When the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to Dallas, Old Dominion University alumna Feliz Stafford (B.A. '19) was part of the team responsible for preparing the city to welcome millions of fans from around the world.
As FIFA's government and public affairs coordinator for the City of Dallas, Stafford helped prepare the city to host nine World Cup matches — more than any other host city in North America.
It was like hosting nine Super Bowls in one, she said.
To execute an event on this scale, Stafford leaned heavily on two foundational pillars built during her time as a student at Old Dominion University: her experience as a student-athlete and her degree in political science and international relations.
Behind the Scenes
Stepping into her World Cup role as FIFA government and public affairs coordinator for the City of Dallas grew naturally out of her work in the Dallas mayor’s office, where she has served as a government affairs coordinator since 2023, advancing legislative priorities and community initiatives. She also has experience doing legislative work with the City of Dallas and the U.S. House of Representatives.
As the World Cup arrived, she helped coordinate everything from transportation and tourism to public safety and intergovernmental planning.
Beyond transportation logistics, Stafford helmed the city’s international diplomatic efforts, coordinating visits with ambassadors and consulates and organizing high-level meetings with regional leaders including the mayors of Dallas and Arlington, U.S. Senators, and state senators.
“Our goal is to make sure we have lasting relationships once the World Cup is over,” Stafford said. “We are not just hosting the World Cup — we are welcoming the world's next generation of business investment.”
A Monarch Foundation
When Stafford was a student, she was a coxswain on the Old Dominion University Women’s Rowing team and served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as the lead of outreach.
Her World Cup role required many of the same skills she developed on the University’s rowing team: setting the course, communicating clearly, executing strategy and leading under pressure. Combined with her background in international relations, her Monarch foundation provided the ultimate playbook to navigate the global stage.
Dallas wasn’t just the venue for nine matches. It was also the home to the International Broadcast Center, the tournament’s global media hub, where live feeds from venues across North America were distributed to billions of viewers around the world.
The international presence in Dallas included teams and their fans from the Netherlands, Japan, England, Croatia, Argentina, Austria, Jordan, Côte d'Ivoire, Norway, Australia, Egypt, Spain, Portugal and France.
Amid working around the clock, Stafford still found time to be a fan. She wore her Panama jersey proudly when the team played, even when the match wasn’t in Dallas.
Stafford credits Old Dominion University's internationally connected campus and strong ties to the military community with preparing her to work across cultures, navigate diplomatic protocol and adapt as plans evolved.
For Stafford, success wasn't measured in goals scored or trophies lifted. It was measured by the relationships built, the partnerships strengthened and the seamless execution of one of the world's largest sporting events.