Optimizing Infrastructure and Service Excellence in Texas
Dallas-Fort Worth is building upon its big-game experience and proven transportation innovation as it prepares to host nine games of the FIFA 2026 World Cup™
By Michael Morris, Director of Transportation | North Central Texas Council of Governments
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup 2026 is coming to North America, and the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area will be hosting nine matches—the greatest number awarded to any city in North America. Hosting the world’s largest athletic competition will be the biggest opportunity yet for a region already accustomed to handling some of the most significant events on the sports calendar.
In 1994, the last time the World Cup was on home soil, the Cotton Bowl in Dallas hosted six matches, and we also have hosted Super Bowl XLV, the first College Football Playoff national championship game, NCAA men’s and women’s Final Fours, and many other events. The professionals who organize special events work closely with transportation providers, law enforcement and city, regional and state partners to ensure a positive fan experience.
Our region has invested in world-class facilities and a transportation system capable of moving not only millions of residents every day, but also the massive number of visitors associated with these complex events. In 2026, each of the nine World Cup matches in North Texas is likely to draw more than 100,000 spectators. This will be like hosting 10 Super Bowls, when you include all the related events. There will be watch parties, team training base camps and media to cover the matches for fans globally, putting our region in the spotlight. This has required us to do a lot of groundwork in a short amount of time.
For example, when we hosted Super Bowl XLV, we worked closely with the limousine and charter bus industries as well as general aviation airports to make sure the teams, their fans and VIPs could move about the region safely and reliably. The trusted partnerships forged during the Super Bowl planning process were crucial in helping us land and execute subsequent events.
Even with our many decades of demonstrated success in handling major events, we must deliver specific infrastructure and service enhancements to meet our obligations to the FIFA organizers and our valued regional partners. This is precisely what we are doing.
The Regional Transportation Council of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) has invested in the infrastructure of the Arlington Entertainment District to ensure spectators can move around safely and reliably once they get here. Sidewalks and wayfinding signage are being improved. We also have a vision to provide digital signage with the native languages of the teams playing each match. If Mexico is playing France, fans from those nations would be able to read instructions in Spanish and French. Communicating directly to visitors in their language is one way we can help make their experience one they will remember for a lifetime.
Built for this moment
Working with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the City of Arlington, the region’s public transportation providers and a variety of public- and private-sector strategic partners, the region has prepared well for the arrival of hundreds of thousands of people. We are bringing together passenger rail, public-sector fleets and private-sector charter buses to get people from their hotels to their destinations, whether that’s to a practice facility, a game or any of the various fan experiences.
Technology also will allow us to leverage our transit assets to move people efficiently. The GoPass app allows customers of all three of the region’s transit agencies—Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the Denton County Transportation Authority and Trinity Metro—to plan trips and purchase tickets. Our partnership with the Carma Corporation allows users of the region’s TEXpress Lanes to qualify for peak-period discounts. The FIFA app could link our regional apps together, allowing users to move around without having to know exactly what apps to download. We also effectively engage with rideshare partners to ensure seamless drop-off and pickup locations throughout the region.
The partnerships formed to accomplish the projects needed before the first match begins will live on long after the teams and their fans have returned home. Beyond transportation, the investments being made will improve the lives of our residents. One example is Kick Your Commute, a program NCTCOG has put together to encourage residents to work from home on game days and engage with their neighbors to plan parties and watch matches together.
Legacy of the World Cup
Perhaps the most exciting part of the impact of the World Cup on the community has been the growth of youth soccer, which already has a significant presence in North Texas. In 2026, when soccer-playing youth here witness elite athletes training up close before leading their teams on the pitch, they may be inspired to take their own athletic abilities to the next level. Beyond enjoying playing soccer, our young athletes will be able to apply the lessons they learn on the field to other academic and professional pursuits, propelling our community forward.
There is no stronger legacy we can leave our children and grandchildren than the tools to make our home a better place. North Central Texas has an opportunity to do exactly that — while the world watches.
