AT&T Stadium won’t host final, but securing 9 World Cup matches feels like decisive win

ARLINGTON — They came at us in waves at AT&T Stadium Sunday afternoon — world-class athletes, mayors of the local townships and, finally, the heavy hitters from the committee that pushed FIFA for years in of a World Cup Final right here at AT&T Stadium. Each one, from Dirk Nowitzki to Emmitt Smith to Arlington mayor Jim Ross to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, putting on a brave face while itting to the afternoon’s big disappointment.

The 2026 World Cup Final will be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. A story that ran in London’s Sun newspaper two weeks ago saying that Dallas had been selected proved to be false.

“I gotta be honest,’’ Emmitt Smith said, “I can’t believe we lost to Jersey.’’

At the same time, this feels like a decisive victory for Monica Paul, executive director of the Dallas Sports Commission, who has been fighting for 17 years to get the World Cup — first to the U.S. and then to the D-FW area. AT&T Stadium will be the site of nine World Cup matches in 2026 — the most since Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium (which will host the opening game June 11) held 10 in 1970.

As FC Dallas president Dan Hunt calculated, “Out of nine games, we have four elimination round games and another on the last day of Group Stage Play. That’s five Do-or-Die matches in this magnificent theatre.

”There will be more drama here on this pitch than anywhere else on this World Cup bid.’’

Photos: Jerry Jones, Dallas area sports figures learn AT&T Stadium's 2026 FIFA World Cup destiny

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The World Cup expands to 48 games for this event in two years. It’s a far cry from the 24-team field that competed in 1994, when the Final was at the Rose Bowl and six games, including a quarterfinal, were held in the Cotton Bowl.

”I go back to 1994 and, really, it was kind of a shock to get a quarterfinal here,’’ Hunt said. “Fast forward to today, and we were in the conversation to host the World Cup Final. It was an incredible honor to even be on that stage and to have that opportunity.’’

The club owners and officials and athletes watched FIFA’s video broadcast in the Optim Club at AT&T Stadium before heading upstairs to meet with the media. It was more a group expression of disappointment than shock, and, actually, those in the know realized the Final was heading elsewhere when the broadcast said Dallas was getting nine games, the most in the tournament. Officials knew that the site awarded the Final would not host the most games.

Who knows what great competition will unfold here? Sometimes semifinals provide the best drama in all kinds of tournaments, whether they are Final Fours or World Cups. Jerry Jones talked of the difficult challenge that Paul and Hunt and those on the WorldCupDallas committee faced in getting as far as they did.

”This was a fabulous come-from-behind effort from the two people seated on either side of me,’’ Jones said. “The competition in dealing with the perception of a New York or an LA — if these games were just played in the U.S. or just for America, it would not have been as formidable. But, internationally, that is formidable to overcome.’’

Jones’ point: In dealing with FIFA or really any kind of international governing body, the perception of the U.S. is that it’s New York and Los Angeles and a whole bunch of flyover country in between.

“It was a hell of a battle. And we almost got there,’’ Jones said.

But it’s not like they lost a bid for a Super Bowl or Final Four — which happens here a lot because of the distance between the venue and the two downtowns that offer the most hotels and restaurants.

This was the site of a Super Bowl in 2011, but a second visit here (despite the stadium‘s size and immense number of suites) is still not on the books. Both Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and SoFi Stadium in LA — newer venues — are getting second Super Bowls in 2026 and 2027. AT&T Stadium hosted a Final Four in 2014 and is finally getting a second one in 2030.

This was no loss. There’s no defeat when you get to host nine World Cup matches and, as Hunt pointed out, five of them are elimination games.

“It’s like having nine Super Bowls in your backyard,’’ Hunt said.

As much trouble as Jones has in landing another Super Bowl for his stadium or getting his team invited to one, this will have to do.

Twitter/X: @TimCowlishaw

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