Arlington briefs council on World Cup plans: nine matches at AT&T Stadium, expanded base camps, security and legacy programs

Monica (North Texas FIFA World Cup organizing committee) and city staff delivered a regional progress report to the Arlington City Council on April 22 outlining operational planning, safety priorities, transportation strategies and legacy objectives for the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches to be hosted in North Texas.

Organizers said AT&T Stadium in Arlington will host nine matches and that the number of regional base camps increased from five to six with the addition of Mansfield Stadium; exact team assignments for base camps will be known after the FIFA draw, expected in December 2025. Monica said the North Texas region will host the International Broadcast Center and that the organizing committee had the most base camps of any host city/region in the United States.

Safety and security were described as top priorities: organizers said 18 expert planning focus groups are meeting monthly and that FIFA, DHS and other federal partners are engaged. "Safety security, we consider that to be the top priority," Monica said. Transportation planning includes a…