Arlington
Texas city hosting the AT&T Stadium, a 2026 FIFA World Cup venue.
AT&T Stadium in Arlington staged nine 2026 World Cup matches, more than any other venue, including Lionel Messi's record-breaking brace on 22 June and Spain's 2-0 semi-final win over France on 14 July.
Last refreshed: 22 September 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
How did AT&T Stadium in Arlington become the World Cup's most-used venue?
Timeline for Arlington
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2026 FIFA World CupBackground
Arlington sits in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, roughly equidistant between Dallas and Fort Worth, one of the largest urban areas in the United States. It is a mid-size city of around 400,000 people that has built an identity around sports tourism, anchored by AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers baseball team.
The stadium's retractable roof and climate-control systems are essential given the heat of a Texas summer, and it is a regular venue for major concerts and championship events beyond football, which made it a natural pick as one of the tournament's flagship stages.
Arlington hosts football's biggest nights
AT&T Stadium, renamed 'Dallas Stadium' under FIFA's corporate-naming policy, was the largest 2026 World Cup venue, seating around 94,000. On 22 June it staged Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria, in which Lionel Messi scored twice to break the all-time World Cup scoring record.
On 14 July it hosted the second semi-final, Spain beating France 2-0 to reach the final for the first time since 2010. Arlington's selection reflected North America's wider strategy of using existing large-footprint NFL venues to maximise the tournament's commercial and audience reach.
Where is AT&T Stadium and what World Cup matches did it host?
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Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 22 September 2026. Editorial standards.