Dallas city leaders want to be sure residents and small businesses get to be part of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup festivities.
The City Council received updates and a timeline Wednesday on the economic impact, security, transportation, human rights and other issues related to Dallas’s role in the international event.
Council member Kathy Stewart of District 10 said the City Council wants to work closely with and participate in the planning meetings of the Dallas Sports Commission and the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee, which are working directly with FIFA.
Some of the top concerns raised by council included residents who want to be volunteers, small local business owners, transportation and mobility challenges, and safety.
“Definitely want the input. We also want to make sure that if there are decisions and things that we need, we’re not holding up waiting for a council committee discussion,” City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert said. “But we definitely will make sure that the council is engaged.”
The 2026 World Cup will occur in June and July 2026 across 16 cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Although nine World Cup matches will be played in Arlington’s AT&T Stadium, Dallas is expected to play a key role in the festivities.
Council member Carolyn King Arnold, who represents District 4, said the tournament was an opportunity for the city to showcase Dallas’ vibrant community, and she didn’t want the southern part of the city and small businesses to be left out.
District 2 council member Jesse Moreno echoed King Arnold’s comments and asked the Dallas Sports Commission how local business owners could prepare to work with FIFA.
Monica Paul, executive director of the Dallas Sports Commission, said the opportunities for residents to be FIFA volunteers were still in the works, and they will work closely with the Dallas City Council to spread the word about the opportunities. They are working to finish recruitment materials by the end of August.
Paul said there will be an interview process, orientation, training, uniform pickup and a before-and-after celebration to thank volunteers. Those interested in volunteering can sign up on the Dallas FIFA World Cup 26 website to receive updates.
Brett Wilkinson, public affairs liaison convention and event services at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, said there will be a city directory with things to do and see in Dallas. He said meetings with each district will take place to ask for input on things that should be included, such as restaurants, attractions, shopping destinations and cultural landmarks.
Dallas’ Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center is the official broadcast hub for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. The setup is expected to start in January 2026, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Along with the broadcast center, Dallas plans to host FIFA’s fan festival at Fair Park during the tournament. Dallas hosted the center at Fair Park in 1994, the last time the World Cup came to the United States.
Cara Mendelsohn, who represents District 12, said she traveled with other council to Washington, D.C., last month along to request funding from the Urban Area Security Initiative, a federal program that provides risk-based grants to assist state, local, tribal and territorial efforts in preventing, protecting against, mitigating, responding to and recovering from acts of terrorism.
Mendelsohn asked if there had been any change in the city’s posture toward addressing homelessness ahead of the World Cup. She said the problem should be addressed not just downtown, where most people will be visiting, but citywide.
Tolbert said the city was working on this matter, and council will be updated with a plan for the ongoing monitoring and enforcement of some of the changes the city will implement within the next 30 days.
FIFA will release Dallas’ official poster on April 17. Throughout the summer and by the end of the year, more updates will be announced on the various plans for the evolving events.