Davids Urges White House to Establish Task Force Ahead of Hosting Global Sporting Events
This month, Representatives Sharice Davids, Darin LaHood (IL-16), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Dina Titus (NV-01), and Eric Swalwell (CA-14) urged the White House urging President Biden to establish a White House Task Force on Global Sporting Events. As Co-Chair and founder of the bipartisan Congressional FIFA World Cup 2026 Caucus, Davids has led efforts to ensure Kansas City and other host cities are ready to maximize the economic opportunities that come with this global event.
"The United States will host a number of major international sporting events over the next decade, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2028 and 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the 2031 Rugby World Cup. These events have the potential to deliver tremendous economic and diplomatic benefits for our nation," wrote Davids and her colleagues. "That is why we urge the White House to establish a White House Task Force on Global Sporting Events to oversee preparation and securing the games, specifically through international visa processing, security scenario training, incident response, transportation, diplomatic security, intelligence gathering and dissemination, and securing critical protective assets."
According to a report, the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games saw 12 million tickets sold and 8 million visitors from outside of France over the two competitions. An independent study found that upwards of $12 billion was injected into the French economy.
The Congressional FIFA World Cup 2026 Caucus provides educational opportunities and advances initiatives supporting the U.S.'s role in hosting the 2026 World Cup. It’s a convening place to discuss issues, opportunities, concerns, stakeholder views, logistics, and legislative priorities to support host cities. Topics of discussion within the Caucus include transportation and infrastructure needs, small business and economic development, public safety and homeland security, and safety and security.
Davids has also brought together dozens of local, state, regional, and federal government officials, trade professionals, and business experts as part of her World Cup Community Conversation series aiming to tackle issues such as transportation, security, and day-to-date impacts on local residents during the games.