Take a look back at the last time North Texas hosted FIFA World Cup matches
North Texas is gearing up to host 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, but this isn’t the region’s first rodeo.
AT&T Stadium, or more so, “Dallas Stadium,” according to FIFA, will host nine matches next summer, including a semifinal game. FIFA does not allow corporate sponsors to represent venues at the World Cup, so, the home of the Dallas Cowboys will go under a different name.
As the Metroplex plans to host the biggest sporting event in the world, let’s take a look back at the first time FIFA came to North Texas.
1994 World Cup at the Cotton Bowl
More than 30 years ago, the former home stadium of the Dallas Cowboys hosted six 1994 FIFA World Cup matches.
The Cotton Bowl welcomed 10 nations over mid-June to early July 1994. South Korea and Bulgaria both played twice in the stadium, with Spain, Germany, Nigeria, Argentina, Sweden, Brazil, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia, all playing once each in Dallas.
Four group stage matches, one round of 16 and one quarterfinal match were played at the Cotton Bowl:
- June 17- Spain tied South Korea 2-2
- June 21- Nigeria defeated Bulgaria 3-0
- June 27- Germany defeated South Korea 3-2
- June 30- Bulgaria defeated Argentina 2-0
- July 3- Sweden defeated Saudi Arabia 3-1
- July 9- Brazil defeated Netherlands 3-2
Brazil went on to defeat Italy to win the World Cup.
While the World Cup was, and still is, the biggest sporting event in the world, it appeared to be a bigger event for international fans than folks stateside.
The Star-Telegram’s media partner WFAA-TV released an archive video of the festivities back in the day, which showed many international fans exploring the Metroplex while in town.
As for why North Texans weren’t head over heels for the World Cup, WFAA pointed to the local sports world being preoccupied with its own teams.
The Dallas Cowboys won their fourth Super Bowl just a few months prior to the World Cup. The Texas Rangers opened Globe Life Park, now Choctaw Stadium, in spring 1994.
In addition, the Dallas Stars just finished their first season here after relocating from Minnesota. And the Dallas Mavericks drafted Jason Kidd with the second overall pick that summer.
This story was originally published December 5, 2025 at 2:45 PM.
