2026 Cincy LOC Names Leadership Committee for Human Rights Work for FIFA World Cup Bid
Sen. Rob Portman to serve as Strategic Advisor to Committee
CINCINNATI (November 24, 2021) -- The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for Cincinnati’s bid to host FIFA World Cup in 2026 named its leadership committee for the related Human Rights efforts to ensure safety, equity and inclusion during the events. Some 25 community leaders and subject matter experts will serve on the committee. Along with additional community stakeholders, working groups will create action plans for: Workers’ Rights, Housing Rights, Migrant Rights, Human Trafficking and Safety & Security.
The 2026 Cincy LOC Human Rights Co-Chairs are Katie Blackburn, Executive Vice President, Cincinnati Bengals; Eddie Koen, CEO, Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio; and Amy Spiller, President, Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky.
On Monday, Nov. 22, officials from 2026 Cincy LOC led by Jeff Berding, FC Cincinnati President, presented the initial Stakeholder Report for Human Rights to FIFA and US Soccer via zoom.
A number of Strategic Advisors have been named and they include: Danielle Minson, CEO, The Jewish Federation; Rickell Smith, Executive Director, Social Justice Center at the Urban League; Lilleana Cavanaugh, Executive Director, Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs; Alana Jochum, Executive Director, Equality Ohio; Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey, Hamilton County; Chip Gerhardt, National Disability Rights Advocate; Roula Allouch, National Board Chair, Council on American-Islamic Relations; Mel Gravely, Entrepreneur, Author, Advocate for Racial Equity and Woodrow Keown, CEO, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Additionally, Senator Rob Portman, U.S. Senate; David Yost, Ohio Attorney General; and Daniel Cameron, Kentucky Attorney General have joined the committee to add their expertise in combatting Human Trafficking.
Leading the five focus areas of the Human Rights plan are:
Workers’ Rights: Brian Griffin, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO and Liza Smitherman, Chief People Officer, Jostin Construction
Housing Rights: Kristen Baker, Executive Director, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Robert Killins, Director, Strategic Initiatives, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and Bobby Maly, Chief Executive Officer, The Model Group
Migrant Rights: Dr. Rajinder Kaur Narang, Vice President, Enterprise Diversity & Inclusion Talent Strategy, Fidelity Investments, and Dr. Bryan Wright, Executive Director, Cincinnati Compass
Human Trafficking. Harold D’Souza, President, Eyes Open International and Erin Meyer, Coalition Manager, End Slavery Cincinnati
Safety and Security: Chief Deputy Jay Gramke, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and Lt. Col. Michael John, Cincinnati Police Department
Cincinnati is one of 17 U.S. cities vying to be a World Cup Host City for the 2026 international event at Paul Brown Stadium. Of the 17, 10 Host Cities will be chosen from the United States with the remaining Host Cities from Mexico and Canada. Only two Midwestern cities, Cincinnati and Kansas City, are among the final 17 U.S. cities competing for the World Cup.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup™ will be the first time that the expanded field of 48 teams will play in the World Cup, with 80 total matches. Hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ could generate more than $5 billion in short-term economic activity, including supporting approximately 40,000 jobs and more than $1 billion in incremental worker earnings across North America, according to a study done by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a leading global management consulting firm.
Canada, Mexico and the United States are hosting the 48-team tournament in 2026, which will be the largest in FIFA World Cup™ history. The study further estimates that individual host cities could expect a net benefit of approximately $90-$480 million per city.