For the past month, North Texas became a global soccer destination as fans from around the world packed Dallas Stadium for the FIFA World Cup.
The home of the Dallas Cowboys hosted a World Cup-high nine matches, welcoming 631,843 total spectatorsthroughout the tournament. Soccer superstars including Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Cristiano Ronaldo all took the field in Arlington as the venue hosted some of the tournament’s biggest moments.
Dallas Stadium’s World Cup run ended Tuesday when Spain defeated France 2-0 in the semifinal.
The tournament also provided a major economic boost to the region. Arlington alone estimated roughly $160 million in economic impact from its World Cup matches, while the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex was projected to generate between $1.5 billion and $2 billion-plus in total economic impact from hosting the global event.
According to CBS News Texas, Arlington officials reported strong business activity during the tournament, including record hotel revenue of $31 million in June, surpassing the city’s previous monthly record of $23 million.
World Cup attendance at Dallas Stadium
Group Stage
- Netherlands vs. Japan — 69,285 fans
- England vs. Croatia — 70,389 fans
- Argentina vs. Austria — 70,649 fans
- Japan vs. Sweden — 70,137 fans
- Jordan vs. Argentina — 70,649 fans
Round of 32
- Ivory Coast vs. Norway — 69,665 fans
- Australia vs. Egypt — 70,244 fans
Round of 16
- Portugal vs. Spain — 70,649 fans
Semifinal
- France vs. Spain — 70,176 fans