{"id":325913,"date":"2026-06-06T20:59:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T20:59:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/325913\/"},"modified":"2026-06-06T20:59:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T20:59:12","slug":"arlington-says-its-ready-for-the-world-cup-and-the-legacy-the-beautiful-game-will-leave-behind-rsssports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/325913\/","title":{"rendered":"Arlington says it\u2019s ready for the World Cup \u2014 and the legacy the beautiful game will leave behind | Rsssports"},"content":{"rendered":"

July 17, 1994, was one of the best days of Mauricio Galante\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

In California as part of a tour sailing the world on a frigate to celebrate his class\u2019s graduation from the Brazilian naval academy, he and some friends snagged seats in the Rose Bowl and watched as his home country\u2019s team won its fourth World Cup title.<\/p>\n

The Brazil-Italy final was a nail-biter\u00a0\u2014 no score after extra time, the Brazilians went on to win it 3-2 in penalties.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe couldn’t believe that Brazil won for the fourth time the world championship,\u201d Galante said. \u201cIt was history made right there, you know? It was amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Galante served in the Brazilian navy for 15 years, started a business in his home country and then immigrated to America \u2014 specifically to Arlington, where he now represents District 1 on the City Council.<\/p>\n

And being on the council means that, almost 32 years after he watched Brazil set a new record for World Cup wins, he gets to play a big role in planning for the tournament.<\/p>\n

It puts the city that has spent more than half a century building a reputation as the sports capital of Texas (as it has been colloquially dubbed by officials, residents and visitors alike) in the spotlight on the world stage.<\/p>\n

\"Colombia’s<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Mexico’s Erik Lira (6) and Colombia\u2019s Luis Diaz play during a friendly game Oct. 11 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Both teams will play in this year’s FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n

Yfat Yossifor\/KERA News file photo<\/p>\n

Galante said visitors and locals alike who venture into the Arlington Entertainment District will be greeted by a sea of colorful jerseys, blowing horns, energetic chants and passionate fans from around the globe. They\u2019ll gather there to celebrate the world\u2019s most popular sport, rallying around it to form a community that cares little about where folk are from and more about bringing the energy and comradery they bring with them.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are going to feel that, feel the energy, the energy of what soccer brings,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Creating a lasting impact<\/p>\n

Arlington, and especially Deputy City Manager Jennifer Wichmann, had a lot of planning to do \u2014 years’ worth.<\/p>\n

From public safety to transit to efforts fostering unforgettable fan experiences, Wichmann said the city has planned for everything it possibly can.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have done this before, we do know what we’re doing,\u201d Wichmann told KERA News. \u201cWe understand this is a different event in a number of ways. We haven’t hosted this many soccer matches. It’s a more international crowd than we typically get. But every time, every event we have builds on for additional events to come in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

There have been plenty of major events to learn from: World Series games, an MLB All-Star game, a Super Bowl and sold-out concerts at AT&T Stadium.<\/p>\n

Wichmann said those \u201cWelcome to Arlington\u201d banners and signs are a small detail that could make a big difference because of the way the tournament has been branded. FIFA is advertising Dallas as the host city, even temporarily renaming AT&T Stadium to Dallas Stadium.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe understand it’s going be called Dallas Stadium, and we understand that was part of the deal that was made with FIFA,\u201d she said. \u201cWe wish we could have gotten a change<\/a>, but that didn’t happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Dallas<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dallas Stadium, renamed from AT&T Stadium to comply with FIFA rules, and the Arlington Entertainment District prepare signage and decorations for the FIFA World Cup games.<\/p>\n

Yfat Yossifor\/KERA News<\/p>\n

Arlington wants visitors to remember its name with the hope that they\u2019ll think of the city when planning future vacations or looking for a place to set up a business. She says it\u2019ll be a welcoming, exciting place and Arlington wants credit for the work planners put into creating that environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope that sticks in their minds,\u201d Wichmann said. \u201cMaybe they’ve had a great time at the Fan Fest over in Dallas<\/a>, and they know that that was down in Fair Park. And then when they come to the match, they’ll have a great [time] here and know that that was in Arlington, Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Galante said with so many people, painstaking care has been put into ensuring public safety around the entertainment district.<\/p>\n

Residents in Arlington need not worry, though, Wichmann said: The tournament won\u2019t mean fewer resources for the rest of the city. Police aren\u2019t allowed to take time off during the World Cup, allowing for extra staffing, and Arlington\u2019s neighbors will join state and federal agencies in lending public safety resources and personnel.<\/p>\n

An English pub for all fans<\/p>\n

Of course, it\u2019s not only the city that\u2019s prepping for record-breaking turnout.<\/p>\n

With the English team\u2019s first match of the World Cup happening in Arlington, The Londoner Pub is gearing up for packed houses.<\/p>\n

The pub, which started around 30 years ago in Addison, is preparing to open a location in Arlington ahead of the tournament \u2014 the pub\u2019s fourth location. Its others are in Dallas and Colleyville.<\/p>\n

