ARLINGTON, Texas — With fewer than 50 days until the FIFA World Cup begins in Texas, questions are emerging about how fan traditions will be handled at venues across the United States.
Matches are set to take place in Arlington and Houston, drawing thousands of international visitors and prompting local officials to prepare for large-scale crowds and logistics.
Tailgating is a longstanding tradition in American sports culture, but World Cup organizers are balancing those customs with global event standards and security needs.
“This summer isn’t a regular sporting tournament,” Arlington Mayor Jim Ross said. “A fan march is where you may have 10, 15, 40,000 people marching down the street and celebrating their team.”
Arlington is preparing to host nine World Cup matches, which is the most of any city in North America, bringing added pressure to manage transportation, safety and the overall fan experience.
“So, there’s issues regarding transportation and traffic. There’s issues regarding security,” Ross said.
Concerns about tailgating intensified in mid-April after reports showed that some U.S. venues, including sites in New Jersey and Massachusetts, would not allow the practice. The reports raised fears that a blanket policy could apply nationwide. Boston has since reversed its ban on tailgating.
FIFA later clarified its position in a statement, saying, “FIFA does not have a formal policy that restricts tailgating (eating and drinking around parked cars in stadium areas),” and added that decisions would be made on a case-by-case basis.
In North Texas, organizers have yet to provide a definitive answer.
The North Texas FIFA World Cup organizing committee said FIFA will determine how areas surrounding AT&T Stadium are used, including parking lots, leaving uncertainty about whether traditional tailgating will be permitted.
“Parking lots will be blocked off to some extent, immediately around AT&T, and FIFA will have different types of experiences there around the stadium as well,” Ross said.
Officials are also weighing how transportation and walkability will affect the fan experience, particularly given the distance between key event locations.
Dallas will host the official FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park, about 20 miles east of Arlington, creating additional logistical considerations for visitors moving between sites.
“We want people to come and celebrate their team and have a wonderful time,” Ross said.
Arlington is also scheduled to host a semifinal match in July.