Fireside Chats

Industry leaders discuss international visibility, economic growth, and the future of soccer in North Texas
As global anticipation builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, The Compass School of Texas hosts a dynamic and thought-provoking installment of its signature Fireside Chat series, held Tuesday, April 22 at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science featuring Dan Hunt, President of FC Dallas and Co-Chair of the North Texas FIFA World Cup Host Committee, and longtime CBS Sports broadcaster Bill Macatee.

Convening civic leaders and community members, the discussion explored North Texas’ pivotal role on the world stage as a host region for one of the most-watched sporting events in history. The evening highlighted not only the economic impact of the World Cup, but also the lasting cultural and community transformation it is expected to bring to Dallas.

At the reception, guests were invited to explore the Museum’s Soccer Exhibition. They enjoyed interacting in the unique space, creating avatars, building stadiums, learning the science behind the game, and putting their physical skills to the test. Moving into Hoglund Theater, Chief Development Officer at the Perot, Katherine Stenesen, remarked on Compass’ programming, “There's a lot of alignment with the things that we do here through exploration and building confidence, and that is critically important for our community.” 

Chairman of the True North Capital Campaign, Peter Brundage emphasized this point, adding, “The school and these fireside chats share an objective. They're both there to improve the community.” Community was a theme of the night as Macatee interviewed Hunt on the impact of the 2026 World Cup games. Hunt said, “It will be a cultural melting pot of so many different countries coming here, celebrating their teams. We really hit the bonanza with nine games, which is more than anybody else.”

Bringing so many games to Dallas was a collaborative effort with Dan noting that he is in month 104 of the process. In a bid for Dallas, he and his team invited FIFA representatives to the city, showcasing the hotels, facilities, and airports in addition to the culture. Hunt explained, “This is a global city. Everybody's moving here, and we have such a diverse business base. We also have the cultural authenticity of Fort Worth and surrounding communities. I said this is the most unique bid that they will see, because we are a global powerhouse. This may one day be the true economic engine of this country.”

Throughout the conversation, Hunt and Macatee emphasized the unprecedented global spotlight coming to North Texas. Hunt shared, “It will broadcast back to 200 countries around the world. The storytelling of World Cup 2026 will also happen in downtown Dallas. That alone is worth $400 million…We're going to wind up with so many more major events. I think we have really special people right now and great leadership roles, and I think we're going to have a wonderful ten-year run here on events. The World Cup is just the global commercial that we needed.”

Hunt sees soccer as a family sport that spans generations and kids can continue to play with parents at all ages. He reflected on his visit to the school earlier in the day, sharing, “I got interviewed by four students. I had the best time.” During the Pioneer Pod podcast interview, the Compass students questioned him about his entrance into the world of soccer, and he even was given some hard hitting questions about the high ticket prices. He responded, “I know FIFA wants to maximize revenue, but you can’t lose that special feeling that you have around the game. The enjoyment and the passion for it.”

With Dallas hosting nine top-tier matches, Hunt noted this opportunity is comparable to “having nine Super Bowls in one city.” Texas is preparing for an influx of fans, media, and global attention. Hunt reflected the long-term vision behind Dallas’ role in the sport, noting that the region’s soccer legacy dates back decades. “For many of us, it started with the 1994 World Cup; it captured a generation,” Hunt shared. “Now, we’re seeing that vision come full circle, with generations of talent developed through FC Dallas and a commitment to growing the game at every level. We want to produce the American Messi.”

The discussion underscored the sheer scale of the opportunity ahead. Hunt’s next goal is to bring the 2031 Women’s World Cup to Dallas.

Head of Middle School at The Compass School of Dallas, Arnie Holtberg closed the event with gratitude for everyone in attendance, with a nod of thanks to Dan Hunt, his former student. Holtberg extended an invitation to tour the school for those wishing to learn more about Compass and the programming, concluding, “We love to show off what we do, because what we do is grow great, little Dallas Texans. We're going to make a difference in the future, like this man does today. Thank you.”