That’s right. Dallas is one of 16 host cities for the 2026 Fifa World Cup™. This is beyond huge, especially for a fan of my age who has never seen a World Cup up close and personal. Dallas hosted in 1994 but I wasn’t living near enough nor had the means as a teenager to get involved and go to a game. This time WILL most definitely be different. I feel pretty good about the opportunity to take my family to a World Cup game – and that is an exciting feeling for a house full of soccer fans and players.
“The legacy of the 1994 World Cup is a big reason why we’re here today. On the back of that World Cup, Major League Soccer was born. As the league has grown, the appetite for elite-level soccer continues to flourish. There has never been a better moment in time to be involved in the beautiful game than right now,” said Dan Hunt, Dallas 2026 Host City Bid Chairman and President, FC Dallas.
It is a significant milestone on the road to FIFA World Cup 2026™ as the 16 host cities in three countries are due to stage matches between 48 teams. Other cities also named as host cities include Atlanta, Boston, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Monterrey, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver.
We don’t know what matches we’ll get and what exactly it will look like yet, but my guess and my hope is that AT&T Stadium in Arlington will get early group round games and a semi-final game. If we get the finals that would be INSANE, but my gut tells me a market like Los Angeles might have us beat. Hope not, but setting realistic expectations. Jerry Jones is confident that his stadium will be in the spotlight.
Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager Jerry Jones says, “We’re thrilled that the committee has selected Dallas as a host city and can’t wait to once again showcase our region on a global stage. AT&T Stadium is one of the world’s premier sports venues, an elite facility worthy of hosting FIFA World Cup 2026™. I couldn’t be prouder to welcome one of the world’s most popular sport inside the home of the Dallas Cowboys, and I am confident our fan base will respond with an energy befitting ‘The Beautiful Game.’”
“This is a big day for the city of Dallas. Being named as a host city for FIFA World Cup 2026™ provides a once-in-a generation opportunity to create a legacy for North Texas through the most popular sport in the world,” said Dallas Sports Commission Executive Director Monica Paul. “From infrastructure and arts to top-level training facilities and a world-class venue in AT&T Stadium, Dallas offers everything that the committee could have wanted in a host city. It’s incredibly gratifying to be chosen, and we can’t wait to begin preparing for FIFA World Cup 2026™.”
