The Houston 2026 World Cup Bid Committee added more power to its roster today.
The Committee’s chairman, John Arnold, along with its executive member Janis Burke and its president Chris Canetti announced that Jane Campbell has been appointed to the Committee’s board of directors. Campbell joins 22 other local leaders on the Committee’s board, including legendary players DaMarcus Beasley and Brian Ching.
Campbell is a star goalkeeper for the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and is also a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team.
“We are excited to have Jane joining our board,” Arnold said. “She brings a fresh perspective to many of the legacy programs we are planning, and she can offer the view of a professional athlete and national team player as we conceptualize plans for 2026.”
Campbell said it was “an absolute honor” to be named to the Houston 2026 World Cup Committee.
“I’m looking forward to learning from the committee members and using my on and off field experiences with the Dash Organization and US National team to help bring a players perspective,’’ she said. “I can’t wait to get started and push to make Houston a host city for the 2026 World Cup.’’
Campbell has played for the Dash since being taken No. 15 overall in the 2017 NWSL College Draft. The former Stanford Cardinal is the team’s co-captain and has made 60 appearances for the club. She helped lead the Dash to three-straight shutout victories on the way to winning the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup last month.
“With the addition of Jane, and the recent addition of DaMarcus Beasley, we have assembled a strong and diverse group of people who represent our community and bring a wealth of soccer experience to our efforts,” said Burke, the CEO of the Harris County -Houston Sports Authority. “She has become a powerful representative for the women’s game in our community, and I know she’ll make a significant contribution to our team.”
Campbell, Beasley and Ching, the former U.S. National team player and Dynamo legend, add the players’ passion and perspective to the Houston 2026 World Cup Bid Committee board. Other board members representing the Houston area soccer community include Houston Dynamo/Dash owner Gabriel Brener, Houston Dynamo/Dash owner Ben Guill, and South Texas Youth Soccer president Chris Delay.
The Bid Committee has also set up a sub-committee focused on growing the game that includes non-board members from the local soccer community who represent all levels of the game - pro, college, and youth.
“Jane is going to be an invaluable resource when it comes to helping develop our strategies around growing the women’s game,” Canetti said. “If you know Jane, you know she’s brings passion, and we look forward to channeling that into our bid efforts.”
The Houston 2026 World Cup Bid Committee is leading our region’s efforts to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It is a subsidiary of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played in 16 cities across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Houston is among 17 U.S. candidate host cities vying for 10 spots. A decision on the final 10 U.S. cities is expected in 2021.
