World Cup 2026: Hofstra experts on the science, health, and business behind the tournament.

Jun 23, 2026

2 min

The 2026 FIFA World Cup comes to the New York metro area, and Hofstra University is ready. From the training room to the boardroom, Hofstra faculty bring research-backed expertise to the stories journalists are chasing this tournament season.

View Our World Cup Hub

Featured Topic

The Cultural Game

Why soccer means what it means and what this World Cup moment represents

The World Cup has always been about more than the game. Brenda Elsey, Professor of History, studies soccer as a cultural and political force across the Americas -- from grassroots identity to gender and power. She can speak to what this tournament represents as a historical moment, on and off the field.

Expert

Brenda Elsey - History

Featured Topic

Health and Performance on the World Stage

Expert insight on what it takes to compete and recover at a World Cup.

Competing at this level means managing the body and the mind across weeks of high-stakes matches with almost no recovery time. Hofstra's health and kinesiology faculty are your sources for the stories behind the performance.

Experts

Jayne Ellinger - Athletic Training

Katie Sell - Exercise Physiology

Anna Len - Physical Therapy

Genevieve Weber - Mental Health

Featured Topic

Beyond the Pitch

What the World Cup does to cities, economies, and public health systems

From local business impact and tourism economics to disease surveillance and emergency preparedness - Hofstra faculty are ready to talk.

Experts

Andy M. Forman - Marketing & Tourism

Lauren Hindman - Management

Martine Hackett - Population Health

Meshack Achore - Population Health

View Our World Cup Hub

Connect with:

Brenda Elsey

Professor of History

Specialist in Popular Culture and Politics, as well as Gender and Sports, in Twentieth Century Latin America.

Latin American CultureLatin American PoliticsSports in Latin AmericaGender Studies

Martine Hackett

Associate Professor of Population Health

Dr. Hackett's research focuses on public health and health inequities, particularly in the American suburbs and minority communities.

Public HealthHealth CommunicationResearch MethodsMaternal-Child HealthInfant Injury

Genevieve Weber

Associate Professor of Counseling and Mental Health Professions

Dr. Weber is a licensed mental health counselor, with a specialty in LGBTQ inclusion/cyber-bullying and substance abuse/heroin addiction.

AddictionSubstance AbuseCyberbullyingHomophobiaLGBT Inclusion

Find Experts

Aug 17, 2026

1 min

Can President’s Visit Sway LI Voters in Governor’s Race?

Lawrence Levy, associate vice president and executive dean of Hofstra University’s National Center for Suburban Studies, was interviewed by Newsday about President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Long Island on August 14 to show support for local law enforcement and boost Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s gubernatorial campaign. “Nothing has been more damaging to Blakeman’s campaign, especially to his ability to attract moderate suburbanites, ubiquitous on Long Island, than President Trump’s plunging approval ratings,” Levy said. “So unless the president comes with bags of money for Blakeman’s underfunded campaign, it’s hard to imagine how the visit will be a net positive. If Blakeman doesn’t have his MAGA base already secure, he’s in more trouble than even the polls suggest.”

Aug 13, 2026

1 min

Why Flash Flooding Is of Increased Local Concern

Jase Bernhardt, associate professor of geology, environment, and sustainability, was interviewed by Newsday about the increased risk of flash flooding on Long Island. The article explains that flash flooding is caused by heavy rainfall in a short period. It’s often caused by thunderstorms in the summer, when there’s more moisture in the air than in cooler months. It can happen anywhere across the region, as opposed to storm surge flooding, which mostly impacts low-lying coastal areas. Any change in the frequency of flash flooding on Long Island is also a function of the way water moves on the ground and ultimately of urbanization, Dr. Bernhardt said. “Poor drainage, sewer systems” and impervious surfaces like “parkways, parking lots” and other types of development all play a role.

Aug 11, 2026

1 min

Could President Trump’s Approval Ratings Rebound?

Newsweek interviewed Meena Bose, professor of political science, executive dean of the Public Policy and Public Service program, the Kalikow Chair in Presidential Studies and director of the Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency, about President Donald Trump’s falling approval ratings due to voter frustration over the economy and inflation. Dr. Bose told Newsweek that the long-term consequences of a president’s leadership and policies are “most significant” in determining their legacy. “A president’s long-term legacy for leadership and policy making is most important for determining historic favorability. The passage of time and the assessment of the totality of a presidency also can lead to more favorable ratings, or at least split ones in different policy or political areas, but this is no guarantee,” she said.