Restaurants, roads, tickets, more: What to know about FIFA World Cup in North Texas
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will bring nine matches to Arlington’s AT&T Stadium, now rebranded as Dallas Stadium, beginning June 14. Here is a roundup of stories from the Star-Telegram readers need to know to stay informed as the tournament approaches.
- From reporter Ella Gonzales: Crews laid 114 yards of Kentucky Blue Grass and Rye pitch on May 10 at AT&T Stadium, removing artificial turf and lower-level suites to accommodate the wider soccer field. Pink LED grow lights suspended from the ceiling provide synthetic sunlight to the indoor pitch until the first match June 14 between the Netherlands and Japan.
- From reporter Brayden Garcia: Several road closures will take effect across Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth during the tournament, according to the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee. Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth will broadcast all 104 matches during its “Summer of Soccer” celebration, with street closures from June 10 to July 20.
- From reporter Tiffani Jackson: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into FIFA on June 9 after fans complained they were misled about ticket seat locations. One complaint involved a fan who bought Category 1 seats expecting premium views, only to have FIFA later reclassify them as Category 2 seating.
- From reporter Ella Gonzales: Fort Worth has more than 20 restaurants worth trying for World Cup visitors, with barbecue and Tex-Mex among the city’s strongest cuisines. Goldee’s Barbecue was ranked No. 1 on Texas Monthly’s Top 50 barbecue list in 2021 and No. 3 in 2025.
- From reporter Ella Gonzales: Numerous North Texas restaurants are also hosting watch parties for all nine matches in Arlington from June 11 to July 19. Confirmed teams playing in the Metroplex include Japan, the Netherlands, England, Croatia, Argentina, Austria and Jordan.
- From reporter Tiffani Jackson: Official FIFA World Cup 2026 merchandise is available across North Texas, including at Galleria Dallas, vending machines at Shops at Legacy East in Plano and Southlake Town Square, and Dallas Love Field Airport. Bank of America will distribute more than 2 million free BofA Fan Bands across all 11 U.S. host cities starting June 11.
- From reporter Tiffani Jackson: Dallas ranks as the fourth-most expensive World Cup host city for short-term rentals, with average nightly rates of about $251. Airbnb is offering a $750 incentive to first-time hosts in host cities, and residents could earn an average of $3,000 by renting their space during the event.
- From service journalism editor Jake Harris: Trinity Metro’s Cowtown Visitor Shuttles will take fans from Fort Worth to Buc-ee’s, Tanger Outlets, Six Flags, Texas Live!, the Fort Worth Zoo and the Fort Worth Botanic Garden on non-match days from June 15 to July 12. All-day passes start at $10 and include transfers to other Trinity Metro services.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
Jake Harris
Fort Worth Star-Telegram