When the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final is played before a billion-plus global viewers, JerryWorld may be a lonely place. But AT&T Stadium got a glittering consolation prize: It will be the site of more 2026 World Cup matches than any of the other 15 host venues in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
One fun detail: Since FIFA doesn’t allow corporate-sponsor stadium names for its events, AT&T Stadium will be temporarily known as “Dallas Stadium” during the World Cup, even though it’s in Arlington, according to DallasCowboys.com.
FIFA’s globally televised announcement Sunday revealed that MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey—the home of the New York Giants and Jets just across the Hudson from New York City—will be the site of the 2026 Final. That may have crushed Jerry Jones’ dreams of his biggest AT&T Stadium TV audience ever—despite all his efforts to sell Dallas and AT&T Stadium to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. And despite a report by a British tabloid that the win was in for a Final in Arlington.
Nine matches will include a big prize: one of the two semifinals
But Jones had plenty to brag about after the announcement was over. Infantino took pains to mention that Dallas would be hosting more 2026 World Cup games than any other city, with nine matches to take place in AT&T Stadium.
And one of those will be one of the two semi-final matches—guaranteed to grab huge global attention as the world watches to see who will reach The Final.
“This is a fabulous success,” Jones said after the announcement, according to Sports Illustrated’s Mike Fisher. “This is a triumph. This is a huge, huge success for every entity concerned here. While it’s easy to sit here and say you came in second, the real world is that seconds here are magnificent and that’s not an exaggeration.”
The two semi-final matches were among the four biggest prizes announced Sunday, along with the opening match (to be held in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca) and The Final in New Jersey’s Meadowlands. The other semi-final went to
$400M economic impact expected in DFW—with 3,000-plus temp jobs
Dallas is one of 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup, with 80 matches scheduled to be played across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Even without The Final happening in Arlington, the World Cup is expected to produce more than $400 million in economic impact on Dallas-Fort Worth while creating more than 3,000 temporary jobs here, according to the Dallas Sports Commission.
AT&T Stadium is no stranger to hosting soccer events. According to played host to multiple CONCACAF Gold Cup matches including the opening matches in 2011, the semi-final matches in 2013, one semi-final match in 2017 and quarterfinal matches in 2021 and 2023. The venue will host the 2024 Nations League Finals in March, which will serve as its first opportunity to host a final of a soccer event. It will also serve as a host for multiple Copa America matches this summer including a quarterfinal on July 5.
You can check out the full 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule—and spot the curiously named “Dallas Stadium” events—by going here.
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On Sunday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino watched the Dallas Cowboys crush the New York Jets 30-10 from inside the owners suite at AT&T Stadium. During the game, he got an earful from Jerry Jones and Governor Greg Abbott on why he should come back there in 2026 to watch the World Cup Final.
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