The 2026 FIFA World Cup will turn the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex into a busy, buzzing travel hub from June 11 to July 19, with action centered on Arlington’s AT&T Stadium, the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Fair Park in east Dallas, and team base camps in Frisco and Mansfield. This guide walks through how to get around between airports, trains, shuttles, rideshare points, and the main match-day transfer hubs so you know what to expect when you arrive.
First off, expect travel to take longer than usual across the Metroplex. Venues and key sites like Frisco, Mansfield, Arlington, downtown Dallas and downtown Fort Worth are generally 25 to 35 miles apart, which under normal conditions is roughly a 30- to 45-minute drive. But during rush hour or on match days that stretches closer to 50 to 60 minutes, so leave extra time and be patient.
There are five places everyone should know: FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco and Mansfield Stadium in Mansfield, which will be used as base camps; AT&T Stadium in Arlington, which hosts the matches; the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas, which becomes the International Broadcast Center; and Fair Park, home of the FIFA Fan Festival. Those spots will be focal points for fans, media and transport planning during the tournament.
Flying in? The region is served by Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field, both of which tie directly into the public transit system. DFW connects to regional rail that links downtown Dallas and downtown Fort Worth, and Love Field has shuttle service that connects to light rail stations for broader access across the Metroplex. If you plan to rely on trains or buses, check schedules and expect heavier crowds than normal.
Regional rail options are critical during the World Cup. The DART rail network reaches into Dallas and beyond, while TEXRail provides a direct connection from DFW into Fort Worth and the Trinity Railway Express links the two downtowns. Those rail lines create the backbone for getting between airports, downtowns and transfer points heading to Arlington on match days.
On match days, expect the trip from downtown Dallas or Fort Worth to Arlington to take about 90 minutes, and that estimate can grow with congestion. The Trinity Railway Express will be a key option for many fans, with primary boarding at Victory Station in Dallas and Fort Worth Central Station. From TRE CentrePort Station, game ticket holders will transfer to complimentary charter buses that run to the Bus Hub north of AT&T Stadium, leaving a short walk to the gates.
Keep in mind that you need a valid match ticket to ride some of the dedicated Game Day transit services, including the TRE-to-shuttle connections. If trains reach capacity, Dynamic Charter Buses will be pressed into service to move fans from crowded stations directly to the Bus Hub near the stadium. Those buses are meant to keep people flowing when traditional rail options fill up.
Rideshare and taxis will be routed to dedicated pickup and drop-off areas to keep traffic moving. The designated Rideshare Lot sits in the parking area near the Esports Stadium Arlington and next to the Medal of Honor Museum, and both drop-offs and postgame pickups will be handled there. If lines get long, pedestrians can walk from the Rideshare Lot to the Bus Hub and hop charter buses back to the TRE CentrePort Station.
Many Arlington hotels participate in local shuttle services, and the Red Trolley circulates through the district for shorter hops. Trolley stops run along East Road to Six Flags, north of the baseball stadium, making it a good last-mile option for guests staying nearby. For visitors who prefer to stay local, the trolley and hotel shuttles will be easier and quicker than trying to drive on match day.
Road closures will be part of the picture, especially around downtown Dallas where the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center is operating as the International Broadcast Center. Expect closures on Lamar Street, Memorial Drive, the Lamar Bridge, Akard Street and Hotel Street, with Griffin Street planned to be fully closed between Canton Street and Ceremonial Drive from May 26 until July 23. That means downtown driving and access to the convention center will be limited and rerouted for parts of the tournament.
Around AT&T Stadium there will also be targeted closures on match days to support crowd flows and event logistics. AT&T Way will close from Cowboys Way to Randol Mill Road, and Cowboys Way will be closed from N. Collins Street to AT&T Way, while a section of Nolan Ryan Expressway near the Courtyard by Marriott south entrance will be restricted. Those local closures help create predictable pedestrian and bus corridors, but they do shrink available driving routes around the stadium.
Fort Worth’s TRE CentrePort transfer point also sees lane closures to support shuttle operations for TRE riders with match tickets. A section of Statler Boulevard from Breezewood Drive to Cottageview Lane will be closed to accommodate match-day shuttle movements, so plan alternate driving routes if you’re heading to that station or nearby areas. Shuttle operations are meant to be efficient, but surrounding streets will feel the impact.
Fair Park, where the Fan Festival will take place, will have its own closures to secure the pavilion and surrounding festival footprint. First Avenue, Grand Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Pennsylvania Avenue will see closures near the northeast part of Fair Park, and a Rideshare Lot will be positioned between Washington Street and McKenzie Street. The DART Fair Park and MLK Jr. stations will serve as public transit access for the festival, but streets around the venue will be limited for private vehicles.
