Dallas
AT&T Stadium in Arlington — the largest World Cup venue by capacity. Texas hospitality meets global football in the heart of the DFW metroplex.
Dallas hosts more World Cup 2026 matches than any other city — nine total, including a semifinal — but the action is at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, roughly 30 minutes west of downtown by car. Base yourself in Uptown or Deep Ellum for the best food-and-nightlife access, or stay in Arlington itself if you want to walk to the stadium. The city's arts district, barbecue, and Tex-Mex scene reward anyone who spends extra days here.
Where to Stay
Where to Eat
From budget classics to Michelin-grade splurges. Each name opens in Google Maps.
📍 Deep Ellum
Texas Monthly Top 50-ranked pitmaster operation whose beef rib and brisket have generated more national food coverage of Dallas than any other single restaurant; arrive before 11:30 am or expect a long wait.
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📍 Bishop Arts District
James Beard-nominated and Michelin-recommended, this small Italian restaurant shifts its menu with Texas seasonal produce — one of the toughest reservations in DFW, so book weeks ahead.
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📍 Deep Ellum
Michelin one-star omakase with just 10 counter seats inside the historic Continental Gin Building — precise, intimate, and one of the best sushi experiences in Texas.
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📍 Deep Ellum
D Magazine called the secret Purépecha tasting menu 'the most exciting dinner in Dallas' — heirloom masa and indigenous ingredients, completely unlike standard Tex-Mex.
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📍 Bishop Arts District
More accessible than Pecan Lodge on weekend afternoons and serves Central Texas-style sausage from a Lockhart family lineage — a solid stop before exploring Bishop Arts boutiques.
📍 View on Google MapsWhat to See
Each name opens in Google Maps.
Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
History museumThe most carefully assembled chronicle of the JFK assassination anywhere, housed in the actual building — emotionally striking and genuinely educational in a way few American history museums are.
Dallas Arts District
Cultural district (museums)The largest contiguous urban arts district in the US, anchored by the Dallas Museum of Art (free general admission) and Nasher Sculpture Center — a half-day of free or low-cost world-class art.
Klyde Warren Park
Urban parkA five-acre deck park built over a freeway that functions as Dallas's living room — food trucks, weekend concerts, outdoor yoga, and a central location between Uptown and the Arts District, all free.
Deep Ellum Street Art Walk
Outdoor / street artOver 40 large-scale murals by local and international artists packed into a walkable 10-block area — best done on foot in the early evening before the music venues open.
FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park
Fan experience (WC 2026)Free 34-day festival in a 277-acre Art Deco complex with live music, mini pitches, giant screens with 7,000 covered seats, and food vendors — the best free World Cup atmosphere in Dallas.
Local Food to Try
Getting Around
Dallas has a functional DART light rail and free streetcar to Bishop Arts, but AT&T Stadium is in Arlington with no rail connection — take the Trinity Railway Express from Victory Station to CentrePort, then a complimentary match-day charter bus (plan 90 minutes total); Uber/Lyft to the stadium runs about 30 minutes from downtown but prices surge dramatically on match days.
Quick Tips
- → Book Lucia and Tatsu reservations at least three weeks ahead — they sell out and won't have walk-in seats.
- → The DART Green Line connects downtown, Deep Ellum, and the Arts District; a day pass is $6 and covers most of your sightseeing without needing a car.
- → For match days, the Texas Live! entertainment complex adjacent to AT&T Stadium has 11 restaurants and 22 bars — arrive early to secure a spot before kickoff.
- → Pack for extreme heat: Dallas in June–July regularly exceeds 100°F (38°C); the stadiums and museums are heavily air-conditioned, but plan outdoor activities for early morning.
- → The FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park is free and capped at 35,000 daily — arrive before noon on weekend match days to avoid queues at the gate.
