Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas, has been named an Official FIFA World Cup Training Site, with the Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium set to host international teams this summer. President Jay Hartzell of SMU and university officials confirmed the selection and highlighted the campus role in welcoming the tournament to North Texas. The announcement recalls SMU’s history as a 1994 World Cup training location and sets expectations for a high-profile, tightly managed series of team practices.
SMU’s Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium will serve as a dedicated practice venue for participating World Cup squads, bringing elite-level preparation to the heart of Dallas County. University leaders say the decision reflects strong local partnerships and the global reach of the campus community, positioning SMU as a live link between global sport and the region’s students and residents. While the stadium will host players and coaches, access will be limited for security and team privacy.
The team training activities will not be open to the public, and university officials have made clear that practice sessions will be controlled, monitored and off-limits to casual spectators. That approach is common for FIFA-designated sites, which prioritize player routines, confidential tactical work and secure environments for team staff. Local authorities and campus security are coordinating logistics to balance campus life with the operational needs of international teams.
SMU’s rise to official training-site status leans on the campus’s existing facilities and its prior World Cup legacy. In 1994 the university hosted teams preparing for matches at the nearby Cotton Bowl, and Washburne — known then as Wescott Field — welcomed squads including Germany, Bulgaria, the Netherlands and Sweden for their practice sessions. That precedent gave planners confidence in SMU’s ability to handle the demands of top-tier international soccer teams and the technical needs of elite training.
The university framed the selection as an opportunity for students and faculty to engage with a global sporting event, even if direct access to practices is restricted. President Jay Hartzell captured the tone in the official statement: “Dallas is one of the world’s most dynamic and globally connected cities, and SMU is proud to help welcome the FIFA World Cup to our region,” President Jay Hartzell said. “This opportunity reflects the strength of our partnerships, our global community and the exceptional experiences available to our students and faculty. We’re excited to contribute to the energy and momentum this historic event will bring to North Texas.”
Campus officials are now turning attention to timelines, transportation plans and the small but complex details of hosting teams that arrive with specialized needs. From pitch maintenance and locker-room access to secure arrival routes and media zones, the checklist is detailed and exacting, and SMU staff will be laser-focused on delivering the conditions teams expect. The university’s athletic department and facilities crews will play a central role, drawing on experience gained from past international events.
Local businesses and service providers around University Park and greater Dallas can expect a ripple effect from teams setting up nearby for training camps. Hotels, catering services and vendors that support sports teams often see increased demand, and municipal partners typically coordinate to ensure traffic, signage and neighborhood impacts are handled smoothly. Officials have promised to work with nearby residents to keep disruption minimal while maximizing economic and cultural benefits for the area.
While fans won’t be able to watch the sessions, the training-site designation still brings visibility and potential community engagement to SMU and North Texas. The presence of international teams on campus may shape classroom discussions, spark campus events tied to the tournament and create unique internship or volunteer opportunities for students in sports administration, media and hospitality. Organizers say those indirect educational moments are part of the appeal of hosting teams locally.
SMU’s announcement places the university in a small group of U.S. campuses tapped for World Cup training responsibilities, a mark of trust from FIFA and tournament planners. As the summer approaches, campus officials will continue to refine schedules and safeguards, and the city of University Park will see the eyes of the soccer world focused nearby. For now, SMU is preparing to do what it has done before: provide a professional, secure training environment for teams competing on soccer’s biggest stage.
