Preparations are well underway for Dallas to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
City staff this week briefed the Dallas’ Economic Development Committee on the progress made this far for the highly-anticipated event, which is still two years away.
Dallas officials made its official pitch to FIFA to host the World Cup in 2021, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. In late 2022, Governor Greg Abbott announced that both Dallas and Houston would be host cities for the world’s largest sporting event, which will take place across 16 North American cities.
Since 2022, city staff has begun extensive planning efforts. Dallas is scheduled to host nine matches at AT&T Stadium, including a semi-final game, more than any other city in the country.
In a memorandum delivered to the Economic Development Committee during a meeting earlier this week, committee members were informed of a team of city staff, members of the Visit Dallas Sports Commission, INspire Dallas, and Oak View Group, were working closely with FIFA on planning efforts.
An International Broadcast Center will be created for the matches. The currently proposed location is the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, one of the largest convention centers in the nation. The Broadcast Center will host broadcasters from all across the world.
The City of Dallas is also working to find a location for the Main Ticketing Center. “The [Main Ticketing Center] is often a fan’s first point of physical contact for the event,” reads the memorandum. “As such, the location, construction, design and accessibility of the facility are critical to the event’s success.”
FIFA has reportedly requested that the facility be located in or near downtown Dallas with public transportation nearby. FIFA also requested that there be accessible parking near the center and agreed to cover the costs of any construction materials used for the center.
A large part of planning for such an enormous event is ensuring public safety. The FBI has already begun planning security for the event, as reported by The Dallas Express. Executive staff and other delegates have been meeting monthly to discuss the safety and security measures that will be put in place.
Other committees, such as the transportation committee, sustainability committee, dressing and signage, workforce and volunteers, hospitality and ambassadors, and marketing and communications, have also been holding monthly planning and preparation meetings.
Event officials are relying on federal and state funding to help cover the expenses related to preparation for the World Cup; however, federal funding efforts are on hold until after the November 2024 election. Dallas has submitted an application to the state of Texas for assistance from the Major Event Trust Fund, which was designed to help communities with costs related to preparing for and conducting major events.
FIFA representatives are expected to deliver numbers on the economic impact of the World Cup on Dallas by the fall, which will help the City determine funding levels.
The event is expected to bring in nearly $400 million in revenue and create as many as 3,000 jobs.
The last time Dallas hosted a World Cup match was in 1994 at the Cotton Bowl.