AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas hosts more World Cup 2026 matches than any other single venue in the tournament. Nine matches in total — from the June 14 group stage opener through the July 14 semi-final — make Dallas-Fort Worth the most match-intensive location in the United States, with a tournament window spanning five and a half weeks. Here is everything you need to know about each match, the ticket market, and how to plan around the schedule.
The Full AT&T Stadium Match Schedule
FIFA has confirmed the following session schedule for AT&T Stadium. Specific national teams are not assigned to sessions until after the official draw, but dates and kickoff times are confirmed:
Group Stage — Session 1 Date: Sunday, June 14, 2026 Kickoff: 3:00 PM CT (21:00 UTC) Match: Group A Match 1 — Netherlands vs Japan (confirmed) Significance: This is the Dallas opening match of the tournament — the first World Cup match at AT&T Stadium since the 1994 tournament. Expect maximum media coverage and a full 93,000-person sellout. Tickets are among the most in-demand for the entire tournament.
Group Stage — Session 2 Date: Monday, June 15, 2026 Kickoff: 6:00 PM CT (23:00 UTC) Match: Group stage
Group Stage — Session 3 Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026 Kickoff: 9:00 PM CT (02:00 UTC June 19) Match: Group stage
Group Stage — Session 4 Date: Sunday, June 22, 2026 Kickoff: 3:00 PM CT Match: Group stage
Group Stage — Session 5 Date: Thursday, June 26, 2026 Kickoff: 9:00 PM CT Match: Group stage (final round)
Round of 32 Date: Thursday, July 2, 2026 Match: Knockout stage — teams determined by group results
Round of 16 Date: Monday, July 6, 2026 Match: Knockout stage
Quarter-Final Date: Thursday, July 9, 2026 Match: Quarter-final match
Semi-Final Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2026 Match: SEMI-FINAL — one of the four matches that determines the World Cup finalists.
The semi-final on July 14 is the crown jewel of AT&T Stadium's 2026 schedule. When FIFA allocated this match to Dallas, it confirmed the venue's status as one of the two most prestigious match sites in the United States alongside MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which hosts the Final.
"AT&T Stadium's selection as a semi-final venue is a recognition of the facility's world-class capabilities and Dallas-Fort Worth's proven ability to host global events at the highest level," FIFA noted in its venue allocation announcement in November 2023.
Understanding the Schedule: Group Stage vs. Knockout Rounds
The five group stage matches are scheduled across three weeks (June 14 to June 26). During this phase, the specific nations playing are not determined until the official draw, which typically takes place several months before the tournament. Tickets are sold by "session" — you commit to attending a specific date and time without knowing the teams until the draw is held.
For the knockout round matches (July 2 through July 14), the situation is more complex: you don't know the specific teams until the results of earlier rounds are determined. A Round of 32 ticket (July 2) might feature any of dozens of nations depending on how the group stage finishes. The semi-final (July 14) will feature two of the four remaining nations — determined approximately 10 days before the match.
This uncertainty is inherent to the World Cup experience. Many fans purchase tickets for multiple sessions to maximize the chance of seeing their favored national team. Others choose knockout sessions purely for the quality of the football, regardless of which nations are playing.
Ticket Pricing and the Secondary Market
FIFA distributes World Cup tickets through its official portal at tickets.fifa.com. Primary market tickets across multiple price categories were available during official sale windows. For the 2026 tournament:
Group stage tickets: Ranged from Category 4 (affordable fan category) at approximately $100 to $200 per ticket for standard matches, up to $350 to $500 for premium categories. The June 14 opener (Netherlands vs Japan) is priced significantly higher than other group stage sessions.
Knockout round tickets: Round of 32 and Round of 16 tickets ranged from $200 to $600 depending on category. Quarter-final tickets: $350 to $900. Semi-final tickets: $500 to $2,000+ for official primary market categories.
Secondary market: Platforms including StubHub, SeatGeek, and Ticketmaster Resale have listed World Cup tickets at significant premiums above face value. Semi-final tickets on the secondary market have been listed as high as $3,000 to $8,000+ for premium locations. Per STR research on World Cup ticketing, "secondary market prices for FIFA World Cup knockout matches in major U.S. markets typically reflect 3 to 6 times face value for semi-final sessions, driven by global demand from nations whose teams qualify."
Be cautious: Only purchase from FIFA's official portal or established, verified secondary market platforms. Counterfeit tickets at World Cup events are a documented issue.
Best Sessions for First-Time World Cup Attendees
If you are attending your first World Cup match, the group stage offers the best combination of accessibility, atmosphere, and value. The final round of group stage matches (June 26 at AT&T Stadium) is particularly dramatic — these are the matches where qualification is decided, and games are played simultaneously across groups, creating a shared high-stakes atmosphere.
The quarter-final (July 9) represents an excellent value proposition in the knockout rounds: the teams are among the best eight in the world, and the stakes are at their peak without the semi-final's premium pricing.
The semi-final (July 14) is the ultimate DFW match day experience. If attending a single match is your goal and budget is not a constraint, this is the one.
Planning Around the Full Schedule
The spacing between AT&T Stadium match days offers opportunities to combine stadium attendance with broader DFW tourism. A well-constructed itinerary might include:
- Arrive June 12-13 (pre-tournament, FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park opening)
- Stadium match June 14 (opener)
- Fort Worth sightseeing June 15-17
- Stadium match June 18
- Dallas tourism June 19-21
- Stadium match June 22
- Depart between matches or continue to July 2 knockout round
Visitors attending both group stage and knockout matches are building stays of 3 to 5 weeks — the kind of extended commitment that makes a World Cup visit a genuinely life-defining travel experience.
Sources
1. FIFA, "Host City and Venue Match Schedule — FIFA World Cup 2026" (fifa.com/worldcup/schedule), November 2023. 2. STR Global, "FIFA World Cup 2026 Ticketing and Hospitality Market Analysis" (str.com), 2024. 3. SeatGeek, "FIFA World Cup 2026 Dallas Ticket Price Tracker" (seatgeek.com/world-cup-2026-dallas), updated 2025.
