The city of Dallas is one vote away from having a major part of the 2026 World Cup located in downtown.
FIFA plans to place its International Broadcast Center in Dallas, provided the city agrees to up to $15 million dollars in upgrades for the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
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Late Monday, a council committee unanimously recommended advancing a resolution to the full council for a vote next week that would bring the IBC to Dallas.
It’s an operation Monica Paul has worked for most of the last year to try and bring to the city.
“I think they’re going to notice the broadcasters, this is a 24/7 operation,” Paul said.
The executive director of the Dallas Sports Commission presented the latest plan to host the IBC to a Dallas City Council committee late Monday.
FIFA wants use of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center for eight months beginning in January 2026.
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The proposed resolution would allow the city to enter as a party to an agreement between FIFA and the operator of the convention center, Oak View Group.
The ask for the city is up to $15 million in convention center upgrades, for things like adequate climate control and ensuring there’s enough power sourcing to host FIFA.
Omar Narvaez is part of the Ad-Hoc Sports Retention and Recruitment Committee that Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson started to attract high-profile sports events and teams.
“It’s a lot of money,” Narvaez said.
He adds, however, that the upgrades are required as part of the city’s responsibility to upkeep the convention center and will be paid for by the existing convention center construction fund.
And he believes the return on investment will far exceed the cost.
“You have the entire international broadcasting world will be in the city of Dallas, so that’s hotel rooms, restaurants, lots of spending,” Narvaez said.
And lots of history too.
Dallas hosted the IBC during the 1994 FIFA World Cup at Fair Park.
That experience likely helped the city edge out Atlanta to be selected to host again in 2026.
“We are the finalist,” Narvaez said.
Rosa Fleming, the director of Convention and Event Services told the committee $8.5 million was already allotted for required improvements to maintain the current convention center, so she told the committee the new portion of the request is closer to $6.5 million.
FIFA has estimated the economic impact of hosting 9 matches at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, a 39-day fanfest at Fair Park and the IBC in Dallas at $2 billion for the North Texas region.
The full council will vote on whether to approve the $15 million in convention center upgrades when it meets on December 11, likely bringing the goal of hosting the IBC across the finish line.
“We have the opportunity through this World Cup to leave our city and our region in a better place,” Paul said.
According to published documents, after council approval, a press conference will be hosted to announce Dallas as the home for the FIFA World Cup 26 International Broadcast Center.
“It’s icing on an already gigantic World Cupcake,” Narvaez said.
