The World Cup is returning to North America in 2026, with the USA, Mexico, and Canada set to welcome football fans from all over the world. It will be the second time in the event’s history that the United States will be hosting, following the 1994 World Cup.

In February, FIFA announced AT&T Stadium as one of 11 stadiums to host the big event as many media outlets had predicted. Earlier speculations also suggested that AT&T was the leading candidate to host the final, but FIFA confirmed it had lost its bid to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Yet, the Dallas Cowboys’ home ground is set to be the busiest stadium during the tournament, featuring nine matches. In addition to hosting the semi-final, it was announced that AT&T Stadium will welcome fans during the World Cup group stage (5), Round of 32 (2), and Round of 16 (1).

AT&T Stadium Over the Years

Since its establishment in 2009, AT&T Stadium has been no stranger to hosting major tournaments, from the Super Bowl to elite football and basketball games. It hosted the NBA All-Star Weekend in 2010, setting a Guinness World Record for the highest basketball game attendance, drawing 108,713 spectators.

On February 6, 2011, AT&T Stadium hosted the Super Bowl XLV game between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, with 103,766 fans in attendance. It has also hosted college football games, including the inaugural College Football Playoff Championship game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Oregon Ducks in 2015.

Furthermore, AT&T has featured an array of football games, including a friendly El Clasico clash between European giants FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in 2023 that drew 82,026 fans, and the 2024 CONCACAF Nations League final where the USMNT defeated Mexico 2-0. The stadium also recently hosted three fixtures at the just-concluded Copa America tournament, including the quarter-final clash between Canada and Venezuela.

© Grzegorz Kaliciak

Features for NFL Games

AT&T, widely regarded as Jerry World after Cowboys billionaire owner Jerry Jones, is the largest stadium in the NFL by seating capacity. The stadium can seat a minimum of 80,000 people and can be expanded to accommodate over 100,000 fans. It set the NFL record for most regular-season game attendance on September 20, 2009, when 105,121 fans watched the season opener between the New York Giants and the Cowboys.

All NFL games held at the exquisite venue are played on turf, a grass like surface made of synthetic fibers. The site remains one of 17 NFL stadiums to play their home games on turf despite growing concerns about playing fields in the NFL and how they impact injuries.

AT&T Stadium also features a massive, 105,000-square-foot retractable roof and a large 600-ton video board that stretches 72 feet high by 160 feet wide. The jumbotron has a viewing area of 11,393 square feet and held the Guinness World Record for the largest HD video screen in the world until 2014.

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Plans for Renovation Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026

According to reports, the Dallas Cowboys have been making plans to renovate AT&T Stadium in 2023 ahead of FIFA’s announcement of host cities for the 2026 World Cup. With a budget of $295 million, it is said to be the organization’s biggest upgrade project since opening the arena in 2009.

The most notable changes will obviously be the stadium playing surface in order to adhere to FIFA’s regulations. To date, all World Cup matches have been played on grass, and the tradition is set to continue when the biggest event in global sports comes to Arlington, TX. AT&T Stadium officials will switch the playing field from turf to grass ahead of the World Cup in 2026.

It won't be the first time games are played on grass in this venue. Temporary grass was installed on turf ahead of the Copa America games that were held in June and early July to mixed reviews from participating players and coaches. But FIFA will have more stringent rules for the upcoming World Cup, requiring each playing site to feature fresh grass instead of synthetic turf.

The dimensions of the playing field will also change ahead of the World Cup. Football’s governing body expects each field to be about 105 meters long and 68 meters wide. That's 75 yards across compared to the NFL’s 50-yard and about 115 yards long compared to the NFL’s 100 yards (excluding the end zones).

AT&T boasts bowl seating that's close to the playing field, which means a raised, wider field will definitely impact the stadium’s seating capacity. However, the arena is still expected to seat over 80,000 football spectators regardless.

Other renovation plans include upgrading the site’s premium clubs and suites and installing new finishes.

© Grzegorz Kaliciak

The FIFA World Cup in View

The World Cup kicks off in June 2026, and following the competition’s new format, 48 nations will compete for the grand prize. AT&T Stadium will host nine of the 104 games to be played, more than any other stadium, adding to the list of notable sports events held in the city of Arlington.