Alex Lasry became the CEO of FIFA World Cup 26 New York/New Jersey last February. 

Born and raised in New York City, Lasry worked at Goldman Sachs and in the Obama administration after graduating from Penn in 2009. After earning an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business in 2014, he moved to Milwaukee when his family became owners of the NBA’s Bucks. He served as vice president of the Milwaukee Bucks, which in 2021 won their first NBA title since 1971. 

Lasry was the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel & Tourism before taking on the World Cup 26 NYNJ CEO role. 

A year from this Saturday, the eighth 2026 World Cup game at MetLife Stadium will be the tournament final.

SOCCER AMERICA: How have your previous work experiences prepared you for your current position?

ALEX LASRY: My past experiences, in both professional sports and government, have directly prepared me for this role. When I was with the Milwaukee Bucks, I helped lead our organization from one of the worst teams in the NBA to eventual champions on and off the court. I also oversaw the development of Fiserv Forum and the Deer District — one of the most successful public/private partnerships — and played a large role in bringing the Democratic National Convention to Milwaukee. 

Additionally, I most recently served as the Department of Commerce’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism. Those opportunities and moments taught me how to operate at the intersection of sports, entertainment and government, navigating complex logistics, large-scale public-private partnerships, and high expectations. Hosting the world’s biggest event, the FIFA World Cup, requires all of that and more. As New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy says: This isn’t going to just be the largest event in U.S. history, it will be the largest event in human history.

My previous work experience has provided me with a great foundation to help put this event on, but, most importantly, in each job I’ve had I’ve always had an amazing team to work with … and this is no different. It’s going to take a full team effort to make this World Cup a success and I’m so lucky to be surrounded by such a dedicated and experienced team.  

SA: You have a lot of experience in sports, but can you share any experience you’ve had in soccer, whether from your youth or later in life?

ALEX LASRY: In all honesty, soccer wasn’t a huge part of my life until the last 5ish years. I played basketball growing up and obviously I worked in basketball, but I’ve always been a fan of the World Cup and feel the patriotism and energy that only a World Cup can bring.

What I’ve learned is — whether it’s basketball, political conventions or any other major sporting event —  there is a significant amount of overlap with one essential mission: Putting on an event that the fans and the region can be proud of while creating an experience that the world will never forget.

But, over the last five years soccer has become a huge part of my life. Watching the Premier League has become a morning ritual with my kids. Also, my dad is from Morocco, so watching the Moroccan national team’s run in the last World Cup was incredibly fun and his company has actually started to invest in soccer around the world. From my dad to my kids, the passion for the game in my family really continues to grow.

And, my hope is that this World Cup can ignite a spark in the next generation of U.S. athletes that will make them want to lead our country to a World Cup.

SA: Do you have any memories of the USA-hosted 1994 World Cup?

ALEX LASRY: I wish I did. … I was only 7 years old. … But it’s interesting, when I talk to any of my older sisters’ friends, my friends who are older, or my parents’ friends, they all have amazing memories of the games. Whether it was attending with their parents or taking their kids, it’s clear that it was something that they’ve always cherished. My hope is to create a similar experience for people.

SA: Having been born and raised in New York City, can you share any personal views on what it means for you to lead the NYNJ World Cup hosting?

ALEX LASRY: It’s an incredibly meaningful full-circle moment. This region means so much to me. It’s where I grew up and a lot of my friends and family still live here. To help bring the world’s biggest sporting event to this region, and to ensure that it leaves a real legacy for our communities, is something I’m honored to be part of every single day. 

SA: Does having two states involved in the venue add any unique challenges? I imagine there’s a long history of New Jersey-New York cooperation, but can you enlighten us on some of the dynamics?

ALEX LASRY: I think it’d be dishonest to say it doesn’t involve some unique challenges, but in all honesty, I also think it’s our greatest strength. Governors Murphy and Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams and our Board Chair First Lady Tammy Murphy have all been bought in from the start and have made the dynamic pretty seamless. Everyone knows the stakes and the once-in a-generation opportunity this event presents for the region.

But more importantly, what makes this bid so unique, and I think a major reason why we were awarded the final, is because New York and New Jersey are prepared to put on major sports and entertainment events. We have prepped and planned for more scenarios than any other region in the world. So, while it can require significant work to coordinate between many different municipalities, New York and New Jersey are used to it and battle-tested. It’s why I have such confidence in our ability to make NYNJ the best host city in the country. 

SA: How does hosting the final make your work different compared to other venues?

ALEX LASRY: Hosting the final match is a unique honor, and a unique responsibility. It elevates everything: the stakes, the spotlight, and the expectations. NYNJ has always believed the final match belonged on the world’s biggest stage, and we’ve designed every aspect of our preparation to reflect that.

The final match brings additional layers of planning, increased security coordination, a massive global broadcast footprint, and more demand across accommodations, transit and fan experiences. But our region is built for this. We host more major global events annually than any other, and we’re leveraging that experience to deliver a final match that reflects the values of access, inclusion and excellence.

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