Dallas Cup Celebrates FIFA World Cup 2026™ Match Schedule and Honors Decades of Alumni Impact on the Global Game

With FIFA unveiling the official match schedule for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, the Dallas Cup celebrates North Texas’ prominent place on the global soccer stage and its legacy of showcasing international stars. Dallas is set to host nine matches, more than any other host city, including a semifinal, underscoring the region’s deep investment in the sport.

As one of the world’s premier international youth tournaments, the Dallas Cup has seen its alumni appear in more than 500 FIFA World Cup matches. Icons such as David Beckham, Andrea Pirlo, Wayne Rooney, Raul, Chicharito Hernández, and Landon Donovan all played in the tournament before rising to global prominence.

Recent World Cups have only reinforced that legacy. In 2022, Dallas Cup alum Emiliano Martínez (Arsenal U19, DC 2011) helped lead Argentina to a World Cup title and earned the tournament’s Golden Glove. In 2018, Ivan Perišić (Hajduk Split U12, DC 2001) became the first Dallas Cup alumnus to score in a World Cup Final, guiding Croatia to a historic runner-up finish.

“North Texas has become one of the most important soccer markets in the world, and the 2026 World Cup only strengthens that reality,” said Frank Filo, Executive Director of the Dallas Cup. “Seeing our alumni not only compete in World Cups, but win them and make history, reinforces what the Dallas Cup has meant to the global game. For many players, the journey to the sport’s greatest stage begins right here in Dallas.”

That legacy will be on full display next summer. The United States is expected to feature multiple Dallas Cup alumni, including Antonee Robinson (Everton U19, DC 2015), Weston McKennie (FC Dallas U15, DC 2013), and Folarin Balogun (Arsenal U19, DC 2018), among others. Fellow host nations Mexico and Canada are captained by Dallas Cup graduates Edson Álvarez (Club América U17, DC 2014) and Alphonso Davies (Edmonton Strikers U16, DC 2015).

“As excitement builds toward 2026, our community has a unique opportunity to showcase just how deep our soccer roots run,” added Filo. “The Dallas Cup has always been a reflection of the world coming to North Texas. In 2026, the world returns, and many of the players stepping onto the field will already have a connection to this region.”

As the countdown continues, the Dallas Cup remains committed to fostering the next generation of talent through its boys’ and girls’ U10–U19 divisions, ensuring North Texas continues to serve as a launching pad for future stars.

When the world arrives in 2026, Dallas will not only be hosting the sport’s greatest event — it will be welcoming back a legacy it helped build.