Dallas: 2026 World Cup Host City Guide

Dallas is one of the marquee host cities of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with AT&T Stadium in suburban Arlington hosting one of the two World Cup semi-finals plus a quarter-final and group-stage matches. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States and the largest in Texas, with substantial Mexican-American, Latin American and Asian-American communities supporting strong demand for World Cup football.

This guide covers the practical detail for visitors heading to AT&T Stadium for the semi-final or any of the other Dallas fixtures: where to stay, how to navigate the limited public transit options, what the local supporter culture looks like, and how to combine the matchday experience with the broader cultural offerings of Dallas and Fort Worth.

Key facts

• Country: United States
• Population: 1.3 million in Dallas itself, 8.1 million in the broader Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex
• Time zone: Central Time (UTC-5 during daylight savings)
• Stadium: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, midway between Dallas and Fort Worth
• Stadium capacity: 80,000 (the second largest 2026 World Cup venue)
• Marquee fixture: One of the two World Cup semi-finals, plus a quarter-final and round of 32 fixture
• Closest international airport: Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW), 12 miles north of the stadium

The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex

The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex (DFW) is unusual among US metropolitan areas in being effectively bi-centred: Dallas (the larger city, business hub, headquarters of major corporations) and Fort Worth (the smaller city, cultural and historical hub, home of significant Texan heritage and stockyard culture) sit roughly 30 miles apart with continuous urban development between them. AT&T Stadium in Arlington sits midway between the two cities.

For visitors, the practical takeaway is that you can stay in either Dallas or Fort Worth and have a similar journey to the stadium. Most international visitors choose Dallas for the broader corporate hotel range; Fort Worth offers more historic and cultural Texan character.

Travel and transit

Dallas-Fort Worth has limited public transit compared to similar-sized US metropolitan areas:

• By car: The most common option for AT&T Stadium. The stadium is at the intersection of I-30 and Highway 360 with extensive on-site parking. Driving from downtown Dallas takes 20-30 minutes off-peak, longer in matchday traffic.
• Trinity Railway Express: The TRE provides commuter rail between downtown Dallas and downtown Fort Worth, with a Centreport/DFW Airport station providing onward shuttle service to the stadium on matchdays.
• By rideshare: Uber and Lyft are widely used; matchday surge pricing can be substantial.

Dallas/Fort Worth airports

Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) is the major international hub, 12 miles north of AT&T Stadium. Dallas Love Field (DAL) is closer to downtown Dallas but serves a smaller route network primarily through Southwest Airlines.

Climate during the World Cup

Dallas-Fort Worth summer climate is hot, with afternoon highs typically 33-37 degrees Celsius during June and July and high humidity. Afternoon thunderstorms are occasional. AT&T Stadium has a retractable roof and full climate control, so matches scheduled during peak afternoon heat will likely play with the roof closed and cool air activated. Evening fixtures may play with the roof open.

Where to stay

Multiple distinct neighbourhoods serve different priorities:

• Downtown Dallas: Modern hotels with strong restaurant scenes, walking distance to the Dallas Arts District.
• Uptown Dallas: Trendy district north of downtown with strong restaurant and bar scenes.
• Downtown Fort Worth: Historic Texan character with the Fort Worth Stockyards and Sundance Square.
• Arlington Entertainment District: Walking distance to AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field (Texas Rangers), with mid-range hotels.
• DFW Airport area: Modern hotel cluster suited to fly-in-fly-out visitors.

Beyond the stadium: things to do

Dallas-Fort Worth offers strong Texan cultural and historical attractions:

• The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza: Major museum dedicated to the JFK assassination, in downtown Dallas.
• Dallas Arts District: The largest arts district in the United States, with the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center.
• Fort Worth Stockyards: Historic 19th-century cattle district with daily cattle drives and Texan heritage.
• Kimbell Art Museum (Fort Worth): Major art museum with significant European masters collection.
• Reunion Tower (Dallas): Iconic observation tower in downtown Dallas.
• AT&T Stadium tours: Tours of the stadium itself are popular Dallas attractions outside matchdays.

Local supporter culture

Dallas-Fort Worth has substantial Mexican-American, Salvadoran, Honduran, Guatemalan and broader Latin American communities. Mexico national team home matches at AT&T Stadium consistently sell out. The 2016 Copa America Centenario final between Argentina and Chile (won by Chile on penalties) was hosted at AT&T, and the 2024 Copa America used the venue including the Argentina-Canada semi-final, providing soft tests of the metroplex's match-day operations.

FC Dallas (MLS) plays at Toyota Stadium in Frisco rather than AT&T Stadium, but the broader supporter culture in DFW for Mexican and Latin American football is among the strongest in the United States.

Practical advice

• The stadium has full climate control, removing the heat concern from the matchday experience itself.
• Public transit is limited; most visitors rent cars or use rideshare for general DFW mobility.
• Allow extra time for matchday traffic on I-30 around the stadium.
• The Mexican-American population in DFW makes Mexico fixtures essentially home matches.

Related guides

• World Cup 2026 hub.
• AT&T Stadium guide.
• All 16 World Cup 2026 host cities.
• All 16 World Cup 2026 venues.
• How to watch the 2026 World Cup.