The World Cup is Coming to Lawrence, with Jason Booker
From The Jayhawker by Greg Gurley and Wayne Simien
March 3, 2026 · 37 min
About this episode
Nate Bukaty interviews Jason Booker about the Algeria national football team's partnership with the University of Kansas during the FIFA World Cup.
On this episode of The Jayhawker, Nate Bukaty sits down with Jason Booker, Deputy Athletics Director for External Affairs and Revenue Generation at the University of Kansas. The two dive into the major announcement that the Algeria national football team will use KU and Rock Chalk Park as its home base during the FIFA World Cup. They discuss what this opportunity means for the university on a global stage from increased visibility and recruiting advantages to long-term partnerships and revenue growth. Jason also explains the behind-the-scenes work that went into making this partnership a reality and how KU positioned itself as a premier destination. Beyond campus, the conversation highlights the economic and cultural impact this will have on Lawrence, Kansas including tourism, community engagement, and the chance to showcase the city to an international audience. The Jayhawker Podcast is presented by the University of Kansas Health System and by Xfinity, get the smartest WiFi only for Xfinity, imagine that! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
People in this episode
Host: Nate Bukaty
Guest: Jason Booker
Topics covered
- World Cup
- University of Kansas
- sports partnerships
- economic impact
- community engagement
- international visibility
Keywords
- World Cup
- University of Kansas
- Jason Booker
- Nate Bukaty
- sports
- economic impact
- Lawrence Kansas
- football
- partnerships
Sponsors
Xfinity, University of Kansas Health System
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of Kansas, FIFA World Cup
Places: Lawrence, Kansas
More episodes of The Jayhawker
- Playing and Coaching for the Jayhawks with Jeremy Case · February 17, 2026 · 24 min
- Kansas Director of Athletics and Vice Chancellor Travis Goff · February 4, 2026 · 32 min
- Fan Favorite, “The Dawg” Melvin Council Jr. · January 27, 2026 · 24 min
- Talking College Basketball with Mike DeCourcy · January 22, 2026 · 21 min
- Remembering Dr. Scott “Scooter” Ward with Tyrel Reed · January 9, 2026 · 33 min
- Logan Bell Previews the Jayhawks and Cornhuskers Sweet 16 Volleyball Showdown · December 11, 2025 · 20 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Jayhawker podcast page.