Reports indicate that the 2026 World Cup final is headed to Dallas, Texas. That’s right — neither New York’s Met Life stadium nor LA’s SoFi stadium will serve as the venue for the final match, according to ESPN reporter John Sutcliffe.
Why AT&T Stadium in Dallas?
The United States, Mexico, and Canada are co-hosts for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But with a brand new, state-of-the-art venue with an expandable capacity of up to 100k fans, AT&T Stadium in Dallas (Arlington, to be exact) is a pragmatic choice — and not just for its geographic location amid the coasts.
The stadium, risibly nicknamed “Jerryworld” after Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, is wide enough to support a FIFA-sized field. It’s also climate-controlled and hoists a massive 1080p HDTV jumbotron.
There is a worry that New York Giants/Jets MetLife Stadium could be too hot in August and that the field size at the LA Rams/Chargers SoFi stadium is too narrow.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson refused to confirm the final decision, telling WFAA.com, “FIFA has not made a final decision and they are not expecting an announcement until at least next year.”
“We are proud to have been named a World Cup host city, and we strongly believe Dallas is an ideal location for the World Cup final in 2026 and the International Broadcast Center,” stated Johnson. “The Dallas region — the fourth-largest and fastest-growing in the United States — has the central location, economy, infrastructure, culture, and amenities necessary to support this major global event.”
Dallas hosted a memorable World Cup quarterfinal match between Brazil and Holland in 1994 at the Cotton Bowl. But is the city worthy of a World Cup final? Let us know on Twitter.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Michael Barera
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