Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker on 2026 World Cup Impact and City's Unique Culture

Securing the 2026 World Cup for DFW

• 🏆 The selection of DFW as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was the result of years of planning and coordination between Fort Worth, Dallas, and Frisco.
• 🤝 Visit Fort Worth played a crucial role in coordinating with Visit Dallas and FC Dallas to secure DFW's significant role in hosting the North American event.
• ✨ The success is seen as a reflection of the metro region's ability to grow and thrive together, presenting an opportunity to host a world-class event.

Fort Worth's Unique Appeal as a Host City

• 🌟 Fort Worth aims to stand out among host cities by showcasing its rich and unique culture, including its western heritage, thriving restaurant scene, and world-class cultural district.
• 🤠 The city anticipates visitors will choose to stay and spend most of their time in Fort Worth, drawn by its distinctive character and offerings, such as the already popular Stockyards.
• ⚽ The proximity to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, where games will be hosted, is highlighted, along with creative marketing efforts to promote Fort Worth to a global audience.

Economic and Business Opportunities

• 💰 Mayor Parker encourages the Fort Worth business community, from food trucks to hotels, to prepare for a significant economic boom and to offer world-class hospitality.
• 📈 The event is viewed as an opportunity for businesses to attract repeat visitors by showcasing the city's appeal beyond just the games themselves.
• 🤝 Close collaboration with businesses ensures they are prepared for the influx of hundreds of thousands of people, including those attending watch parties.

Infrastructure and Public Safety Preparations

• 🚧 Fort Worth is preparing from an infrastructure and public safety standpoint to manage the influx of visitors while ensuring the city functions normally for its residents.
• 🤝 A unique strength of Dallas-Fort Worth is the close working relationship between law enforcement and public safety agencies, which is being further enhanced for the event.
• 🚦 Lessons learned from managing large crowds at events like the Texas Rangers' World Series parade are being applied to crowd control and safety planning for the World Cup.

Welcoming Visitors and Enhancing City Image

• 🗺️ The goal is for visitors to experience Fort Worth as an "unexpected city", showcasing its status as the 10th largest in America with world-class culture.
• ✈️ The city's accessibility, with a 30-minute drive from DFW airport (the third busiest in the world), makes it an attractive destination.
• 🤗 Residents are encouraged to be themselves and extend their natural kindness and hospitality, embracing the diversity the event will bring.

Impact on Youth Sports and TCU

• 📣 The World Cup is expected to boost excitement for youth soccer, potentially leading to increased demand for sports fields and support for youth sports organizations.
• 🌐 If TCU is chosen to host a team, it would place both the university and the city on a world stage, highlighting TCU's impressive athletic facilities and commitment.
• 🤝 TCU's proactive approach, with President Pollard and the team expressing full commitment, demonstrates their readiness to host a team and capitalize on the opportunity.