North Texas FWC Organizing Committee and NCTCOG Unveil FIFA World Cup 2026™ Transportation Plan

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Caroline Vandergriff

(682) 427-4354

cvandergriff@nctcog.org

ARLINGTON (April 2, 2026) – The North Texas FWC Organizing Committee and the North Central Texas Council of Governments have unveiled the transportation plan responsible for moving fans and visitors in North Texas this summer during FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Leaders highlighted key elements of the transportation plan, including how guests in town during the tournament can use the region’s multimodal transportation system to travel to Dallas Stadium in Arlington during the tournament-high nine matches held at the stadium this summer, FIFA Fan Festival™ Dallas at Fair Park, the International Broadcast Center and other related events across the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

“Major sporting events create unforgettable, lifelong memories for fans, and in North Texas, we are accustomed to welcoming some of the biggest events on the sports calendar,” said Monica Paul, President of the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee. “Any major sporting event such as the FIFA World Cup requires months of collaboration with partners across multiple sectors, including transportation. We’re grateful to our federal, state, regional and local partners for their efforts in making this moment possible.”

The North Central Texas Council of Governments is leading the transportation planning, coordinating closely with transit agencies, airports, and municipalities. The transportation plan details how the region’s integrated transportation network will move thousands of fans traveling to Dallas-Fort Worth for matches in Arlington, or the free and open to the public FIFA Fan Festival™ Dallas at Fair Park Pavilion, as well as for events connected to the world’s largest sporting event.

“The FIFA World Cup represents something entirely new: the largest sporting event in the world coming to one of the fastest-growing regions in the country,” said Michael Morris, P.E., Director of Transportation for the North Central Texas Council of Governments. “Embracing this historic opportunity required unprecedented collaboration across our cities, counties, state transportation department and transit agencies to deliver a transportation strategy worthy of a global stage.”

NCTCOG, the Cities of Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Trinity Metro, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) are working together to ensure efficient, dependable travel options for spectators and event personnel. This includes new multimodal connections and special event transit services designed specifically for FIFA World Cup 2026™ operations.

“By aligning our partners under one coordinated vision, we have built an innovative system that brings together rail, bus and smart infrastructure to meet the scale and energy of the FIFA World Cup,” Morris said. “Our goal is simple: to provide every fan with an experience of a lifetime - supported by transportation that is seamless and reliable.”

Match Day Operations

NCTCOG developed a creative approach for match day transportation, knowing FIFA World Cup 2026™ spectators rely far more heavily on public transit than typical crowds at events at Dallas Stadium. Ticket holders can ride the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) from Fort Worth or Dallas to CentrePort Station. From there, they will take a charter bus to the Bus Hub, the designated transit drop-off zone near the stadium. Fans will then have a short, half-mile walk to the entrance.

Spectators can also use rideshare services to attend matches. The Esports Stadium Arlington lot has been designated as the rideshare lot for rideshare companies to operate pick-up and drop-off.

The region’s extensive freeway and highway system will give fans multiple options to drive to the stadium for events, with parking options available.

“Our plan moves visitors from rail to charter buses with dedicated routes connecting key transit hubs to the stadium,” said Karla Windsor, a senior program manager for NCTCOG. “We appreciate our local, state and federal partners for lending their collaboration in the development of this plan.”

Getting Around North Texas

North Texas is served by two major airports - Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field. Both offer convenient connections to public transportation, rideshare services, or rental car options. In addition, 30 general aviation airports provide comprehensive services for corporate, private and charter aviation.

Public transit is the most efficient way to reach FIFA World Cup 2026™ events. Direct service connects to multiple cities in the North Texas region, the airports, FIFA Fan Festival™ Dallas at Fair Park and the International Broadcast Center at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas, allowing visitors to travel quickly and comfortably by rail or bus. Fans can plan their trips and purchase tickets using the GoPass® app. The GoPass® app is a comprehensive, award-winning mobile ticketing and travel planning tool for public transit in North Texas, primarily used for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Trinity Metro, and several surrounding transit agencies. It enables contactless payments, real-time trip planning, and digital ticket storage for buses and trains, essentially acting as a mobile ticket vending machine.

North Texas also offers a robust network of highways, making travel by car straightforward across the region.

More information about the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee FIFA World Cup 2026™ Transportation Plan can be found at dallasfwc26.com.

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About The North Texas FWC Organizing Committee

The North Texas FWC Organizing Committee is the official entity responsible for planning and delivering the FIFA World Cup 2026™ experience in North Texas. As one of the tournament’s key Host Cities, Dallas will welcome teams and fans from around the world, hosting nine matches at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, the International Broadcast Center at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, and a multi-week FIFA Fan Festival™ Dallas at Fair Park. The Official World Cup 2026™ Dallas Host City Supporters are UT Southwestern Medical Center, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, Choctaw Casinos and North Texas Sports Foundation - who will play key roles in supporting community and Legacy initiatives aligned with the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee.

About the North Central Texas Council of Governments:

NCTCOG is a voluntary association of local governments established in 1966 to assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit and coordinating for sound regional development. NCTCOG's purpose is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication and make joint decisions.

NCTCOG serves a 16-county region of North Central Texas, which is centered on the two urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth.

About the Regional Transportation Council:

The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) of the North Central Texas Council of Governments has served as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) policymaking body for regional transportation planning in the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 1974. The MPO works in cooperation with the region’s transportation providers to address the complex transportation needs of the rapidly growing metropolitan area. The Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area includes Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant and Wise counties. The RTC’s 45 members include local elected or appointed officials from the metropolitan area and representatives from each of the area’s transportation providers. More information can be found at www.nctcog.org.