AT&T Stadium in Arlington will host nine 2026 World Cup matches, the most of any city in North America, FIFA announced Sunday. The final will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The U.S. team will play its first game in Los Angeles. The other U.S. host cities will be Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle, and San Francisco. Miami will host the bronze medal match.
The opening match will be played on June 11 in Mexico City, FIFA said. Other host cities in Mexico include Guadalajara and Monterrey.
Toronto and Vancouver will be the two host cities in Canada -- the first-ever men's World Cup matches to be held in the country.
The Dallas Sports Commission worked to draw the final match to AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The organization hosted representatives from FIFA in October to show them how the stadium is set up to handle large crowds and how cities across the Metroplex can work together to host a major event.
"Texas hospitality has been a part of this. It started from the first time we had an opportunity to engage with them," Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President of Business Operations Chad Estis said during the visit. "The footprint of our facilities in the region I think was really important to them."
"Honestly, we're just humbled and honored to be a host city of any matches regardless of the number of matches or level of matches in 2026," Dallas Sports Commission Executive Director Monica Paul said.
Estis referenced the number of facilities available for FIFA. The Dallas Sports Commission has focused on the number of venues that could serve as practice facilities or host events from the Cotton Bowl in Dallas to Amon Carter Stadium on the TCU campus in Fort Worth. FC Dallas plays at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.
Hosting FIFA in October, the commission said the region had a growing number of hotel rooms and was easily accessible with airlines at DFW Airport offering direct flights to 63 international destinations. DFW said airlines have non-stop service to 67 international cities.
In Arlington, Mayor Jim Ross said the city has shown it can host large events with Taylor Swift playing three days of shows at AT&T Stadium last spring, the Texas Rangers winning the World Series last fall and Globe Life Field preparing to host the 2024 Major League All-Star game.
"Let's not let it stop," Ross said. "Let's keep this thing going because here's the reality: All those incredibly exciting things benefit this community."
Ross attended the groundbreaking of a park renovation in Arlington last week as part of Major League Baseball's "All-Star Legacy" projects. He says projects like that can show how large events can improve the community.
"It's critically important we stay on the path my predecessors, way back when Tom Vandergriff was the mayor, set," he said. "The path says, 'Listen, we're going to continue to do those things necessary to bring excitement to the city.'"
Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson released the following statement: “Dallas is the perfect city to host these nine major FIFA World Cup matches, including a semi-final, and is ready to showcase both our passion for football and our hospitality on the world stage. Dallas is the best sports city in the United States, and we have worked tirelessly to make Dallas a truly international city. FIFA’s decision affirms the fact that Dallas has arrived on the world stage, and we are ready to welcome football fans from all over the world to Big D.”
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