The North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee is proud to present “Sport as a Force for Sustainability.” This high-level summit explores the unique capacity of sport to act as a catalyst for environmental progress. By convening stakeholders from sports organizations and municipal leadership, the summit will dive into the practicalities of sustainability within mega-events and the long-term impact of resilient infrastructure. Join us as we demonstrate how sport can serve as a catalyst for a resilient and sustainable future.

9:30 AM – 9:45 PM | Opening Remarks
Monica Paul, President of the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee (NTFWCOC)

 

9:45 – 10:30 AM | Play to Win: The Power of Sports to Shape Culture, Cities & Sustainability
This dynamic panel explores how sports drive cultural change, influence urban development, and advance sustainability. By shaping social norms, inspiring collective behavior, and capturing global attention at scale, sports have the unique power to shift mindsets, mobilize communities, and create lasting impact across cities and generations.

10:45- 11:00 AM | Athlete Spotlight

11:00 –  12:00 PM | Dallas 2026: How North Texas is Redefining Host City Sustainability
As a host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, North Texas is using this moment to accelerate investments and coordination that will shape the region for decades to come. This panel explores how Dallas and its regional partners are leveraging the World Cup to advance infrastructure, transportation, sustainability planning, and cross-jurisdictional collaboration—while grappling with the real tradeoffs that come with hosting a global mega-event. The conversation focuses on concrete decisions, practical outcomes, and what will be materially different across North Texas because the World Cup came to Dallas.

 

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | From Vision to Operations: Delivering a Sustainable World Cup at Scale
This session moves the conversation from ambition to execution, examining the operational systems that determine whether a World Cup host city succeeds when millions of visitors arrive at once. Focusing on transportation, materials management, infrastructure, and climate resilience, panelists will share how large-scale systems are being designed, stress-tested, and coordinated to perform under global scrutiny—and how those investments can deliver long-term value for residents as well as visitors. With leaders responsible for real assets and real outcomes, the discussion emphasizes what works at scale, where tradeoffs are unavoidable, and how host cities translate sustainability goals into dependable, day-to-day operations.

2:45-3:00 PM | Athlete Spotlight

3:00 – 4:00 PM | Community, Fans & Facilities: Designing Legacy at Scale
This panel explores how the design of fan experiences, venues, and community programs can work in concert to create lasting value beyond a single tournament. Focusing on stadium operations, fan festivals, and grassroots access to sport, the discussion highlights how thoughtful planning and on-the-ground delivery can build durable infrastructure, strengthen community trust, and ensure that the World Cup’s impact is felt long after the final match is played.

4:00-5:00 PM | ISD Exhibits and Pop-up Booths