The Dallas World Cup Experience Lived up to the Hype | OneFootball

The 2026 World Cup group stage match between Japan and the Netherlands was an instant classic. The experience both inside and outside the stadium matched the high octane energy on the pitch. 

Twenty years ago, I was asked to compile a powerpoint about a major United States city for my social studies class. I picked Dallas and, in my extensive research, found a number of facts that still stick with me to this day: it boasts the flagship store of the Neiman Marcus chain, it is the largest landlocked metropolitan area in the U.S., and it contains the nation’s largest arts district. After I completed the project, I promised myself that one day, I would visit the “Big D.”

While I’ve had a few layovers at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, the first time I properly stepped foot in the city was on June 13, the morning of the Netherlands-Japan World Cup group stage showdown. After a busy night covering the U.S. versus Paraguay, I woke up at 4 a.m. and headed to LAX, where I encountered hordes of Japan supporters. Whether they were flying in directly from California, or whether they were connecting from Japan, these fans were ready to watch the Samurai Blue in action.

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In Dallas, it was more of the same. Fans from both teams were prevalent wherever you went, and they were able to take in the Pegasus City in the days leading up to the match.

“I love soccer and my father loves soccer, so I came here and bought tickets,” stated Mizuki, who flew from Japan to watch her team face off against the Netherlands. Donning a Japan shirt, a headband of the Japanese flag, as well as the Japan flag and ‘Samurai’ painted on either cheek, Mizuki came ready to cheer on her team, but she also used the occasion to see what Dallas had to offer. “There are so many great, green parks, it’s wonderful.”

Mizuki, second from the right, has enjoyed her stay in Dallas.

One of these urban, greenbelt parks is the Katy Trail, built on an abandoned Union Pacific railroad line. I sauntered down the path, stopping every few minutes to dip my head under a misting system and give myself relief from the oppressive humidity. Out of the various restaurants and bars located alongside the trail, every single one was packed to the brim with fans and neutrals who were watching Brazil vs. Morocco.

Even with a slightly less appetizing match coming up afterwards in Haiti vs. Scotland, and even with game five of the NBA Finals taking place, these fans stuck around to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Whether they chose to feast on Texas barbecue, sip menudo, or chow down on yakitori, they had precisely one condition for their restaurant of choice: it needed to be broadcasting the World Cup.

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“So far, we’ve seen a lot more diversity in terms of fans, different countries, a lot more passion,” stated Steve from Dallas, who was decked out in an orange wig, a Netherlands kit, and the Netherlands flag painted on both cheeks. “Obviously, there’s not a lot of passion for the Dallas Cowboys anymore, so it’s fun to see people who are excited about teams that are actually winning.”

“I think the most exciting thing is seeing their reaction to what it’s actually like to be in the United States, see some of the things that we take for granted every day, like a trip to Buc-ees or Bass Pro Shop. Just seeing their reactions, that’s the most exciting thing for me.”

Dallas might not be the first city you think of when it comes to destinations in the U.S., but with nine World Cup matches, the most of any venue, it will ostensibly host the most amount of fans throughout the tournament.

Netherlands-Japan was Dallas Stadium’s debut, and it couldn’t have gone more swimmingly. The 2-2 draw was a back-and-forth affair that saw Japan equalize twice, making for one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament thus far. But also on display was the city’s hospitality, which is perhaps its best feature.

“The atmosphere is amazing,” Steve continued. “That and the women, we have a lot of beautiful women in Dallas. I think those things will surprise people a lot.

“The perception about the United States and even more so Texas is varied around the world, so I would love to see how kind and generous people are in Dallas, and how much we love and support sports.”

In contrast to Los Angeles’ frustrating lack of public transportation, Dallas offered a fairly hospitable ride for visitors. There were free train rides to Dallas Stadium (which is technically in Arlington), which were offered from Dallas or Fort Worth. Ample volunteers and police officers made for a smooth visit to the stadium.

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While Dallas natives knew what to expect, the same could not be said for the traveling fans from Japan and the Netherlands, who were blown away by the heat, the width of the streets, and other fairly odd tidbits of American culture that are quotidien to those who live here.

