As North Texas looks forward to hosting nine 2026 FIFA World Cup matches this summer, The Perot Museum of Nature and Science has debuted Soccer: More Than a Game, an immersive exhibition that examines the science behind the world’s most popular sport.

On display through September 7, 2026, the exhibition provides a STEM educational experience for visitors of all ages in an engaging and interactive space that showcases “the connective threads” of the science, technology, engineering, and math that contribute to the popularity and excitement of soccer.  

“Soccer: More Than a Game captures the energy, creativity, and collaboration that define both science and sport,” Dr. Linda Silver, Eugene McDermott CEO of the Perot Museum, said in a statement. “As the world’s attention turns to North America for the world’s largest soccer tournament, we’re delighted to offer visitors an experience that celebrates discovery, connection, and the spirit of play that inspires us all.”

Photo: Perot Museum

Celebrating a universal sport

Designed for fans, families, and lifelong learners, the 10,000-square-foot exhibition combines soccer all-stars with the awe and wonder of the Perot Museum. For the exhibition, the museum has partnered with numerous organizations and professionals to enhance the visitor experience, including Dallas Trinity FC, FC Dallas, IF/THEN Initiative, PRO (Professional Referee Organization), RobotLAB, and Sportec Solutions. 

Soccer: More Than a Game boosts the cultural and educational impact of the World Cup by providing STEM education experiences for visitors, encouraging regional tourism, and offering a world-class attraction for visitors to enjoy while in North Texas. It’s also part of a North American collaboration with Mexico City’s Museo Interactivo de Economía, a partnership underscoring “soccer’s role as a cultural and educational bridge,” the Perot Museum said. A companion exhibition presented by MIDE in Mexico City, Pasa el Balón, explores the game’s economic and social influence opening spring 2026.

“Soccer is universal. Show a ball to a child in Mexico City or one in Dallas and they’ll know what to do. It is a powerful cultural bridge that unites nations,” said Silvia Singer, Director General, MIDE. “We’re proud to share in this celebration of the world’s most popular sport with the Perot Museum.”

Photo: Perot Museum

Exhibition highlights

Visitors receive an RFID (radio-frequency identification) bracelet that documents guests’ choices, creations, and progress throughout the exhibition. Guests can join a team; construct a stadium; design jerseys; create mascots; test their athletic skills; and participate in physical, mental, and digital challenges connecting soccer with science. 

Twenty engagement zones and multiple photo opportunities allow visitors to step into the locker room, onto the pitch, and behind the scenes to explore everything from biomechanics and physics of the game to the data analytics and career pathways that power soccer on and off the field, the museum said.

Photo: Perot Museum

The sections of the exhibition include:

• Locker Room and Entrance Tunnel evoking the adrenaline and emotional buildup players experience before games
• Impact of the Game showcasing the history, career paths, and fandom psychology of soccer around the world
• The Coaching Lab for Excellence in Athletics, Technology, and Science (C.L.E.A.T.S.), presented by Amazon, where visitors explore the science and strategy that go into the game
• The Academy that allows guests to test their endurance and soccer skills.

“At Amazon, we believe soccer inspires people by showing what is possible through teamwork, creativity and innovation,” said Vickie Yakunin, head of community affairs for Texas at Amazon, one of the exhibition’s main sponsors. “The Soccer: More Than a Game exhibition celebrates global connection and invites guests to experience the science, technology, and engineering that power the sport through hands-on discovery.”  

Photo: Perot Museum

High tech and kinetic learning abound

Interactive highlights that combine the technology and science with the fun energy of the game feature a Video Assistant Referee experience, allowing guests to become referees using Sportec Solutions’ replay technology in real time.

The physics of the ball and its movement is brought to life with interactive soccer Skee-Ball stations that challenge players to kick balls at target zones to earn points. Sports medicine is activated through a digital medical game where participants diagnose and treat virtual soccer players exploring various injuries. A multi-visitor game, the Field is Lava, adds a collaborative element inviting players and spectators to navigate a digital pitch threatened by flowing virtual lava from a volcano.

Photo: Perot Museum

At the conclusion of the exhibit, guests receive a personalized digital souvenir with a video recap of their entire experience, including their team, the stadium they engineered, their jersey design, mascots they created, and their assigned career path based on their exhibition experience. 

In conjunction with Soccer: More Than a Game, the Perot Museum’s Lyda Hill Gems and Minerals Hall will host the Minerals of the World Cup, featuring gems curated from the host countries and other nations competing in the World Cup. This installation, drawn in part from the Perot Museum’s collection, incorporates the global tie of the game and each countries’ natural beauty including transparent crystals from Canada, copper-based minerals from Mexico, and gold from the United States.

Photo: Perot Museum

Experiencing Soccer: More Than a Game requires both a general admission ticket and an exhibition ticket. Exhibition tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for youths ages 2-12, and $9 for Perot Museum Explore, Patron, and Founders Circle members. Discount tickets are available for groups. Tickets and additional information are available online at perotmuseum.org/soccer.

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