UNT Alumni Help Bring the FIFA World Cup in Dallas to Life

For the first time in over 30 years, the FIFA World Cup is coming to Dallas. The metroplex will host nine matches at Dallas Stadium beginning June 14 and closing out with the Semi-Final on July 14. Outside of the matches, Dallas’ Fair Park will transform into FIFA Fan Festival Dallas, a one million-square-foot celebration featuring match broadcasts, concerts, games and more, among other regional events.

And two UNT alumni, Marcus Carr (’20) and Diana Rosas (’25), are helping lead the communications and media efforts surrounding FIFA World Cup 2026 in Dallas — using their talents and skills to tell the story of North Texas leading up to the tournament through media relations, event support and community engagement.

Both Carr and Rosas are graduates of the Mayborn School of Journalism and now work for UNT alumni-owned Tony Fay Public Relations, serving on the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee.

“It’s honestly been surreal at times,” Carr says. “The FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest events in the world, so being able to work on something of that scale here in Dallas has been really exciting. Being in the city that is hosting the most matches, having powerhouses like Argentina, England and Japan coming to the city makes it all that much more exciting.”

Rosas says it’s been incredibly fulfilling and exciting to do the “boots on the ground” content creation at events in the region.

“There are so many people who are excited to be in the area for the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Rosas says. “It’s super special that our community has been a part of the local organizing committee’s events.”

Carr says his time studying and practicing journalism at UNT gave him hands-on experiences that helped him find his calling.

“UNT gave me a lot of opportunities to network and build relationships early, and that’s something that’s been huge for me professionally,” Carr says. “It was a really good environment to grow in creatively and professionally. The Mayborn really helped lay the foundation for the work I’m doing now.”

Now, he’s applying what he learned at UNT in real time.

“Storytelling is such a huge part of communications and getting to help tell the story of Dallas-Fort Worth ahead of an event like the World Cup is something I’m really grateful for,” Carr says. “North Texas has so much culture and energy, and being able to help showcase that has been really rewarding.”

Rosas, who leads social media efforts promoting FIFA in Dallas, credits a broadcast journalism course she took as an elective during her senior year with helping prepare her for the work she’s doing now.

“Students acted as real news reporters, we came up with interview questions, worked under deadlines, and treated each assignment like a real newsroom,” Rosas says. “That class mirrors exactly what I do now: thinking fast, producing quickly, and telling a story across multiple platforms under pressure. I’m a social media coordinator, and a huge part of my role is turnaround time and how quickly I can write, shoot, design, edit and publish content.”

And it was through a mentor and professor in the Mayborn School of Journalism, Dave Barnett, that Rosas became connected to Tony Fay PR — whose founder, Tony Fay, is also an alumnus of UNT’s journalism program.

“I talked to him about my interest in working in sports, and he connected me directly with Team Tony Fay PR,” she says. “I wouldn’t have known where to land my feet if it weren’t for Dave. He taught me how to go after opportunities.”

Rosas, who grew up in a family that loves football and basketball, says her passion for sports has been expanded through her work promoting FIFA in Dallas.

 “Being part of this global event has heavily grown my connection to the soccer community in the area,” she says. “I can’t wait to see the region grow to love the game of soccer even more.  There are moments when it feels surreal to think it will eventually come to an end, yet the work we’re creating will continue to live on and have a lasting impact long after the event is over.”

For Carr, the most rewarding part of the experience so far has been watching the Dallas community’s excitement grow.

“Whether it’s at community events or through media coverage, it’s cool seeing the impact the work is having and how engaged people already are,” he says. “I also think being part of something this big this early in my career is something I’ll always be grateful for. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

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Main image: Photo of some members of the Tony Fay PR team at a FIFA World Cup promotional event.

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