With the largest FIFA World Cup underway right now, it is unavoidable that we start off this latest news update from the 2029 World University Games, with the status of North Carolina’s connections to the big event.
World Cup 2026 North Carolina
As referenced in our May 2026 eNews Update, 3 World Cup Teams have made North Carolina USA their home base for the tournament: Germany at Wake Forest University, one of our 2029 World University Games host institutions; Norway at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, site of one of the WUG2029 Games Villages (i.e. athlete village) and potentially Games training and competition venues. Meanwhile, Scotland made Charlotte, NC, their home base. As of the date of this eNewsletter, both Germany and Norway made the Round of 32, but Scotland did not. Yesterday, in the knockout rounds, Germany was defeated by Paraguay in a shoot-out, while today, Norway topped Ivory Coast 2-1 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.
The teams held several open practices before competition began, and the stands were completely full with local fans for each. All three teams made many new friends and eager supporters here in North Carolina, where they all acknowledged the warm welcome and great Southern hospitality of their community hosts. We congratulate the cities of Charlotte, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem, as well as UNC Greensboro and Wake Forest University (all of whom are 2029 World University Games hosts) for the outstanding job they have done in support of their international team guests. We extend our best wishes to all three teams in the World Cup and beyond.
Keep in mind that in the Football (Soccer) competition in the 2029 World University Games, North Carolina is expected to host Men’s Teams from 16 different countries, and the same number of Women’s National University Teams– 32 teams total. So get in the Soccer Fan Spirit with World Cup 2026 and save that up for WUG2029!
Join Us For Women’s Sports Celebration & 3 Years 2 Go: July 14
All of our newsletter readers are invited to join us for a fun program celebrating Women’s Sports and their amazing growth, and also mark the important milestone of Three Years To Go to the 2029 World University Games. The event will be held at Rush Hour Karting in Morrisville, NC, on Tuesday, June 14, beginning with registration and networking at 10:30am.
The main program will consist of two panel sessions: the first, from 11-11:40am, will focus on Women’s Professional Sports and will be moderated by Rachel Axon, Olympic & Women’s Sports Reporter for the Sports Business Journal. Panelists will include Francie Gottsegen, President, North Carolina Courage; and Debbie Antonelli, ESPN Basketball Analyst. After a 5-minute break, a Women’s College Sports panel will take the stage with Debbie Antonelli as the moderator, and panelists Olivia Gaines, Head Women’s Basketball Coach at NC Central University; Erin Neppel, Head Women’s Rowing Coach at UNC Chapel Hill; and UNC Rowing athlete, Sarah Knox, who was a Team USA competitor in the Rowing Competition in the 2025 edition of the Summer World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.
Special guests include TJ Cawley, Mayor of the Town of Morrisville, who will welcome everyone, and Colleen Blondell of Blondell Properties who will unveil the latest American Dream TV feature, which focuses on the 2029 World University Games.
At the conclusion of the panel sessions, all guests will be treated to a light lunch and for those making a $29 contribution to the Games, free karting at Rush Hour. To RSVP to the Women’s Sports Celebration & 3 Years 2 Go Commemoration, please email Holly Copeland at hcopeland@ncusa2029wug.com by no later than Friday, July 10. If you wish to make a $29 contribution and RSVP, please click here.
Head Coach, Women’s Basketball, NC Central University
ESPN & CBS College Basketball Analyst
President, North Carolina Courage
Head Coach, Women’s Rowing, UNC Chapel Hill
Olympic & Women’s Sports Reporter, Sports Business Journal
Athlete, Women’s Rowing, UNC Chapel Hill
Team USA Competitor, Women’s Rowing, 2025 World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany
FISU Executive Committee Meetings in Mongolia
From Wednesday, June 24 to Sunday, June 28, the International University Sports Federation (FISU), world governing body for the World University Games, held its Executive Committee meetings in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia and a fast-growing urban destination. The meetings were held at the Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar Hotel, and were hosted by the Mongolia University Sports Federation, whose representative on the FISU Executive Committee, Bayasgalan Danzandorj, has served as long-time treasurer for FISU. Students from local universities served as volunteers in support of the meetings, helping facilitate arrivals and departures, credentialling and check-ins, and meeting-related activities. The Executive Committee sessions were not all business, as the local hosts arranged for several off-site visits to local cultural and historical attractions.
On behalf of the North Carolina Organizing Committee (NCOC), local organizing committee for the 2029 World University Games, Hill Carrow, Games Chair & CEO, provided a Progress Report on the 2029 Summer Games. The Report is in a format required by FISU that seeks to touch on the major aspects of planning and organization of the Games, and the status of each. Next steps, key challenges, timelines, and important To Do’s are also part of the presentation and Q&A that follows. One of the key points touched on by Executive Committee members is access to the USA by international visitors and sports fans. You have likely read about some of these issues with World Cup fans trying to support their teams in the U.S. NCOC is already working closely with the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. State Department to facilitate the greatest ease of access to the U.S. possible for all participants in, and fans of, the 2029 World University Games.
