06-15-2026RAPID RESPONSE

For U.S. Soccer’s CEO, the World Cup stakes are bigger than a trophy

As the 2026 tournament arrives in North America, JT Batson explains how U.S. Soccer is trying to turn a global spectacle into a lasting national soccer culture.

[Photo: Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images]

The World Cup arriving on American soil is more than a cultural moment. For U.S. Soccer Federation CEO JT Batson, it’s a launchpad. As group stage matches kick off, Batson reveals what’s on the line for the U.S. men’s team and why this tournament is nothing like the last time America hosted in 1994. And he makes the case that winning a World Cup and growing a soccer nation are the same mission. Whether you’ve got World Cup fever or not, Batson’s vision for building a winning culture from the ground up is a leadership story worth hearing.

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