Dallas officials lay out World Cup 2026 plan, emphasize safety, small‑business access and volunteer recruitment

City officials on Wednesday briefed the Dallas City Council on preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, detailing venues, transportation plans, volunteer recruitment and outreach to small businesses while stressing safety and human‑rights work.

The briefing, led by City Manager Kimberly Beiser Tolbert and Rosa Fleming, director of convention and event services, described plans to support nine matches at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, an International Broadcast Center at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center and a full 39‑day FIFA Fan Fest at Fair Park. “This is an opportunity for our city and our region like none other,” the city manager said during the presentation.

Why it matters: The World Cup will bring a large international audience and material economic activity to the Dallas region, while also stretching public‑safety, transportation and city services. Council members pressed staff on how small and minority‑owned businesses, volunteer opportunities and neighborhoods across the city will be included.

What officials presented

- Matches and venues: Dallas will be part of a multi‑city footprint. Nine matches are scheduled at AT&T Stadium; Cotton Bowl and SMU are listed as training venues for teams playing at AT&T Stadium. The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center will host the International Broadcast Center, and Fair Park is the planned site for the FIFA Fan Fest, intended to run the full tournament.

- Fan Fest and footprint: The proposed Fan Fest layout is smaller than the full State Fair footprint but…