Dallas World Cup 2026 Travel Guide
AT&T Stadium seats 80,000 under a retractable roof, deep in the heart of Texas where football passion runs as high as the summer heat
Your Dallas World Cup 2026 City Guide
Getting Around Dallas during the tournament requires local knowledge. I have spent hours walking the lots around AT&T Stadium, and the 80,000-seat venue is massive. You cannot just hop on a subway to the gates. Arlington lacks public transit, so you must plan your route carefully. The DART train works perfectly for downtown Dallas, but you will need a rideshare or the TRE shuttle to reach the matches.
When you are not at the stadium, the city offers incredible food and nightlife. Deep Ellum is the spot for authentic Texas BBQ, while Uptown Dallas provides the best bar scene for post-match celebrations. You will find plenty of fans gathering at the official fan fest downtown.
Essential tips for your trip:
- Review the stadium clear bag policy to avoid security delays.
- Expect to pay around $45 for a rideshare from DFW Airport to Arlington.
- Hydrate constantly, as June temperatures regularly hit 95 degrees.
- Arrive at popular BBQ joints by 11 AM before the brisket sells out.
Quick Facts for Your Trip
Pecan Lodge
Texas BBQ
Arlington
$90 to $160 per night
Fort Worth Stockyards
Top attraction
DART light rail covers Dallas, Plano, Richardson,
Best transit tip
Matches at Dallas Stadium
Every fixture this venue hosts at the FIFA World Cup 2026, group stage through to knockouts. Knockout team names lock in once the group standings are confirmed.
Sun, 14 Jun 2026
Wed, 17 Jun 2026
Mon, 22 Jun 2026
Thu, 25 Jun 2026
Sat, 27 Jun 2026
Tue, 30 Jun 2026
Fri, 03 Jul 2026
Mon, 06 Jul 2026
Tue, 14 Jul 2026
Schedule from the official FIFA World Cup 2026 fixture list. Always confirm kickoff times on FIFA.com before travelling.
Exploring Dallas During the Tournament
Restaurants
Where to eat near the stadium and around the city
Best Restaurants in Dallas →
Getting Around
Getting to the city and around on matchday
Getting Around Dallas →
Hotels
Where to stay for the best World Cup experience
Best Hotels in Dallas →
Things to Do
Attractions, culture, and entertainment
Things to Do in Dallas →Best Dallas Restaurants
Dallas takes food seriously, and you should too. Texas BBQ is the main event here. The best smokehouses open their doors at 11 AM and usually sell out of brisket by 2 PM. You have to get there early. Tex-Mex is a close second and perfect for a late dinner. You should budget about $15 to $25 for a massive BBQ plate with two sides. Head over to Deep Ellum and find Pecan Lodge. Their beef rib goes for $28 a pound and it is worth every cent. If you want tacos, Mi Cocina in Highland Park serves brisket tacos that will change your life. Wash it down with their famous $12 Mambo Taxi margarita. Just remember that places like Cattleack Barbeque in Farmers Branch are only open on Thursdays and Fridays, so check the hours before you make the drive.
Pecan Lodge
$The best brisket in Dallas. Lines form before opening. The Hot Mess (brisket, sausage, mac and cheese, bbq sauce) is the signature order.
Mi Cocina
$$The Mambo Taxi frozen margarita ($12) is famous across Texas. Brisket tacos ($14) combine two Dallas food groups into one perfect meal.
Cattleack Barbeque
$Open only Thursday and Friday 10:30 AM to 2 PM (or sold out). The brisket is considered the best in the DFW area by many BBQ critics.
How to Get Around Dallas and Arlington
Getting to AT&T Stadium requires a solid plan. The stadium sits in Arlington, about 30 kilometers west of downtown Dallas. Here is the catch: Arlington does not have public transit. You cannot just hop on a subway to the gates. If you stay in Dallas proper, the DART light rail is fantastic for getting around the city. A day pass is only six bucks. But on match day, you need to take the Trinity Railway Express to CentrePort station and grab the stadium shuttle. It takes about 40 minutes. If you fly into DFW Airport, a rideshare to Arlington costs around $45 and takes 30 minutes. Book your rideshare to the stadium at least two hours before kickoff. Surge pricing gets wild, and traffic on I-30 backs up fast.
