The 2026 World Cup final apparently has a home, with Texas surprising everyone.
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas is reportedly hosting the big game. Currently, the main user of the stadium is the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL. However, ‘Jerryworld’ has been in the mix to host the World Cup final for some time.
Previously, the stadiums in New York and Los Angeles were emerging as the favorites to host the final. MetLife Stadium is home to New York City’s pair of NFL teams. Weather concerns, stemming from heat and rain, are potential reasons to avoid the New York City outdoor venue.
Out west, Los Angeles has no worries about the weather. SoFi Stadium, like New York’s MetLife Stadium, hosts World Cup matches as is. However, the $5 billion stadium, which opened in 2020, is covered by a roof. Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke also owns the stadium, providing another point of interest. However, concerns about the size of the field hampered the chances of hosting the final match, even if it can host the group stage or other knockout stage matches.
According to ESPN, the 2026 World Cup final could be heading to Dallas ???? pic.twitter.com/fdqa76PIUJ
– International Champions Cup (@IntChampionsCup) September 27, 2022
The 2026 World Cup final in Texas
So the solution after those two is geographically between them.
AT&T Stadium has a retractable roof, which would obviously help control any potential weather issues. Opened in 2009, the $1.3 billion state-of-the-art stadium has a current capacity of around 80,000 fans. However, the reconfiguration allows for an additional 25,000 seats to be added if needed. The stadium also has one of the largest high-definition video screens on the planet.
The United States hosts the 2026 World Cup in partnership with Canada and Mexico. Along with Arlington, Los Angeles and New York, the USA will also host tournament matches in Atlanta, Boston, Miami, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Houston, San Francisco and Seattle.
Centrally located, Arlington could also be at an advantage with transportation. Teams and fans would not necessarily have to travel to the opposite coast of the country for the final. If completely reconfigured, AT&T Stadium would potentially be the largest stadium in the 2026 World Cup.
PHOTO: IMAGO / AFLOSPORT