The pub was opened by the father of Charlotte Tate, who now serves as its chief operating officer.<\/p>\n

She said the World Cup is coming up fast and the Arlington location may not be 100% complete, but it will be open and ready to host fans from around the globe.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve already started preparing with decor in the pubs, including World Cup posters and a countdown clock to the first match of the tournament.<\/p>\n

While it may be an especially appealing location for England fans, she said its regulars include fans from all around.<\/p>\n

With the proximity to AT&T Stadium, temporarily renamed Dallas Stadium due to FIFA rules on sponsor-named venues, Tate expects The Londoner to be a popular and busy spot. So much so that she\u2019s planning to expand the footprint of the pub with outdoor seating and entertainment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’ve been doing this for a long time\u00a0\u2014 that means managing these games for a long time\u00a0\u2014 so we know what we’re doing,\u201d Tate said.<\/p>\n

A long-term legacy<\/p>\n

Cities, counties and the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee have spent years on research and planning. Efforts started long before North Texas won a bid to host matches.<\/p>\n

With so much effort put into making the World Cup happen in Arlington, local leaders are already thinking about the legacy it will create.<\/p>\n

Gary Packan<\/a>, Arlington\u2019s director of parks, recreation and culture, said the city has already seen some of that increased interest in soccer through its youth leagues.<\/p>\n

He, too, referenced the impact of the \u201994 World Cup when talking about how this year\u2019s tournament could change the landscape.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe fully anticipate that to carry over in the demand and growth in the sport itself, which is fantastic because whether it’s soccer, baseball, lacrosse, hockey, our goal is to get people active at all ages,\u201d Packan said. \u201cWe want to get people in our parks being healthy and enjoying our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s something that has Collin Emmert excited, too.<\/p>\n

He runs Jump Start Sports<\/a> in Denton, Euless and Hurst, a company that offers youth sports camps and leagues.<\/p>\n

Emmert says Jump Start aims to teach children about teamwork and perseverance while building character through sports, and soccer is a great way to do that. Because of the low cost of entry (all you really need is an open space, a ball and some friends to play with), it\u2019s a great way for kids of all ages to get involved in athletics.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Children in the Jump Start Sports program practice soccer May 23 in Euless.<\/p>\n

Yfat Yossifor\/KERA News<\/p>\n

Leading up to the World Cup, he said soccer offerings have been the most popular. Even on the weekends, when Jump Start will host single-day, three-hour camps, the sport sees the highest demand.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kids, they’re involved in other things, but they want that one day where they can come out and have a bunch of fun,\u201d Emmert said. \u201cI think it\u2019s more than we anticipated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jump Start Sports\u2019 camps cost $80 or more, but Packan says Arlington will soon have a way for kids in the community to play pickup games for free in downtown.<\/p>\n

A mini pitch, being put at George Stevens Park, will be a part of the World Cup\u2019s legacy in North Texas. The pitch will provide a spot for kids to gather and play smaller games, and the only equipment they\u2019ll need to bring is a ball.<\/p>\n

He said the small size makes it easier for just a few kids to get together and play or practice because the field isn\u2019t too large for them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is in a confined space where there’s walls, and the ball is not going to get away from you,\u201d Packan said. \u201cYou can practice your foot skills, have fun, burn off some energy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

FIFA is using Spot, a robotic K9 created by BostonDynamics, for security at World Cup events in North Texas, including matches in Arlington.<\/p>\n

James Hartley\/KERA News<\/p>\n

Joshua Nascimento knows plenty about soccer. He’s the son of Pel\u00e9, the legendary Brazilian player widely considered as one of the greatest in the history of the sport.<\/p>\n

He’s also head of performance for FC Dallas, where he works with the team and its academy that offers soccer training for kids.<\/p>\n

He said he expects the game\u2019s popularity to skyrocket, from professional soccer to youth leagues to the frequency and size of neighborhood pickup games.<\/p>\n

Pel\u00e9, who died in 2022, would be astonished to see how prolific the sport has become just in the past few years, Nascimento said.<\/p>\n

He said his father visited the U.S. to play soccer and made trips here after he retired, always with the hope of fostering a love for the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s part of, I think, what he came to do and in the United States, to leave a legacy,\u201d Nascimento said. \u201cHe would have seen this and appreciated how much it has grown.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nascimento said that Texas already has a strong culture around soccer and that it\u2019ll only grow with the World Cup \u2014 especially in Arlington.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s just going to keep growing,\u201d he said, noting that the growth of Major League Soccer has garnered international attention, even from players. \u201cWe have players like Messi wanting to come here. Who ever thought Messi would come to the States, you know? So I just think it shows how much the league has grown, how much quality has improved of the football, the players.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arlington may be one of the places where America\u2019s flourishing love for the beautiful game is most evident after FIFA leaves town.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don’t think I’ve ever seen a city with so much talent,\u201d Nascimento\u00a0said. \u201cAnd I think the World Cup is just going to take it to another level.\u201d<\/p>\n

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