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5 reasons why every North Texan should care about Thursday’s 2026 World Cup announcement

The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is poised to host key matches in the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup. It could be a boon to the region, even if you don’t like soccer.

Thursday’s announcement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities has created a buzz around some of the biggest stakeholders in the region, as North Texas is poised to host matches and possibly more during the quadrennial tournament.

The men’s tournament, last held in the United States in 1994, is expected to bring billions of dollars to each of the three host nations: the United States, Mexico and Canada. North Texas could see an economic impact of close to half a billion dollars, according to Dallas Sports Commission.

But you don’t have to be the biggest soccer fan in the area to appreciate what it can do for the area. Here are five reasons Dallasites and North Texans should care about the announcement and potential impact:

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The economic impact

Yes, that half-a-billion figure seems pretty appetizing. The Dallas Sports Commission estimates that the World Cup could bring 3,000 jobs to the area and $400 million....even more if Arlington’s AT&T Stadium were to get the championship match. While it’s true that matches would only be played in Arlington, the entire region will benefit. Dallas hosted several group-stage matches and two knockout matches in the 1994 tournament, but the international broadcast center was also located here in North Texas.

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There are expected to be about 60 matches played in the United States, and several of those would be in Arlington, should it be one of the 10 or 11 U.S. metro areas selected to host.

“Every game is like having a Super Bowl, from an economic standpoint,” FC Dallas owner Dan Hunt said last fall.

In 1994, Dallas spent about $18 million to host the games, pocketing about $20 million in revenue after all of the hotel room and sales tax receipts were totaled, according to a 2018 report. The number could be significantly bigger 32 years later.

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Back in 2018, then-Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings mentioned upgrades to the region’s transportation system. This could be a nice way for the region to take some of its transportation deadlines more seriously. The DART Silver Line from southwest Plano to DFW Airport was originally scheduled to be completed by 2022, but late 2024 is now the target.

The cultural impact

Though both North Texas and Houston are in line to host matches in 2026, giving Texas a fairly sizeable chunk of international eyeballs, a spotlight will be on North Texas -- especially if Arlington hosts semifinals or the championship.

The Cotton Bowl hosted six matches in 1994, featuring 10 different nations. That provides strong opportunities to share Texas culture but also absorb that from other countries.

The nations that played here in 1994: Spain, South Korea, Germany, Nigeria, Bulgaria, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Netherlands and Brazil.

According to past reporting, 2,000 volunteers took to the streets to give fans directions or help with the language barrier back in 1994 before the South Korea-Spain match. People from Austin, Abilene and even Oklahoma turned up to spread “warm Texas hospitality.”

Downtown Dallas didn’t exactly offer the greatest nightlife for visitors, but perhaps that could also get a bit of a makeover ahead of 2026. One Colombian reporter told The News back in 1994 that the downtown emptiness was unsettling, saying, “My friends coming here for the first time find downtown too lonely at night. They don’t see a soul and want to know, where are the people?”

Texas stars

There’s no question that Texas is a football state. So even if you aren’t keen on watching matches live, you can still cheer for Texans.

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There are a number of young Texans currently vying for roster spots on the 2022 World Cup squad and who could also be in line to play in 2026.

Plano’s Kellyn Acosta, Little Elm’s Weston McKennie and Grapevine’s Reggie Cannon are all DFW locals who have lately featured for the Stars and Stripes. Plus, rising FC Dallas star Jesus Ferreira and Augsburg’s Ricardo Pepi (who broke out with FCD last year) have been among the top scoring threats on the national team over the last year. Both moved to North Texas before rising through the ranks of the FCD academy, which has historically been among the best in the country in producing top talent.

Nacogdoches’ Clint Dempsey, one of the greatest to ever play for the United States, featured heavily in the 2006, 2010 and 2014 U.S. World Cup squads, helping put Texas soccer on the world stage. Before him, Jeff Agoos (Richardson) gave international fans a taste of Texas soccer quality as a member of the 1998 and 2002 World Cup squads. There should be the biggest contingent yet of Texans on the 2022 roster, and perhaps 2026 could be even bigger.

Future of North Texas youth soccer

North Texas is home to some of the very best in youth sports, with football, basketball, baseball, softball and track and field featuring All-Americans and future professional and Olympic stars. Despite recent growth in representation among Texans on the men’s national team -- the women’s team hasn’t featured nearly as many Texans -- there could be tremendous growth in the youth ranks thanks to the 2026 World Cup.

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As noted by high school sports reporter Shawn McFarland this week:

“You don’t become better as a player, or as a team, unless you’re watching [the best],” said Bob Weir, a retired high school soccer coach whose Plano boys team won four UIL state titles in the 1990s. His team won the 1995 Class 5A championship nine months after Dallas served as a host city for the 1994 World Cup.

“When you see the world class players and teams come to this country, that’s what they get.”

According to North Texas Soccer association president Janet Campbell, the organization currently has approximately 125,000 registered members — one of the largest grassroot soccer associations in the country.

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She said that membership spikes each World Cup year, whether it’s the men or women playing, and regardless of which country the games are played in.

But if the World Cup were played in the United States and North Texas?

“I would expect, if we end up with the World Cup right here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, it’ll be a lot more exciting,” Campbell said. “It’ll be a lot more encouragement for children to get involved.

“I can’t think of anything more exciting than having the World Cup right here in Dallas-Fort Worth.”

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A generational opportunity

International travel isn’t cheap. Throw in the most popular sporting event in the world, and you’re looking at a trip to a foreign country that could easily exceed $10,000 per person.

Needless to say (but we will say it anyway), matches in Arlington and Houston could make seeing a live World Cup match realistic opportunity, that is only offered once a generation.

Yes, tickets will assuredly be expensive, especially to see the United States play on its home soil, as well as marquee international squads like Brazil, England or Germany. But with a capacity of 80,000 and a handful of matches expected for AT&T Stadium, those who truly want to witness a match in person, should have the opportunity to do so. And those who’d prefer to find a bar or pub to take in the action, expect plenty of festive drink and food options, too.

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