3 months ago
FORT WORTH — When Esteban Arce learned that Lionel Messi's Argentina had been placed in Group J of the 2026 World Cup, he erupted with joy and nearly jumped to the ceiling.
"Watching Messi and the reigning world champions play in a World Cup is a dream. It’s truly incredible," said Arce, one of hundreds of fans gathered Friday at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth for the official World Cup Draw watch party.
While the exact match schedule for AT&T Stadium will be announced Saturday, the possibility of Argentina playing at the Cowboys’ home is very real.
AT&T Stadium will host more World Cup games than any other venue, with nine matches including a semifinal. Five of these will be group stage games: two from Group F, two from Group J, and one from Group L.
Arce secured tickets during the presale phase, including seats for Group J matches.
"Brother, this is amazing," said Arce, a Colombian national wearing a Boca Juniors jersey, one of Argentina’s most popular clubs.
Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history, led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar. His potential appearance in Arlington alongside the reigning champions is expected to drive ticket prices soaring.
"These will surely be among the most coveted and expensive tickets of the entire World Cup," said Andy Swift, secretary of the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee.
Swift noted that FIFA has adopted a dynamic pricing model, meaning matches featuring elite teams and star players will carry premium costs.
"You can expect a ticket to see Messi and Argentina in the group stage to cost more than a Super Bowl ticket," Swift added.
Messi currently plays for Inter Miami, and his 2023 arrival in MLS marked another milestone for a league built on the success of the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
In fact, Messi’s first competitive road match with Miami was at FC Dallas, and his arrival similarly boosted ticket prices and fan interest. Miami plays in Saturday’s MLS Cup final against Vancouver.
If Argentina does play at AT&T Stadium, the team is likely to select one of FIFA’s six approved base camps in North Texas, including Toyota Stadium, home of FC Dallas.
"I would love that to happen," said Jimmy Smith, treasurer of the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee board of directors.
"There’s no bigger name in soccer. For Messi, who already plays in MLS, Toyota Stadium could be his home for a month and a half," added Smith, who also serves as FC Dallas COO & CFO.
The next ticketing phase opens Dec. 11, allowing fans to enter a lottery for the chance to buy tickets. Prices on secondary markets are already in the hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Base camps will be chosen by the 48 national teams competing next summer, with higher-ranked teams selecting first. Argentina currently ranks second in FIFA’s rankings, behind Spain.
The arrival of powerhouse teams in North Texas is expected to bring an influx of visitors to the region.
Arce, who also holds tickets for matches in other U.S. cities, noted that Dallas stands out as one of the most affordable destinations in terms of hotels, Airbnb rentals, and airfare.
"Miami, New York, Los Angeles, their prices are crazy high," Arce said. "Dallas is by far the most affordable."
Friday’s World Cup draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington confirmed that AT&T Stadium could host several global heavyweights.
Group F features the Netherlands (seventh in FIFA ranking), while Group L includes England (fourth) and Croatia (10th).
The U.S. men’s national team could also play at AT&T Stadium in the round of 32 if it finishes second in its group, which includes Paraguay, Australia, and the European playoff winner among Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkey, and Romania.
"I think it’s an accessible group for the United States," Swift said.
"Australia is a relatively strong team, but one the U.S. can beat, and I don’t believe the European team that comes out of the playoff will be much of a threat. The group is manageable for the U.S. team."
Dan Hunt, president of FC Dallas and co-chair of the North Texas World Cup Organizing Committee, expressed excitement about the prospect of powerhouse teams like Argentina, England, and the Netherlands potentially playing matches at AT&T Stadium.
"It’s a great draw for Dallas," said Hunt, speaking by phone from Washington.
"To have the chance to welcome all these teams to AT&T Stadium is incredible. Fans will get to watch some of the greatest players in the world right here in the group stage," Hunt added.
Find more World Cup coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
