The ultimate fan guide to the nine World Cup matches coming to Arlington
The FIFA World Cup is just days away, as the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex will put years of effort and preparation into nine matches at Dallas Stadium — otherwise known as AT&T Stadium when FIFA isn’t running the show.
For the average American fan, soccer is a sport that you maybe check into once a year for the Champions League final or a big summer international tournament. No matter what, the World Cup is the event that will grab the attention of even the most casual of fútbol fans every four years.
If you fall under that category and are curious about the teams and matches coming to Arlington, fret no longer. Here is a preview for all the action coming this month:
June 14: The Netherlands vs. Japan
If you happen to pass by Randol Mill Road in the early afternoon of June 14, and you see a sea of people wearing orange chanting and firing flares, don’t be alarmed. Just know that the Dutch are coming.
Coined as “The Orange Mob” by soccer fans around the world, The Netherlands has one of the most passionate fan bases across the globe, if not the most. It’s also expected that the Dutch double-decker bus will be in the area after it was seen arriving at the port in Galveston last month.
Japan is no slouch itself when it comes to fan engagement, as the “Samurai Blue” are expected to have a lot of supporters make the trip over the Pacific Ocean for the tournament.
As for the match on the pitch, the Netherlands brings one of the deepest rosters in the entire tournament to Arlington — specifically on its defensive back line. Led by Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk in what could be the 34-year-old’s final World Cup, the Netherlands enters the tournament having not lost an international contest in regulation in nearly two years.
While Japan doesn’t have nearly the depth of its opening match counterparts, it does have star power all over the field. Led by striker Takefusa Kubo of Spain powerhouse Real Sociedad, Japan has scored in seven consecutive friendlies, including three goals in a win over Brazil in October.
Prediction: The Netherlands 2, Japan 1
June 17: England vs. Croatia
When it comes to pure star power on both sides, the group stage slate of games in Arlington don’t get much better than this clash between England and Croatia.
Entering the tournament with FIFA’s No. 4-ranked team in the world, England head coach Thomas Tuchel made some interesting roster decisions that kicked up controversy across the pond last week, such as leaving out Chelsea star Cole Palmer, England staple Harry Maguire of Manchester United and Crystal Palace emerging midfielder Adam Wharton.
Still, England rolls into the World Cup with one of the most complete groups in the field. Led by striker Harry Kane of Bayern Munich and midfielder Declan Rice of Premier League champion Arsenal, the talent at all three levels of the pitch is truly impressive for the English as they look to hoist the trophy for the first time since 1966.
In this match, Croatia looms as a dangerous opponent. After a runner-up finish in 2018 and a third-place finish in 2022, the “Vatreni” — “The Fiery Ones” — have one missing spot on the podium on their mind going into the 2026 edition. Knocking off a team like England in the group stage could offer the optimism needed to finally break through.
Prediction: England 2, Croatia 2
June 22: Argentina vs. Austria
Lionel Messi, welcome to Arlington!
World sports superstars have played in AT&T Stadium such as Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Canelo Álvarez, but few draw the attention quite like one of the greatest soccer players of all time. Messi has made one previous appearance at the stadium, scoring a dramatic 89th-minute goal for Argentina in a friendly against Mexico back in 2015. This time around, the stakes will be much higher.
After finally breaking through to win the World Cup in 2022, Messi and Argentina are back to defend their crown in the tournament’s largest field ever of 48 teams. While some of the stars from that 2022 team have aged, the sheer depth of the squad offers so many solutions to any problem the Argentines could face in the tournament.
While Austria does have the front-facing star power in the form of Bayern Munich midfielder Konrad Laimer and Real Madrid defender David Alaba, it would take a gargantuan effort to take down Argentina.
Prediction: Argentina 3, Austria 1
June 25: Japan vs. Sweden
The World Cup is expected to bring more than 3 million visitors through Dallas-Fort Worth during the duration of the tournament, and many will come and go. But if you’re looking for a couple of countries that may hang around more than the others, look no further than Japan and Sweden.
The Japanese will play two of their three group stage matches in Arlington, so it could serve as a home base for travelling fans, while the Swedish team will be stationed in Frisco during the entirety of their competition in the tournament.
As for the match itself, Japan is a sneaky dark horse in the tournament. Similar to how Morocco made an inspiring run to the semifinals in 2022, Japan has some of the same structure and makeup to put forth a similar run if the cards fall right. A test against a scrappy Sweden squad that earned one of the final bids in the tournament in March will prove to be a huge determining factor in just how deep Japan can go.
Led by one of the best attacking duos in the field in Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres and Liverpool’s Alexander Isak, Sweden can legitimately contend with any team, but it could also fall to any team with its weak defensive backline.
Of note, Herman Johansson of FC Dallas was a late call-up to the Sweden squad and will be available in the World Cup. He’s one of three players for FC Dallas playing in the tournament, joining Petar Musa (Croatia) and Louicius Don Deedson (Haiti).
