Zaileen “Z” Janmohamed is the president and CEO of the Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC), which leads preparations for hosting six 2026 World Cup games at Levi’s Stadium in Northern California.
SOCCER AMERICA: As we speak, the World Cup 2026 countdown is on 287 days. Is that something you keep a close eye on?
ZAILEEN JANMOHAMED: For sure. And we have a couple of events before then. I have three countdowns going. It keeps us really focused.
SA: The NWSL final (Nov. 22 in San Jose), the NFL’s Super Bowl (Feb 8, 2026 in Santa Clara) and the World Cup …
ZAILEEN JANMOHAMED: And we just finished an NBA All-Star Game [Feb. 18 in San Francisco]. Our team is really good at managing the different countdown clocks that are sitting in front us.
SA: The World Cup, six games at 49ers’ home in Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium being the biggest …
ZAILEEN JANMOHAMED: The World Cup is the preeminent global sporting event. More people play the sport across the globe. More countries are involved compared to any other event, which makes it such a compelling event to work on.
When I started in this role in 2023, it was actually the only event that the Bay Area Host Committee already bid for and won. I knew that I had to be a part of a World Cup coming to the market that I live in, that I spent so much time in. It was actually a really big part of the reason I took the job.
SA: Tell us about your soccer background. I read that you grew up playing hockey?
ZAILEEN JANMOHAMED: Yeah, I know it sounds a little strange, but I’m born and raised Canadian. When you’re born and raised Canadian you come out with skates on. I played hockey for the better part of growing up and my teenage years.
But I dabbled in soccer as well. I played rec soccer. When I was in college, I actually managed our collegiate team at Simon Fraser University. I had a really good affinity towards the sport.
And then my first job was at Major League Soccer after I graduated from my sport management degree. I’m still a big hockey fan and still play, but I have a good soccer background.
SA: Who did you work for when you were with MLS (2005-06)?
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