The Dallas City Council has taken another step toward getting ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, recently approving an agreement for planning with the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee.
The agreement, passed by unanimous vote earlier this week, endorses the nonprofit organizing committee to apply for and manage state funding for planning the World Cup in DFW. The committee will apply for funding from the Event Trust Funds Program, which helps fund large-scale events like the Super Bowl, Wrestlemania, and NBA All-Star games.
Under the agreement, the Dallas City Council will endorse the FIFA committee’s organization efforts, with the requirement that funds be used appropriately and with full transparency throughout the process. Additionally, according to a memo sent to the city council, the committee will be responsible for reimbursing any reserve funds advanced by the Dallas Sports Commission.
The announcement comes as the excitement builds in North Texas ahead of the summer 2026 FIFA Cup, which will feature nine soccer matches at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, the most of any host site, according to WFAA. In total, 16 cities in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada will host FIFA Cup games.
In December, the council approved a $15 million package to fund upgrades at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. The improvements and renovations will help the venue serve as the host for the International Broadcast Center (IBC), a significant part of the World Cup’s media network. Though FIFA has not yet confirmed which city will host the IBC, Dallas is readying itself for the possibility, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Soccer fans worldwide will make the trek to Dallas for the Cup games, scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19 next year.
Construction crews have already begun work on parts of the convention center in preparation for the FIFA activities.