NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
The FIFA World Cup has transformed North America into the center of the soccer world.
For nearly two weeks, fans from all over the world have poured into the United States, Canada and Mexico, filling stadiums, fan festivals and watching parties in the 16 host cities.
Former Texas Tech and Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Cody Campbell joined Pakinomist 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 everyone here. And I’ve loved the comments on social media from people from all over the world who have just said how nice and surprised they were at how great America is. Because I don’t think we’re portrayed that way in international media. So it’s a great opportunity for us to showcase the whole country.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Norway’s 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 matters, was asked about the Protect College Sports Act and its path to the Senate as the legislation continues to move forward.
“The Protect College Sports Act is the first viable college sports bill to make it out of committee in both houses. At this point, it is our long 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) stuff, restricting transfers, restricting 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 what they look like. We know how much that has changed over the last decade or so, and so the bill has built in 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 the legislation supporters say will 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.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
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.
