Dallas hosts 9 World Cup 2026 matches at AT&T Stadium in Arlington — including a semifinal on July 14 or 15. That's the highest match count of any host city in the tournament.
AT&T Stadium Logistics#
Capacity: 80,000 (expandable to 105,000 — the biggest stadium in NFL history) Location: Arlington, TX — between Dallas and Fort Worth Access: No rail to the stadium. TRE rail from Dallas/Fort Worth to nearest station + match-day shuttle. Most fans Uber.
Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) is the closer airport. Dallas Love Field is closer to downtown Dallas but requires more transfers.
Where to Stay#
Downtown Dallas — Walkable, hotels, restaurants, Klyde Warren Park. 35 min to AT&T. $250–500/night.
Uptown Dallas — Trendy, walkable, good restaurants. 30–40 min to stadium. $300–600/night.
Fort Worth (Sundance Square) — Smaller, charming, cowboy heritage. 20 min to AT&T. $200–400/night.
Arlington (near stadium) — Cheapest if you only care about matches. Limited dining/nightlife. $180–350/night.
Avoid: Far suburbs like Plano or Frisco unless you're staying with family.
What to Eat#
Brisket at Pecan Lodge (Deep Ellum) — Texas BBQ at its peak. Get there before noon to avoid 90-min lines.
Tex-Mex at Joe T. Garcia's (Fort Worth) — Iconic since 1935. Margarita-and-fajita standard.
Steak at Pappas Bros. — $80+ ribeyes done perfectly. Special occasion.
Burgers at Hopdoddy — Local chain, criminally good.
Breakfast tacos at Velvet Taco — late-night tacos done right.
Where Fans Will Watch (No Ticket Required)#
Dallas FIFA Fan Fest — Klyde Warren Park, downtown, free.
Truck Yard (Lower Greenville) — Outdoor bar, big screens, food trucks. Best vibe.
Stan's Blue Note — Old-school Dallas dive with screens.
The Rustic Dallas — Outdoor patio, Uptown, food. Great for daytime matches.
Sundance Square (Fort Worth) — Outdoor screen during matches.
Day Trips Between Matches#
Fort Worth Stockyards — 25 min from downtown Dallas. Cattle drive at noon and 4pm. Tourist but real.
Austin — 3 hr drive. Music + tacos + Tex-Mex. Better as 2-night side trip.
Waco / Magnolia Market — 1.5 hr drive. Joanna Gaines pilgrimage if you're into that.
Dallas Arboretum — 20 min from downtown, beautiful grounds.
Practical Survival Tips#
July in Dallas: 95–105°F. The heat is brutal. AT&T Stadium is air-conditioned (one of the few NFL/WC stadiums that is). Pre-match tailgating outside in 100°F is its own experience.
Drive everywhere. Dallas is built for cars. Rent one or use rideshare. There is essentially no walkable urban experience outside small pockets of downtown and Uptown.
Tipping: 18–22%, especially for steakhouses.
Mexican fan presence will be massive. Dallas has one of the largest Mexican-American populations in the US. Mexico matches at AT&T will have a 70/30 Mexico-fan split inside the stadium — louder than at the Estadio Azteca for some fans.
Why You Need a Local Friend#
A Dallas Local Friend on Roavi can:
- Show you BBQ spots that don't have 2-hour lines
- Take you to authentic taquerías in Oak Cliff or East Dallas
- Drive you to AT&T via roads that aren't the I-30 parking lot
- Help you experience real Dallas (jazz at Sammy's, tacos in Bishop Arts) instead of the Disney version
Browse Dallas Local Friends on Roavi.
Also worth reading: How to Experience the World Cup 2026 Without a Ticket.
Also worth reading: The Best Cities to Watch the World Cup From Abroad.
Also worth reading: World Cup 2026 Final at MetLife: The Complete Travel Guide.
Also worth reading: World Cup 2026 Visa Requirements: Country-by-Country Guide.
Also worth reading: World Cup 2026 Monterrey: Estadio BBVA Guide.
Also worth reading: World Cup 2026 with Kids: A Family Travel Guide.