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: 28 July 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?
How big is the World Cup stadium in Arlington Texas?
What is Arlington Texas known for?
Who won the World Cup semi-final in Arlington, Texas?
