South Dallas is generating more excitement for FIFA with talks of business and activations

Business owners, artists, and locals came together at a Futbol for the Culture event at South Dallas bar Whiskeys this past Friday, December 5, to discuss how to make the most of FIFA and give visitors a more enhanced and inclusive preview of Dallas while they're here for the World Cup.

Some locals expressed their thoughts on transportation, business development, and generating more foot traffic from Arlington toward the heart of Dallas and more specifically South Dallas. South Dallas is also homebase to the volunteer center that opened at Fair Park last month.

Ahead of the 2026 games, FIFA has also required that AT&T Stadium and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones temporarily rename the stadium Dallas Stadium for the duration of the World Cup.

Though it is a bit misleading calling it the Dallas Stadium, business owners are trying to show everyone what the city is all about while it has the international spotlight when the games come in June 2026.

Some of their ideas include have dedicated spaces and screens to broadcast the games for those who might not have been able to get tickets or want to beat the crowds in Arlington and still get in on the soccer action. Artists and creatives are also discussing and planning performances crafted around the event.

Dallas will host five of the matches. Here's the schedule for the games:

Group Matches

• Netherlands v. Japan; June 14, 3 p.m.

• England v. Croatia; June 17, 3 p.m.

• Argentina v. Austria; June 22, 12 p.m.

• Japan v. Playoff winner; June 25, 6 p.m.

• Jordan v. Argentina; June 27, 9 p.m.

• June 30: Match 78 – Group E runners-up v Group I runners-up

• July 3: Match 88 – Group D runners-up v Group G runners-up

• July 6: Match 93 – Winner match 83 v Winner match 84

Semi-finals

• July 14: Match 101 – Winner match 97 v Winner match 98 - Dallas Stadium

A majority of the qualified teams— 39— are split into four pots based on FIFA's November 2025 men's world rankings. The U.S., Canada, and Mexico, the three host countries, are in Pot one.