Dallas officials have unveiled the city’s largest public mural, a 150-foot-tall by 250-foot-wide artwork titled “One Field, Infinite Smiles,” celebrating the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup on a building overlooking the future Harold Simmons Park.
The mural, created by Netherlands-based artist Rosalie de Graaf with Texas artists Daniel Yanez, Bimbo Abimbola, and Ade Odunfa, depicts children playing soccer with international flags and was completed after about 15 days of work.
It stands on a vacant building at 106 W. Commerce Street near the Trinity River.
The mural was commissioned by the Trinity Park Conservancy, the nonprofit responsible for developing Harold Simmons Park, in partnership with the international nonprofit Street Art for Mankind (SAM). No specific project cost has been publicly disclosed. As a private nonprofit initiative funded through donations, foundations, and corporate support rather than city taxpayer dollars, the Trinity Park Conservancy has not released a budget figure for the installation.
The new “One Field, Infinite Smiles” mural is separate from the Akard Street project and was painted on a previously blank wall of the old Dawson State Jail building. It serves as a prominent visual welcome for the global tournament, which will bring nine matches to AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
City leaders, artists, and children participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Memorial Day.
The artwork used more than 200 gallons of acrylic paint and hundreds of cans of spray paint daily.
Additional FIFA World Cup-themed murals and public art installations are planned across Dallas and the surrounding area, reported Visit Dallas. These include projects in Deep Ellum, the Dallas Arts District, Bishop Arts District, and other neighborhoods as part of broader preparations for hundreds of thousands of international visitors. A Host City Poster designed by Fort Worth-based artist Matt Cliff has also been released for display throughout the metroplex.
The unveiling comes as controversy continues over the recent covering of the iconic “Whaling Wall 82” (also known as “Ocean Life”) by marine artist Wyland on the former Texas Utilities building at 505 N. Akard Street. Crews began painting over portions of the 1999 mural in mid-May to make way for another FIFA-related installation, prompting Wyland to issue a cease-and-desist letter through Dallas law firm Kessler Collins, as previously covered by The Dallas Express.
Wyland and his foundation argued the action violated the federal Visual Artists Rights Act, claiming no proper notice was given before the work began. Organizers previously stated that part of the original mural would remain visible as a tribute, but the artist has pursued legal action to halt further changes.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins June 11. North Texas preparations also encompass volunteer centers, fan festival plans, infrastructure upgrades, and transportation improvements.
