{"id":344238,"date":"2026-06-20T20:07:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T20:07:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/344238\/"},"modified":"2026-06-20T20:07:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T20:07:18","slug":"cowboys-head-coach-says-att-stadium-blinds-rob-world-cup-fans-of-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/344238\/","title":{"rendered":"Cowboys head coach says AT&T Stadium blinds rob World Cup fans of experience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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For the past 17 seasons, the Dallas Cowboys<\/a> have played their home games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.<\/p>\n

The venue, best known for its massive video board hanging above the 50-yard line, has been temporarily renamed Dallas Stadium as it hosts several World Cup<\/a> matches.<\/p>\n

The end zones, yard markers and artificial turf are gone inside the retractable-roof stadium during soccer matches. But one change caught Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer\u2019s attention: curtains installed to block the infamous sunlight from pouring onto the natural grass field.<\/p>\n

WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Dallas <\/p>\n

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer looks on before the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., on Oct. 26, 2025. (Ron Chenoy\/Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

“I’m a big… actually World Cup guy. I watch a lot of the games. It’s been cool for me. I’ve been out by The Star watching the watch parties and stuff that people have had. It sounds like they had the blinders up… the shades,” Schottenheimer told reporters during a press conference earlier this week.<\/p>\n

“So it’s majestic as it is when we are playing our games. The grass and the shades, it’s not as majestic. They’re going to miss the experience.”<\/p>\n

\"Sunlight <\/p>\n

Sunlight shines through the windows at AT&T Stadium during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants in Arlington, Texas, on Oct. 10, 2021. (Richard Rodriguez\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Glaring natural light has been a recurring issue since the Cowboys moved into their billion-dollar home in 2009.<\/p>\n

FOX ONE\u2019S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE<\/a><\/p>\n

During a 2017 game against the Kansas City Chiefs<\/a>, then-Cowboys receivers Dez Bryant and Brice Butler both blamed the sun\u2019s glare for missed catches. A few years later, in a 2021 playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, wideout Cedrick Wilson never appeared able to see a pass thrown his way. The following year, Michael Gallup failed to haul in what would have been a touchdown completion \u2014 again likely due to the glare.<\/p>\n

\"Alex <\/p>\n

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith throws a pass during the NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2017. (Matthew Visinsky\/Icon Sportswire)<\/p>\n

Schottenheimer also leaned into the topic earlier in his first season as Cowboys head coach, sarcastically calling the sunlight that cuts through AT&T Stadium “majestic.”<\/p>\n

“Well, I\u2019ve been here for a little while, and I\u2019ve heard about it,” Schottenheimer said in October 2025 via the Associated Press.<\/p>\n

“Hey, look, if you guys could see the process and the plan we have in place to figure it out. We have satellite imaging. We have pictures of the sun, when it\u2019s coming down. There\u2019s a big plan and process. But I think when you look at historically at what\u2019s happened it really hasn\u2019t affected many situations. We plan for it. The opponents plan for it. But at the end of the day, it\u2019s something that we\u2019re aware of. It\u2019s very beautiful. It\u2019s majestic when the sun comes through there.”<\/p>\n

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AT&T Stadium hosted its first World Cup match on June 14, when the Netherlands and Japan played to a 1-1 draw. The NFL venue, better known as “Jerry World” in a nod to longtime Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones, hosted its second tournament match Wednesday, when England defeated Croatia 4-2.<\/p>\n

The curtains were up for both of those matches. They are expected to return June 22, when Lionel Messi<\/a> and reigning World Cup champion Argentina face Austria.<\/p>\n

Follow Fox News Digital\u2019s sports coverage on X<\/a>, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n