 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of more than 3,300 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in more than 80 specialties to more than 143,000 hospitalized patients, more than 470,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 5.1 million outpatient visits a year.
UT Southwestern’s William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital is ranked as the No. 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth – the nation’s fourth-largest metro area. Twelve UT Southwestern medical specialties are nationally ranked: nine in the top 25 and three in the top 50. UTSW is among the top 5% of hospitals nationwide on quality measures.
UTSW includes 20 endowed centers, is a Rare Disease Center of Excellence, and is one of only three Comprehensive Cancer Centers in Texas. UTSW is ranked No. 3 among global health care institutions for its published research, and its medical school is among 16 schools ranked Tier 1 for research.
About the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee
The North Texas FWC Organizing Committee is the official entity responsible for planning and delivering the FIFA World Cup 2026™ experience in North Texas. As one of the tournament’s key host cities, Dallas will welcome teams and fans from around the world, hosting nine matches at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, the International Broadcast Center at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, and a multiweek FIFA Fan Festival™ at Fair Park. The Official World Cup 2026™ Dallas Host City Supporters are UT Southwestern, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, Choctaw Casinos & Resorts and the North Texas Sports Foundation, all of which will play key roles in supporting community and Legacy initiatives aligned with the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee.
