ARLINGTON, Texas — Arlington's AT&T Stadium didn't land the 2026 World Cup match everyone wanted -- the final -- but hey, nine games in total wasn't a bad consolation prize.
The home of the Dallas Cowboys will play host to several group stage matches, plus several more knockout rounds, including the semifinals.
But if you're a casual soccer fan, you might notice an obvious discrepancy between AT&T Stadium and the World Cup games you're used to seeing every four years.
The World Cup is played on grass. Dallas Cowboys games are not. What can we expect in 2026?
The short answer: You should expect a grass surface specially-installed for the World Cup games at AT&T Stadium, as every World Cup game in history has been played on grass. Plus, AT&T Stadium's previous soccer games have been played on a grass or a mix of grass and synthetic turf.
The plot twist this time around involves how that field will be installed and what AT&T Stadium might look like after the fact.
In order to comply with FIFA's field regulations for the World Cup, the playing surface at AT&T Stadium will be raised 15 feet from where it currently stands. Doing so will accommodate the wider dimensions required by FIFA.
Here's a look at how high the field will be raised, compared to its current state, that was put on display in 2022:
We've covered this several times over the last couple years, when it became apparent AT&T Stadium would be among the World Cup host sites, but it's worth re-upping after Sunday's schedule announcement.
While AT&T Stadium has hosted numerous soccer matches over the years, FIFA obviously will have more stringent regulations for the World Cup when it comes to the playing field dimensions.
Those regulations call for field dimensions of about 105 meters long and 68 meters across. The 68 meters across equates to about 75 yards; by comparison, a football field is 50 yards across. There's obviously space on each side of the field for sidelines, but AT&T Stadium, with seats and suites close to the field, doesn't have much wasted space.
The raised, wider field will also cut into some of the lower bowl seating at the stadium. But with more than 90,000 seats in the building, there should be plenty to go around.
The raising of the field and re-orienting of the seats will be part of $295 million in renovations that began at AT&T Stadium in January. The updates will include freshening up its premium clubs and suites, and installing new millwork and finishes, according to the Sports Business Journal. While the SBJ said the renovations were expected to start in January, the upgrades aren't expected to be completed until July 2025.
While the scope of the renovations are not intended radically change the way the stadium looks and feels, sources told the SBJ that they are designed to “refresh premium spaces ahead of some key lease renewals, and upgrade technology and other back-of-the-house services ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”