AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, has completed its nine-match run as a 2026 FIFA World Cup host. The stadium, located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, hosted more matches than any other stadium in the tournament.
Notable Matches
The run began on June 14 with a 2-2 draw between the Netherlands and Japan. England followed with a 4-2 win over Croatia on June 17, when FC Dallas forward Petar Musa became the first active FC Dallas player to score at a World Cup.
One of the most notable moments came on June 22, when Lionel Messi delivered a two-goal performance against Austria, breaking Miroslav Klose’s men’s World Cup scoring record. Messi’s first-half strike gave him 17 career World Cup goals, moving him past Klose’s 16. His stoppage-time finish pushed the record to 18 and sealed a 2-0 Argentina win in front of a sellout crowd.
The stadium also hosted a semifinal match between Spain and France, which Spain won 2-0. The victory sent Spain to the final for the first time since its 2010 title run.
Legacy of the Tournament
With the World Cup matches now complete, AT&T Stadium can look back on a successful tournament. The stadium hosted five group-stage games and four knockout-round fixtures, giving North Texas plenty to remember. The tournament may be over for Arlington, but the city can take pride in being a part of the global event.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