Prediction: Japan 4, Sweden 3
June 27: Jordan vs. Argentina
Messi will play in Arlington at least twice in the World Cup! And if you’re trying to gauge which matchup would be likeliest to see the then 39-year-old score a goal, stay up for the 9 p.m. kickoff against Jordan on June 27.
In the World Cup for the first time in the country’s history, Jordan won’t stand much of a chance against the Goliath Argentina squad that will look to wrap up its group stage slate with a clean win. If Argentina slips up at any point in the group stage before this match, expect the score to be run up to catch up on goal differential.
To even score a goal would be a massive achievement for Jordan, as the national team hasn’t won a match against a World Cup-qualifying team outside the Middle East since 2022.
Prediction: Argentina 6, Jordan 0
June 30: Round of 32 (2nd place in Group I vs. 2nd place in Group E)
The combinations of matches that could line up for this date are fun. A lot of fun.
In Group E, Germany is expected to run away from the pack for a group win over Curaçao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador, but a stumble in the group stage from the Germans could line up the European powerhouse at Dallas Stadium to begin the knockout round.
Ecuador is the likeliest team to finish second in the group, but it will truly be determined in the match against the Ivory Coast.
On the other side in Group I, France is the headliner as the No. 1-ranked team by FIFA and is expected to comfortably win the group over Senegal, Norway and Iraq.
Senegal — the rightful defending African champions — has the best chance of finishing second in the group, but don’t be surprised if Norway, led by one of the top strikers in the world in Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, makes a strong push.
Prediction: Senegal 3, Ecuador 1
July 3: Round of 32 (2nd place in Group D vs. 2nd place in Group G)
No, the United States is not scheduled to play in Arlington — yet. But that could be a reality just one day before the country’s 250th Independence Day celebration, and what better way to kick it off, pun intended, than a knockout stage clash.
The one thing that could get in the way of that reality is the fact that the U.S. should win its group with relative ease. The group draw back in December was very kind to the Americans, giving them Paraguay, Australia and Turkey to go through to get into the knockout rounds. If they somehow slip in one of those contests, expect the ticket prices for this match to skyrocket. Watch out for Turkey, which is riding a hot streak coming into the tournament.
On the other side in Group G, Belgium is expected to lead the pack, but two of the best teams in the Middle East in Iran and Egypt won’t make it easy. If Egypt makes it through as the second-place finisher, legendary striker Mohamed Salah will just add to the star power that will make their way to Arlington this summer.
Prediction: United States 2, Egypt 1
July 6: Round of 16
As we start looking ahead into the second round of the knockout stage, projecting which teams could end up in Arlington gets a little more wide open.
However, this is the match to watch to potentially see Spain make its way to the Metroplex. It’s tough to argue any team having an easier path to a group win than Spain in Group H, and a round of 32 match against the second-place finisher in Group J would have to see them go through another less formidable opponent such as Austria or Algeria.
All in all, expect Spain to be playing in this match unless something crazy happens.
As for the opponent, the winner of the round of 32 match with the second-place finisher in Group L and the second-place finisher in Group K will be on the other side. In Group L, the possibilities include Ghana or a second appearance in Arlington for England or Croatia. In Group K, it will simply be the loser of the group stage match of Portugal and Colombia.
If it’s Portugal, DFW soccer fans will be treated to world superstar Cristiano Ronaldo playing in what is expected to be his final World Cup.
Prediction: Spain 2, Colombia 0
July 14: Semifinal
It was a bit of a bummer for the organizing committee of the World Cup back in 2024 when it was announced that Dallas Stadium wouldn’t get the final, but getting one of the semifinals along with eight other matches served as a worthy consolation prize.
Simply put, this will be one of the biggest sporting events in not only the history of the venue, but for the entire North Texas region on July 14. Broadcasts from across the world will descend upon Arlington for a match that will determine who gets to play on the tournament’s final day in New York/New Jersey for the World Cup trophy.
The possibilities for the matchup in this one are endless, as all the tournament’s 48 teams have a path to ending up in this match as of now based on how the knockout bracket is laid out. But for the sake of the exercise, let’s predict it anyway.
In the top half of the bracket, Brazil should have a somewhat clear path to the quarterfinals if all goes as planned for the South American powerhouse. In that match, a heavyweight showdown against either Germany or the Netherlands would theoretically await for a spot in the semifinal.
On the bottom half of the bracket, there is one clear favorite: France.
As finalists in three of the past five World Cups dating back to 2006, including a tournament win in 2018, France has the biggest target of any country going into this World Cup. To get to the semifinal, France would have to go through some combination of teams such as England, Mexico and/or Croatia. If one of those teams can pull off the upset, then it would be that lucky country making its way to Arlington instead.
Prediction: France 1, Germany 1 (France wins 5-4 in penalty shootout)
