AT&T Stadium in Arlington to host nine 2026 World Cup matches, but not the final

It’s not quite the hat trick, but earning nine games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a huge gol for Arlington’s AT&T Stadium.

From June 11, through July 19, 2026, the World Cup will have 104 games over 16 cities in North America, with 11 cities in the U.S.

The press conference held at AT&T featured some of North Texas’ coveted athletic stars of the past, including Dirk Nowitzki, Emmit Smith and Marth Turco.

"This is the biggest event in the world," said Nowitzki, who understood the power of soccer growing up in Germany, where people have "soccer in their DNA."

More: 2026 World Cup matches will be played in these two Texas cities

What is the North Texas area doing to prepare for the World Cup?

Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney, Arlington Mayor Jim Ross, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and Fort Worth Councilwoman Macy Hill were in attendance at the press conference.

Frisco mayor — Cheney — said they’re investing 100 million into the city's downtown. There are other economic impacts from FIFA coming to the city, Cheney noted.

“We saw the Messi impact," the Frisco mayor said in reference to soccer superstar Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami team playing at the Cotton Bowl last month. 

How does the World Cup impact the cities hosting?

World Cup games are an economic risk. According to Forbes, FIFA saw $7.5 billion in revenue, while its 2022 World Cup host, Qatar, made $1.56 billion in revenue from tourism and business travel. Qatar invested $220 billion in hosting the games, making it a financial burden.

According to The Dallas Sports Commission, the World Cup would bring $400 million to the D-FW area and create 3,000 temporary jobs.

How will tourists get around Dallas?

Arlington is the largest city in the world without a public transit system. Through voting, the city has rejected the idea several times. 

Arlington Mayor Jim Ross was asked at the press conference whether Arlington’s lack of public transportation may have impeded the city's bid for a final.

“If you've ever experienced coming in and out of here, we get people in and out as good, if not better, than any other city in the country," said Ross. "So we do have a public transportation system. We're just not assigned to a transit authority."

Arlington will host its first game on June 14, with subsequent group-stage matches on June 17, June 22, June 25 and June 27. Round of 32 matches are on June 30, and July 3. The next game (round of 16) is July 6. The semifinal game in Arlington will be played on July 14.

The final game is on July 19, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

When can I buy tickets to 2026 World Cup games?

Tickets aren't available yet. You can register here with FIFA to receive information on when tickets are going on sale for the 2026 World Cup.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Nine 2026 World Cup matches coming to AT&T Stadium, but not the final