First lady Tammy Murphy will chair the newly created board of directors for NY/NJ Host Committee for the FIFA World Cup 2026, it was announced Tuesday morning.
The board, comprised of five members, will work with Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry (also announced Tuesday morning) in an effort to ensure the preparation for the event – the biggest sporting event in the world – goes as smoothly and effectively as possible.
All board positions, including that of the chair, are volunteer positions. The board also includes:
- Fred Dixon, CEO, Brand USA;
- Joe Kelley, Partner, CHA Partners;
- Wes Mathews, CEO, Choose New Jersey;
- Zakiya Smith Ellis, Principal, Education Counsel.
The selections make sense.
Mathews is a key player in New Jersey — particularly when it comes to making connections with other countries. Kelley and Smith Ellis also are familiar faces in the state — both served previously in top roles with the Murphy administration.
Dixon assumed his role at Brand USA, a destination marketing organization for the U.S., last summer. Prior to that, he served as CEO of NYC Tourism + Conventions, New York City’s official destination marketing organization.
Murphy has long been a supporter of the sport. In fact, she is the co-owner of Gotham FC, the women’s professional team that plays in Harrison.
“We could not be more enthusiastic about the World Cup, and particularly the final, coming to our region — with the expanded number of countries and games and the fan fest and just the economic driver and tourism that’s going to come,” she told ROI-NJ.
Murphy said the board will do whatever is necessary — whether it’s building awareness, helping with marketing efforts or working to raise sponsorships.
“We are going to focus on the oversight of the planning and the preparation — and assist in engaging all of our networks to make sure that we are bringing individuals and corporations to support the mission,” she said. “That is our role.
“Heretofore, we’ve been working on that, but it’s really great now because we’ve got Alex, and we can work and lean on Alex on a daily basis.”
There’s a lot to promote.
The FIFA 2026 World Cup will be the biggest sporting event ever — with three host countries (Mexico and Canada also have a role), 16 host cities, 48 teams and 104 matches.
The event will culminate with the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19, 2026.
MetLife Stadium, however, will host seven other matches. And Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia will host six others.
Murphy said the board will use two key sporting events to show others how great the World Cup can be.
The first was the Super Bowl Sunday night. Murphy noted the excitement that surrounded the presence of South Jersey’s team, the Philadelphia Eagles, in the big game.
“It’s absolutely been something we talk about,” she said. “But this is essentially like hosting eight Super Bowls.”
Spreading that message is key, Murphy said.
“I think a lot of people who haven’t been focused on the World Cup yet are now realizing, ‘Oh yeah, it’s coming up,’” she said. “There’s been a little bit of a flurry of activity and interest over the past several weeks. And I think that that’s just going to grow, based on last night.”
The next event occurs this summer, when the FIFA Club World Cup comes to the area, with multiple games in Philadelphia and MetLife Stadium, which will host both semifinals and the final.
“I think we’re really fortunate because we will host the entire final week here,” she said. “That means that we’re going to have the opportunity to make sure that we are not only promoting the World Cup for next year, but we’re also able to see if there are any challenges with front of mind topics like transportation or logistics or security or anything.
“It will enable us to make sure that we are in even better position next year.”
Murphy said she’s eager to get to work with Lasry, as well as Lauren LaRusso and Bruce Revman, who have been serving as co-manager of the host committee to this point – and will continue to serve in top executive roles.
“This is an incredible opportunity for our region,” she said. “There’s a reason why we were selected for the final and I will tell you, we will be sprinting through the finish here.
“We’re going to make our region really shine.”