- DART light rail covers Dallas, Plano, Richardson, and Irving with 4 lines and 64 stations. A single ride costs $2.50 and a day pass is $6.00. Download the GoPass app to buy tickets. DART does NOT reach Arlington or AT&T Stadium.
- Book your rideshare to AT&T Stadium at least 2 hours before kickoff to avoid surge pricing. The drive from downtown Dallas via I-30 takes 25 to 35 minutes without traffic.
- Check the clear bag policy before boarding the stadium shuttle.
- Allow at least 90 minutes for the journey from downtown Dallas to Arlington.
Best Neighborhoods for World Cup Fans
Picking the right neighborhood changes your whole trip. Arlington is the obvious choice if you want convenience. You can find hotels for about $90 to $160 a night, and you are within walking distance of AT&T Stadium. The nightlife is quiet, but skipping the post-match traffic is a huge win. If you want to party, book a room in Uptown Dallas. It is the dining and nightlife capital of the city. McKinney Avenue is packed with bars, and the crowd is young and loud. Rooms run $150 to $280 a night, and you will need a 25-minute rideshare to the stadium. For something totally different, stay near the Fort Worth Stockyards. It is a 20-minute drive to the stadium, and you get honky-tonk bars and daily cattle drives right outside your door.
Arlington Entertainment District , Walking distance
Hotels here put you steps from AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field (baseball). Limited nightlife compared to Dallas, but the convenience on match day is unbeatable.
Price: $90 to $160 per night
Uptown Dallas , 25 min by rideshare
The dining and nightlife capital of Dallas. McKinney Avenue has dozens of bars and restaurants within walking distance. Young, energetic crowd. Great for match-day atmosphere.
Price: $150 to $280 per night
Fort Worth Stockyards , 20 min by car
The most authentically Texan experience you will find. Rodeos on Friday and Saturday nights, honky-tonk bars, and cattle drives down Exchange Avenue twice daily.
Price: $120 to $220 per night
Things to Do in Dallas
You will have plenty of downtime between matches, and Dallas has a lot to see. Start at the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. It covers the JFK assassination and is a heavy but essential piece of history. If you want the classic Texas cowboy experience, drive over to the Fort Worth Stockyards. They run actual cattle drives down Exchange Avenue twice a day, and the saloons are great for a cold beer. Back in Dallas, spend an evening in Deep Ellum. It is the hub for live music, street art, and incredible food. If you rented a car and have a free afternoon, drive 30 minutes south to Waco. You can check out the Magnolia Market from the Fixer Upper TV show. It is a great day trip.
Fort Worth Stockyards
The heart of cowboy culture. Twice-daily cattle drives at 11:30 AM and 4 PM, rodeos every Friday and Saturday ($25 to $45 tickets), and honky-tonk bars on Exchange Avenue with live country music every night.
Tip: Go on a Saturday evening. The rodeo starts at 7:30 PM, and the bars along Exchange Avenue stay open until 2 AM.
Deep Ellum
Dallas's live music and arts district. Over 30 venues feature everything from blues and jazz to punk and hip-hop. Murals cover almost every building facade. Good beer bars and late-night tacos.
Tip: Start at Pecan Lodge for BBQ lunch, then walk the murals. Music venues kick off around 8 PM. Elm Street is the main strip.
Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
The museum about the JFK assassination occupies the former Texas School Book Depository. Audio guide included with the $18 entry fee. The view from the sixth-floor window where the shots were fired is preserved.
Tip: Book tickets online in advance. Allow 90 minutes for the full audio tour. Dealey Plaza outside is free to visit.
Explore Dallas Like a Local
Your match day starts well before kickoff. Get familiar with the best neighborhoods, food spots, and transport routes.
Inside AT&T Stadium
View transport, gates, food, and match day tips
View Stadium Guide →
