Two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants Eli Manning, two-time NWSL champion with Gotham FC and U.S. Women’s National Team forward Midge Purce, as well as Knicks’ star Josh Hart, will be the faces of the region in the lead-up to and during the most-watched sporting event in the world.
To commemorate 100 days to the final of the global spectacle that is the FIFA 2026 World Cup, the New York/New Jersey Host Committee announced three NYNJ sports superstars as Official World Cup Ambassadors.
Two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants Eli Manning, two-time NWSL champion with Gotham FC and U.S. Women’s National Team forward Midge Purce, as well as Knicks’ star Josh Hart, will be the faces of the region in the lead-up to and during the most-watched sporting event in the world.
“As someone who’s long loved the beautiful game, it’s incredible to see the biggest tournament in the world coming right here to our backyard,” Hart said in a statement. “When you combine that global fandom with what’s already the best sports region in the world, it’s going to be something special.”
The trio is expected to bring “visibility, energy and leadership” to the event, supporting community-driven initiatives across both states and focusing on creating a long-lasting soccer community in both states, to ensure “the World Cup is experienced not only in stadiums, but in communities throughout New York and New Jersey.”
Alex Lasry, CEO of the host committee, also added that they “represent the very best of our region, and play an important role in helping us deliver a World Cup experience that is inclusive, impactful, and truly reflective of New York and New Jersey.”
Purce has the most soccer credentials of all of them, winning the NWSL Championship MVP in 2023 for her two assists in the final. She also played an important part in the 2025 championship run and now holds the club record for career play-off minutes with 649 across her six years at Gotham.
“Soccer has a unique ability to connect people across every culture and community possible, to have the World Cup here in New York and New Jersey is incredibly special,” Purce said in a statement. “Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to grow the game by inspiring the next generation, and making sure people feel like they’re part of it, whether they’re in the stadium or playing in their own neighborhood.”
According to The Economist’s 2024 survey on America’s self-declared favorite sport, soccer had overtaken baseball, becoming the third-most popular sport in the U.S. While the World Cup has definitely uplifted the sport in America, soccer has always had roots in New York.
From the Cosmos’ first and second iterations as a global name during the 1970s and 2010s, New York New Jersey is now home to over five professional men’s and women’s teams, playing across the MLS, USL, NWSL and USL Super League.
“Having played my entire football career here, I’ve seen firsthand what makes New York and New Jersey special,” Manning said in a statement. “I know what it’s like to play on the biggest stage in American sports, so to host the world for the World Cup, including the Final at MetLife Stadium, is an incredible honor. I’m looking forward to showcasing everything this area has to offer.”