“We are not used to the heat,” said Brecht from the Netherlands. “It may sound a bit rude, but the people are much nicer than I was expecting…it was a good surprise. They help you and talk a lot, they welcome you…that was very good.

“It’s much bigger than I expected: I was in Kansas City this week, and everything was 15 to 20 minutes away, and now we have to take an Uber 30 minutes to the city center.”

During his Dallas trip, Brecht had a number of eye-opening experiences, including visiting an NBA Finals watch party and seeing the passion that American fans had for basketball. He also met a number of Americans who were gradually falling in love with soccer.

After braving the sweltering summer weather outside of the stadium, I finally made my way to the press box, which was adjacent to the Japan supporters’ section, where a squadron of blue-clad fans made their presence felt.

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images

Out of the nearly 70,000 fans in attendance, around half were decked out in orange, the other half in blue. But judging by the noise, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the game was taking place in Tokyo instead of Texas.

Even when the Japanese national team fell behind on two occasions, even when Takefusa Kubo came off and added to Japan’s mounting injury crisis, they never stopped cheering. And when I craned my neck to view my surroundings, I found countless journalists and neutral fans who were tapping their feet and humming along to “Gambare Nippon.”

“I love the international fan experience, I love seeing all the different cultures, Japanese or the Dutch, just taking in the American culture,” stated Joe from Dallas. “They’re all having the greatest time. It’s hot outside, there’s long lines, but they just couldn’t be bothered by any of it.

“I think it’s a little bit of Texas. Texas is its own ecosystem here, and we’re actually talking about the food here like Texas barbecue and corn dogs. That’s what the international fans want to see, a little taste of this culture, just like us when we visit another country.”

Of course, Japan and the Netherlands both have an outsized cultural impact both in and out of football. Japan is one of the world’s foremost travel destinations, with the Japan National Tourism Organization reporting that nearly 37 million people visited the country in 2024, good for the eighth highest figure among all countries. From cuisine to entertainment, Japanese culture is present in all corners of the world.

The Netherlands, meanwhile, have captivated millions with their prodigious footballing talents. The first team to popularize possession-based Total Football, the Netherlands have long punched above their weight class in terms of population, yet are still looking for that elusive World Cup title. Still, the Oranje’s success and style has led people from all around the world to support them.

Charles, a Chinese international who lives in Santa Clara, went into the game with divided loyalties.

“I like the Netherlands a lot, but I hope Japan wins because Japan represents Asia,” Charles said. “There are so many fans who are coming here to enjoy the games…it’s a little bit different because it’s a little bit hot, but not just because of the weather. People are trying to come here to have fun and support their favorite teams. Here, there are a lot of Central Americans, and people dressed up as cowboys, which is different from the Bay Area.”

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In addition to experiencing the World Cup for the first time, it was the first time in the United States for many fans in attendance, including Zohan, who was born in the Netherlands to Indian parents and made the trek from India just to watch his Oranje.

“They have very big roads and a lot of cars, and compared to India, there are a lot of parking places,” Zohan said. “I think that Dallas Stadium is bigger than all the stadiums in England. I want to have a lot of fun, because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Dallas had originally been tipped to host the World Cup Final, with The Sun’s Martin Lipton announcing that it would in fact be the host stadium in January 2024. Instead, it was MetLife who won the rights to host the final, a decision that, more than anything, had to do with its proximity to Europe and Asia as well as the ability to market the New York experience.

But Dallas’ 94,000-seat stadium will nevertheless have ample opportunities to spread its charm to fans from all across the world. With a diverse community and a booming creative economy, Dallas has thoroughly deserved its opportunity to host the world’s game.

As I walked towards the shuttle, dodging a number of protestors who promised salvation for those who welcomed Jesus Christ into their lives, I couldn’t help but feel gratitude for the experience to finally visit Dallas. And I thanked my lucky stars that, in just a few weeks, I’d be heading back to the same stadium to watch the World Cup. Whether that’s the semifinal or before, only time will tell.