Dallas is anticipating over four-five thousand broadcasters around the clock here at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas in early 2026.
DALLAS, TX – (March 2025) – An interview with Monica Paul, Executive Director of the Dallas Sports Commission
Dallas was named the host for the International Broadcast Center for the 2026 World Cup.
Dallas also hosted in 1994, so it’s an honor to be able to welcome those broadcasters and media back to Dallas in 2026. We are anticipating over four-five thousand broadcasters around a 24/7 operational piece here at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas.
In early 2026, FIFA will come in and set up the International Broadcast Center (IBC) here at the Convention Center. Starting middle to end of May, it will become operational on a twenty four seven basis with broadcasters from around the world.
In January 2026, FIFA will have a team and their vendors and agencies starting to set up the international broadcast center – and all technical and electrical elements that go along with that. Following will be local outreach to vendors including banking, hairdressers, physical fitness, etc. The IBC will operate 24/7 due to the many timezones. The region wants to make sure that they have a great time and have a great experience while here.
We are hosting 9 matches plus the national broadcast. We have 18 different focus groups, expert planning teams, working with our national, EHS, our Texas safety security teams, FBI across the board from a regional standpoint. Everyone from Arlington to Dallas, to Fort Worth, Frisco, and in between, we will have a large footprint. There are many venues that take place throughout the region, so ensuring that communication is key.
There are monthly meetings, so that we can speak to the entire economic impact. One of the key pillars that we look at are the number of people that are coming in from outside of the area. Many international guests may stay 2 days or longer. You have hotel occupancy, sales tax, rental car taxes, restaurants, shopping, etc. They all contribute.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THE REGION
While economic impact is an important piece of our element in hosting events, so is continuing to position Dallas as a premier sports destination and continuing to elevate our profile on a global stage. A key pillar is to look to the legacy component of it and how can we leave our city and our region a better place. Coming out of 1994, one of the legacies of that World Cup was the formation of the MLS. I think there’s a great opportunity with hopefully a Women’s World Cup following in 2031 or later in the thirties. That’s a great opportunity to grow the sport of soccer on the women’s side.We are the second largest area from a youth and grassroots standpoint in terms of youth soccer membership.
There’s great opportunity where we know, based off of the demand, that we are short the number of fields that kids can get out and play on both recreationally or competitively. There are also underserved areas where children don’t even have the access to equipment, coaching and fields. We feel there’s a way we can make a dent in that and these kids access to the sport in itself. Other areas are sustainability, human rights efforts, and other legacy components. We’re right in the middle of developing what do those legacy components look like.
We meet on a regular basis with the other host cities every week just to kind of get a pulse on challenges or unique ways of solving certain problems or issues. We have great working relationships across all 11 U.S.host cities. As for the games, safety and security will be high priority. We’ve been working with the North Central Texas Council of Governments on our transportation plan and the connectivity for a lot of our international guests that might be used to taking rail out to the different matches and being very accustomed to that sort of travel. We don’t have a rail that goes to Arlington, so we’re working with Trinity Metro, TRE, and DART, and North Central Texas Council governments to put the rail system in place, but then utilization of buses down to the stadium. For us, or any host city, the key will be generating enough revenue to offset the cost of putting on the World Cup. That is one of the main focuses for everyone at this point.
Again, for us, it’s continuing to ensure Dallas is number one sports destination. We are already number one sports business city. So, yes, we’re going to host the World Cup.Yes, we want to show we’re the best at hosting that World Cup.But what additional opportunities may exist, whether it’s from a sports standpoint, a tourism standpoint, conference, convention, someone wanting to move their business here or open up a headquarters here within the Dallas area, follow up, come back for a tourism approach, bring their family and friends, say, hey, man, I had such a great time with Dallas today.in Dallas during the World Cup, I want to go come back and bring my family and friends and experience that again.We’ve a vast region, so there’s a lot of different places to see things to do and things to fall in love with as we have here as residents.
THE BIDDING PROCESS
The Bidding process. We started this back in 2017. So it’s, you know, something that you’re trying to win a bid for your country first. So this bid was with Canada, Mexico and the United States. And while you’re there with maybe at that time it was 26 different U.S.cities, I think putting forth the information that best fits with what the needs are in the bid specifications. It’s not until after North America was chosen that you really start to look at it from a city versus city standpoint to say, okay, how do we ensure that we’re putting our best foot forward? And sometimes in stakes like this, the World Cup only comes around every 30ish years, so we knew there was going to be a long time until we had the opportunity to host the next one. It’s making sure that we’re highlighting venues and majority of our venues do that themselves. Luckily our cities, our teams and our leadership around here really have done a fantastic job in keeping the infrastructure where it is or continuing to to build upon that. We knew we had a good footprint from a hotel standpoint and availability, the central location with the airport. It was really just selling ourself. Of course, there’s always in the back of your mind, a little doubt of have you done enough? Luckily for us, we were named a host city and with 9 matches, the most of any other host city.
The central location is a plus. The ease of getting here, the direct flights that go throughout the world. Last, I think that we had hosted before in 1994 is a benefit. From the beginning, we wanted to be considered as a host for the international broadcast center. That’s another big win and, just as important as hosting those 9 matches. It is very complimentary in nature. Anytime you’re able to be in front of that many broadcasters and media from all over the world, that’s a big win. And will there be needs of multiple languages in different countries. Knowing that there will be people from all over the world, we do anticipate a lot of trend translation services, cultural services, and those looking to identify restaurants and types of food to make sure that everyone feels like Dallas is a welcoming city.
NEW CONVENTION CENTER
We’re building a new convention center. After the IBC is over, a portion of that convention center will start to be torn down because we will be in the in the midst of developing a brand new convention center looking to be open in 2029. The benefits of that re endless going forward considering the potential projects that could bring.
From a new convention center standpoint, it really opens up opportunity to go after larger conventions, whether it’s on the corporate side or conference side. We would look to continue to produce sporting events utilizing the convention center, additionally exhibit hall space, ballroom space, meeting rooms, a potential new hotel that’s connected to it, and a renovation of the arena and auditorium downtown. It really opens up the number of events that we could host there.
We typically host around 70, 85 events a year, but knowing that FIFA is right around the corner, it’s it’s a heavy lift. It’s also really special and humbling at the same time to see things fall into place, to see the planning that kind of goes along with it, and to be able to see our vision 8 years ago when we were bidding on this. I see the future from a sports standpoint being very bright for Dallas and this region. Nothing is outside our scope and outside the limits here.
In closing, I think it’s important to say that this is a regional project. I have to commend the people who were a big part of us getting to where we are here today. This region is special in that we look for win-win partnerships, always looking to raise the bar and ensure we’re doing it the biggest, the best, and maybe the boldest event ever hosted in Texas!
To learn more, visit DallasFWC26.com
