AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott announced $116 million in grants for World Cup events in Texas on Wednesday.
The grants will pay for heightened security and public safety measures this summer. North Texas will host nine matches at AT&T Stadium, home of the Cowboys, during the world soccer championship tournament, which begins in June.
“These public safety grants will help ensure that travelers visiting and traveling throughout Texas can enjoy our great state safely, will bolster Texas’ efforts to combat crime, and help prevent potential acts of violence,” Abbott said in a statement. “I thank our partners in the Trump Administration for helping prioritize the safety of our fellow Americans.”
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Abbott’s office is administering the federal grants earmarked for the FIFA World Cup under the Big Beautiful Bill. In total, the federal government allocated $625 million to host cities across the country to support security efforts protecting players, attendees, venues, and critical infrastructure, including against potential terrorist threats.
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Houston also is playing host to seven matches at NRG Stadium. For the event, the stadiums’ names have been changed. AT&T Stadium, for instance, will be renamed Dallas Stadium.
The federal funds for events at AT&T Stadium will be allocated to the North Central Texas Council of Governments, a regional planning agency for Dallas-Fort Worth.
It was unclear how much of the $116 million would go to North Texas for the Dallas-area matches. The money will be used for safety personnel, equipment and other public safety items for security associated with FIFA World Cup events.
Last week, Dallas was awarded $51.5 million in federal funding from FEMA to assist with public safety costs associated with the tournament.