Carolina Hurricanes’ Record-Breaking Run to the Stanley Cup
Though Ice Hockey is only in the Winter World University Games, rather than the Summer edition, we definitely need to give a major shoutout to the Carolina Hurricanes, our local National Hockey League franchise that won the league championship and the Stanley Cup on Sunday, June 14, over the Las Vegas Golden Knights. The following Saturday, June 20, the Hurricanes victory parade in downtown Raleigh drew over 190,000. This was quite a difference from the small 2006 Hurricanes Stanley Cup parade 20 years earlier, which took place in the parking lot at the RBC Center.
Newest Members of the NCOC Team
Donna Spethman, who hails from Australia and headed Delegation Services for the 2025 World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, has newly joined the North Carolina USA Local Organizing Committee to help plan and build out NCOC’s Delegation Services Department. Donna has more than 25 years of experience in university sports including serving as Secretary General for FISU Oceania and Team Lead for International Relations in Rhine-Ruhr. The Delegation Services Department helps support the more than 100 country delegations that will attend the 2029 Games.
Jared Humiston, an upstate New York native, is leading NCOC’s efforts to build out its Technology Plan for the Games. Jared served as the point person for Technology Services for the 2023 Winter World University Games in Lake Placid. Jared heads ADK Services which will apply its experience with the Games and major business IT projects to develop a Technology Plan and Solution for the 2029 Games that is effective, always on, and highly efficient.
WUG 2029 Sports Briefs
- Jim Cain, NCOC Board Member, and former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark and President of the Carolina Hurricanes, has been tapped as the keynote speaker for the Cary Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet, taking place at Prestonwood Country Club on Wednesday, September 9, beginning at 5pm. To register for the dinner, visit the Cary Chamber website at carychamber.com.
- UNC Chapel Hill Men’s Baseball Team made it to the very last game of this year’s NCAA College World Series in Omaha, NE, before falling to the tournament champion, Oklahoma. While the Tar Heels have been in the College World Series 13 times, this was only the third time they made it to the finals.
- More Baseball: The Town of Cary hosted the NCAA Division II Baseball Championships at the USA Baseball National Training Complex (USAB NTC) from Friday, May 29 through Saturday, June 6. The University of Tampa Spartans beat the West Chester Golden Rams for the championship, marking their third straight national championship. Yesterday, the USA Men’s National Collegiate Baseball Team took on the Appalachian League Select Team at the USAB NTC, winning 9 to 3. Meanwhile, at the Division I level, NC State Centerfielder, Ty Head, was named the #1 defensive player in the nation when he was recognized with the ABCA Gold Glove Award.
- The Cary Tennis Classic, which runs from Sunday, June 28 to Sunday, July 5, features Men’s International Professional Tennis competition at the Cary Tennis Park, a 2029 World University Games venue. The event is being directed by Ted Reese, who also serves as Sport Manager for the Tennis Competition in the 2029 Games. Tickets are available each day for the tournament and can be purchased by clicking here.
- NCAA Track & Field Championships: North Carolina WUG-involved universities produced a large number of First Team All Americans during the NCAA Track & Field Championships held in Eugene, Oregon, June 10-13: DUKE—Lauren Tolbert (3rd place, Women’s 800 Meters) and the 4th place Women’s 4×400 Meter Relay (6th place) of Tolbert, Braelyn Baker, Maya Collins, and Julia Jackson; NC A&T STATE – Isaiah Taylor (3rd place, Men’s 400m Hurdles), Xzaviah Taylor (7th place, Men’s 400m Hurdles), Jason Holmes (4th place, 110m Hurdles); Men’s 4x400m Relay – Isaiah Taylor, Xzaviah Taylor, Elijah Thomas, and Dyimond Walker; and Men’s 4x100m Relay (4th place – Nakhi Benjamin, Jalen Booth-Mitchell, Lassale Hewitt, and Jason Holmes; NC STATE — Angelina Napolean (4th place, 3000m Steeplechase) and Kate Putman (6th place, 3000m Steeplechase); UNC CHAPEL HILL – Makayla Paige (4th place, Women’s 800 Meters); and WAKE FOREST – Rocky Hansen (2nd place, Men’s 5,000 meters)
Support the Games
Be a vital part of championing the world’s premier event for student-athletes! Bringing the 2029 World University Games to our state promises unparalleled economic advantages for our communities. Seize the chance to spotlight North Carolina on the global stage! Click below to explore the myriad of ways you can contribute and support the Games.
Don’t Forget to Shop Local and Support the WUG
Our online store features 2029 FISU World University Games t’s, polos, hoodies, tanks, caps, and more. Items come in a wide variety of colors, and the store has proven to be quite a popular online shopping destination. Don’t miss your opportunity to show your support of the 2029 FISU World University Games by snagging some excellent quality, name-brand clothing and caps!
Sponsor Thank You’s
We cannot thank our sponsors enough for their strong belief in, and generous support of, the 2029 World University Games. We encourage you to patronize their businesses and give them your own personal thanks when you do.
