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The FIFA World Cup has transformed North America into the center of the soccer world.
For nearly two weeks and counting, fans from around the globe have poured into the United States, Canada and Mexico, filling stadiums, fan festivals and watch parties across the 16 host cities.
Former Texas Tech and Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Cody Campbell joined Fox News Channel’s “The Will Cain Show” on Tuesday. During the wide-ranging conversation, Campbell expressed optimism about the way international visitors have embraced some of the best the United States has to offer during the World Cup.
“It’s great to have everybody here. And I’ve loved the comments on social media from people from around the world just saying how nice and how surprised they were with how great the United States is. Because I don’t think we’re portrayed that way in international media. So it’s a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the whole country.”
Norway fans perform the Viking row in Times Square in New York on June 21, 2026, ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match against Senegal. (John Sibley/Reuters)
Campbell, who advises President Donald Trump on college sports issues, was asked about the Protect College Sports Act and its path to the Senate floor as the legislation continues to move forward.
“The Protect College Sports Act is the first viable college sports bill that has made it out of committee in either house. At this point, it’s our far and last and only chance to restore some measure of order and stop the chaos in [the] college sports landscape. You’re going to look at the high (level) things, limiting transfers, limiting eligibility, finding ways to get actual control over (the) ability to enforce rules. But it does a lot more than that, it thinks about the future of college sports and how those look. We know how much it’s changed over the last decade or so and so the bill has built into it provisions that will allow us to actually address what happens next.”
Cody Campbell stands backstage during ESPN’s College GameDay at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, on Nov. 8, 2025. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., have spearheaded the Protect College Sports Act. The legislation would grant the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption, allowing the governing body to enforce restrictions on athlete compensation.
A Senate panel approved legislation supporters say would bring stability to college sports as critics warn it expands federal involvement. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The bill also addresses eligibility and transfer rules across college athletics.
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The proposal could pave the way for colleges and universities to consolidate their media rights under a single entity, replacing the current conference-by-conference structure.
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