Dan Hunt may be president of FC Dallas and co-owner of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, but he’s a sports fan first.
Hunt is now sharing his passion with a whole new generation of sports fans. During the Compass School of Texas’ Pioneer Podcast, he was interviewed by four students who asked about what it was like to enter the world of soccer. That conversation has Hunt reflecting on the goals he aims to score for the future of the sport.
“I hope (The Compass students) understand you’ve got to be committed to it; these projects are typically very long-term,” Hunt said. “We live in such a world right now — instant gratification with social media and everything else — that I think that people lose sight. It usually takes years, if not decades, for things to mature into what you want them to be.”
Hunt’s mother was a teacher, and he is the parent of two soccer-playing daughters who attend the Hockaday School. He identified education, along with top facilities and mentors, as the keys to success on any playing field. He said that Compass is on track to help its students achieve their athletic goals.
“When you have leaders like that institution has, and facilities that they aspire to have, and that they’re working on right now, they’ll be able to provide unique experiences,” Hunt said. “But you also have to have facilities for sports … if Compass continues to aspire to do great things like any other institution, they need first class fields.”
The buzz of the World Cup has had a ripple effect throughout the Dallas area, energizing crowds of international visitors, uplifting local fans, and inspiring students like the ones at Compass.
The event has brought the world together, Hunt said, and he hopes its momentum continues as organizers begin planning for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Both Arlington’s AT&T Stadium and Frisco’s Toyota Stadium are potential host sites for that competition, according to the bid book submitted by the United States in partnership with Jamaica, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Final decisions on where to hold matches haven’t yet been made.
“I think when you’re on the global stage like this, you want to put your best foot forward,” Hunt said. “This (World Cup) has been an amazing commercial for America.”
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