Dallas eyes bigger role for 2026 FIFA World Cup
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Thousands of international journalists are expected to work out of downtown Dallas for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Photo: Kirby Lee/Getty Images
North Texas' role in the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup continues to expand.
Why it matters: The global sporting event is expected to infuse $2 billion into the region's economy, per the DMN.
Driving the news: The Dallas Sports Commission updated a Dallas City Council committee last week on plans for the World Cup.
- The Dallas City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the use of city facilities for the tournament.
Catch up quick: The 2026 World Cup will take place June 11-July 19, 2026, and 16 cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico will host World Cup matches. Nine of the matches will be at AT&T Stadium — more than at any other site.
The latest: FIFA plans to place the tournament's international broadcast center at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center for eight months, and the fan festival area will be at Fair Park, per the Dallas Sports Commission.
- The Cotton Bowl and SMU will serve as training sites. North Texas could have up to seven base camps, where teams will stay and prepare for their group-stage matches.
- FIFA has also asked the Dallas Sports Commission to identify locations for a fleet depot, volunteer center and main ticketing center.
The intrigue: There will only be one international broadcast center for the entire tournament, which means the convention center will host thousands of journalists from around the world.
- FIFA will have exclusive, 24-hour use of most of the center from January to August 2026. Some nearby streets and sidewalks might also be closed to the public.
Between the lines: Construction for Dallas' new convention center will continue around the time the current convention center is in use for the World Cup.
- The Dallas City Council is being asked to approve up to $15 million in capital improvements from the convention center construction fund to prepare the older Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center for the broadcast center.
What's next: The Dallas Sports Commission will need to develop a human rights and sustainability framework that aligns with FIFA's expectations.
- Local officials will also need to plan for safety and security measures for each event and FIFA site.
What they're saying: "When we bid on this in 2017, we were anticipating four or five matches," Dallas Sports Commission executive director Monica Paul said at last week's committee meeting.
- "Our world has changed a little bit now with nine matches plus the additional layers that we have … safety and security is one of the most important things."