• Current: Arlington takes over airport operations, readies for World Cup impact. 19 March 2024
• Summary: Start planning now to be gone or to take advantage of the largest sporting event ever -- less than fifty (50) miles from Willow Park. "In just three and a half years, Fort Worth will welcome millions of soccer fans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the largest sporting event in the world. And the city wants to go bigger by becoming a base camp for a visiting national team."
Latest Update: update 19 March 2024; re posted 06 February 2024, 02 October, 2023; 01 September, 2023; 27 June, 2023
Fort Worth will welcome millions for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, largest sporting event ever.
Start planning now to be gone or to take advantage of the largest sporting event ever -- less than fifty (50) miles from Willow Park. "In just three and a half years, Fort Worth will welcome millions of soccer fans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the largest sporting event in the world. And the city wants to go bigger by becoming a base camp for a visiting national team." With the possibility of hosting eight games with the final, the tournament could bring in millions of dollars to the local economy and businesses of North Texas.[1]
Update: • Arlington takes over airport operations, readies for World Cup impact, Fort Worth Report. 19 March 2024
Arlington City Council voted in January for the $17 million acquisition of Harrison Aviation and GKY Realty property. Harrison earlier announced it was leaving the business, presenting the city with an opportunity to create revenue and develop the airport as aviation traffic grows.
• AT&T Stadium sidelined for final World Cup match but scores most games, Arlington Report, 04 February, 2024
Despite losing final match bid, officials celebrate outcome
However, the home of the Cowboys will still accommodate nine matches, including a semifinal — the most games of any host city across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
• 2026 FIFA World Cup to Play Nine Matches at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, The Texan, 05 February, 2024
Local leaders expressed support and excitement for the 2026 event.
• Houston to host 7 FIFA World Cup matches at NRG Stadium in 2026, Community Impact, 05 February, 2024
• World Cup 2026: AT&T Stadium will be called Dallas Stadium for tournament, Fox4News, 06February, 2024
• AT&T to host 2026 World Cup Final? FIFA to announce final match soon, Fort Worth Report, 18 January 2024
The allocation of host city matches and the location of key games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be announced Feb. 4... This includes the location of the final match, which Arlington’s AT&T Stadium is a top contender to host, along with MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Special programming for the announcement will be broadcast live across Canada, Mexico and the United States, as well as on FIFA platforms.
• Fort Worth area looks to score transit win ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup, Fort Worth Report, 17 January 2024
Fort Worth area agencies are getting the ball rolling on transit initiatives in preparation for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In Fort Worth, those World Cup-related transit investments include upgrades to the Trinity Railway Express CentrePort Station such as rider amenities and improved signage. It also includes TRE train replacements and upgrades. This effort will be led by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit, which co-owns TRE with Trinity Metro and is seeking $30 million in grant funding to accomplish it.
• FIFA > FIFA 2026 > Host Cities > Dallas > Dallas (article)
[1] With 2026 World Cup potentially bringing millions of dollars, Fort Worth pushes to become home for visiting national team, Fort Worth Report, 21 June 2023
In just three and a half years, Fort Worth will welcome millions of soccer fans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the largest sporting event in the world. And the city wants to go bigger by becoming a base camp for a visiting national team.
With the possibility of hosting eight games with the final, the tournament could bring in millions of dollars to the local economy and businesses of North Texas.
The metroplex is one of 16 host cities across three countries for the upcoming World Cup tournament, with AT&T Stadium in Arlington slated to be one of the primary venues. AT&T Stadium is currently in the running to host the final game.
The tournament will be held from June 11, 2026, through July 19, 2026. In total, 104 matches will be placed across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
FIFA, the international organization overseeing the event, lists Dallas on its official website as a host city, but all of North Texas, including Fort Worth, play a crucial role in making the event a success and stand to benefit as well, said Gina Miller, vice president of media and communications at FC Dallas.
“We recognize it as 100% a regional effort capitalizing on these great cities that make Dallas-Fort Worth the best region in the country,” Miller said.
The recent expansion of the tournament from 32 teams to 48 means there is a need for more cities to act as base camps for a visiting national team for the duration of the event – an opportunity Fort Worth has quickly jumped on. City officials and FC Dallas are putting together a plan to present to FIFA and hope they are selected.
“Obviously if Fort Worth gets an opportunity to be a base camp host, that’s real dollars and cents into the community,” Miller said.
To host a visiting national team’s base camp, a city needs to have several fields and four- or five-star accommodations. The proximity to several major airports — Dallas-Fort Worth International and Dallas Love Field as well as smaller and private airports like Alliance and Meacham Airports — make Fort Worth an attractive location for a base camp.
“Since everything is indeed bigger in Texas, Fort Worth would feel right at home,” said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker in a statement.
Updated Tuesday, 03 October, 2023
• Arlington, regional officials consider local funds to pay for World Cup improvements, Fort Worth Report, 27 September 2023
About $17.5 million in bond funds dedicated to Randol Mill Road renovations could be temporarily redirected for some entertainment district streets, sidewalks and signage.
• Regional officials consider traffic challenges for 2026 World Cup. Here’s what we know so far, Fort Worth Report, 27 August 2023
• #WeAreDallas FIFA World Cup 2026 Brand Unveiled, NBCDFW, 18 May 2023, The unveiling of the #WeAreDallas brand is considered a major milestone as the countdown to the world’s biggest sporting event continues.
• Officials Update Progress On Planning for FIFA World Cup 2026 in Dallas, NBCDFW, 18 May 2023, Excerpts.
FIFA events will spread out in cities like Arlington, Frisco and Fort Worth, with upwards of eight games possible at AT&T stadium.
“The big prizes in this tournament are obviously the opening match, the two semifinals and the final. And also to get the U.S. men’s national team. That would be a big one,” said Hunt. “I want to have a base camp for visiting national teams. That would be incredibly important because the economic impact on those communities is fabulous. We will be chasing the big ones – Toyota Stadium, Fair Park, SMU. Fort Worth has come back and said multiple times that they would try to host a visiting national team, too.”
• 2026 FIFA World Cup Coming to North Texas, Houston, NBCDFW, 17 June 2022, Excerpt Area leaders hosted a watch party at the AT&T Discovery District in Dallas for the big announcement, with appearances from Dallas and Fort Worth city officials, as well as representatives from the Dallas Cowboys and FC Dallas.
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