We don’t know if you’ve heard, but there’s a little soccer tournament coming to North America this summer. It’s apparently kind of a big deal.

In reality, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is the biggest version of the global event ever attempted. The most host nations. The most teams in competition. The most number of games. A global economic impact estimated at over $80 billion.

As CEO of New York/New Jersey FIFA World Cup Host Committee, Alex Lasry is responsible for helping bring this enormous event to life in North America’s largest market. He’ll be there when the Cup kicks off in the Meadowlands on June 13, and he’ll be there when the final whistle blows for the Championship game on July 19.

With about 50 days to go before the Cup, Alex took time out to talk about what goes into putting on the biggest sporting event in the world. We cover off how his unique blend of political and sports business background prepared him for this moment, how he’s addressing concerns about cost and accessibility, and what’s left to do before the first match kicks off.