“ It’ s where most visitors will gather, so it’ s vital we do it right.”
A citywide Community Cleanup Challenge adds a competitive incentive. Between March and May 2026, more than 16 municipalities are tackling litter collection in rivers, lakes and parks, with results tracked on a public dashboard. The city with the greatest impact will receive formal recognition during the World Cup’ s Fan Festival.“ Within two hours at one of our first events, we removed 6,000 pounds of waste,” Meghna reveals.“ People love competition – and now that competition serves the planet.”
Building legacy beyond 2026 Much of Meghna’ s focus extends well past the final whistle. She is insistent that Dallas uses the World Cup as a foundation for future sustainable mega-events – including the 2031 Women’ s World Cup, expected to return to the region.
“ This can’ t be just for two months,” she explains.“ What we do now must set the stage for future events. It’ s about legacy and learning.” Success, she says, will be measured not only in operational metrics, but also in lasting public awareness.“ For me, it’ s about how well we bring the community together – did we educate them, and did we reduce our footprint?”
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