A Trinity Metro TEXRail train arrives at the Trinity Railway Express Fort Worth Central Station on April 6 on the corner of Ninth Street and Jones Street. The station will be one of the three stations providing service for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The North Central Texas Council of Governments and the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee laid out the plans Thursday for transportation that will move soccer fans and international visitors during the World Cup.
The plan heavily features the use of the Trinity Railway Express for people outside of Arlington, followed by buses and a designated walking zone.
“Our goal is to get fans and match-day goers to CentrePort on the TRE, so that can look like coming from Fort Worth on Trinity Metro or coming from Dallas utilizing Victory Station or EBG Union to get to CentrePort,” said Erin Myers, Dallas Area Rapid Transit vice president of public relations, on Thursday to press.
From CentrePort Station, fans will be able to take charter buses to the bus hub at East Road to Six Flags Street and Nolan Ryan Expressway. A FIFA match ticket is required to ride the bus.
If the Trinity Railway Express begins to reach capacity, match ticket holders will be directly transported from Victory Station in Dallas or the Fort Worth Central Station to the bus hub in Arlington through a Dynamic Charter Service.
“Having seamless delivery of 80,000 people to and from the stadium for the nine matches is probably the most important part of the plan,” said Michael Morris, North Central Texas Council of Governments director of transportation, on Thursday to press. “That is why you see so many redundant components in the delivery of that particular service.”
Morris said the buses coming from CentrePort Station will be in general traffic and won’t have a specific bus-only lane.
Once at the bus hub, riders will be able to take an estimated 10-minute walk to AT&T Stadium, according to a press release.
Karla Windsor, North Central Texas Council of Governments senior program manager, said on Thursday to press they are looking into cooling stations along the path to the stadium, shade structures and other ways to keep visitors cooler in hot weather during the walk.
Residents can drive to AT&T Stadium on match day. Approximately 16,600 spaces will be available for general spectator parking around the stadium, and parking passes can be purchased through FIFA, according to a release.
Rideshare options will also be available. The Esports Stadium Arlington lot will be designated as a taxi pick-up and drop-off zone. According to a release, the lot is about a 10-to-15-minute walk from AT&T Stadium.
After matches, the roads, sidewalks and transit routes are expected to be heavily congested, according to a release. However, plans are the same for leaving as they are for entering the area.
“Our dream is to make sure this particular event has a legacy just like previous FIFA events have had a legacy in the region,” Morris said.
Road closures near AT&T Stadium during the tournament:
One southbound lane on Pennant Drive from Road to Six Flags Drive to AT&T WayThe right-most southbound lane on AT&T Way from Randol Mill Road to Pennant DriveAT&T Way from Randol Mill to Cowboys WayCowboys Way from AT&T Way to Collins Street
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