As excitement builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the City of McKinney is vying for a spot on the global stage.
North Texas is set to host nine World Cup matches, including a high-stakes semifinal at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Now, FIFA officials are scouting the Dallas-Fort Worth area for training facilities — and McKinney’s Inpower IQ center is aiming to make the cut.
Inpower IQ submitted its application to FIFA in January, hoping to be approved as an official team training site, NBC DFW reports.
Daniel Lanni, a facility representative, has been closely involved in the process, even traveling to England for a sports science convention to learn what it takes to meet FIFA’s elite standards.
“FIFA won’t even consider a facility unless it meets their approval first,” Lanni explained to NBC DFW. These training hubs serve as a “home away from home” for the players and coaching staff throughout the tournament.
Lanni revealed that FIFA recently made contact, signaling McKinney’s bid is moving forward. “I was at lunch when I got the email from FIFA saying they wanted to talk. And here we are today,” he said. However, one significant hurdle is the facility needs a regulation-sized 120-yard soccer field. Conveniently, a vacant lot behind the Inpower IQ facility—once a baseball field—could fit the bill.
The City of McKinney purchased the lot in 2017 for an expansion project for the nearby StarCenter ice skating facility. Lanni mentioned that the field’s flat surface offers a good starting point for development. Still, the project must meet FIFA’s strict seating requirements, which could affect the field’s layout plans.
“If it’s approved, we’ll likely need at least 250 seats, but the exact number depends on FIFA’s final specifications,” Lanni told the affiliate.
Lanni made a fresh appeal to McKinney’s city leaders during Tuesday’s council work session, emphasizing the prestige the city could gain by hosting one of the world’s top teams. “The professionals already train here,” he pointed out. “So why not attract one of the best nations competing in the World Cup to McKinney?” The opportunity intrigued City leaders, but no final decisions were made during the meeting.
City documents suggest that, if the project goes forward, the soccer field would remain in use after the World Cup as a practice facility for local teams. Plans also include connecting the site to the McKinney Soccer Complex through a pedestrian trail.
According to Lanni, if the council gives the green light, construction could begin within three to four months. FIFA will not officially announce which teams are assigned to training sites until December 2025, leaving McKinney eagerly waiting to see if it will play a role in the world’s most-watched sporting event.
