Disappointment is undeniable to DFW’s 2026 FIFA announcement

The last time disappointment was this tangible at AT&T Stadium was three weeks ago, when the Dallas Cowboys blew it in the playoffs against the Green Bay Packers. FIFA’s announcement on Sunday that its 2026 World Cup Finals will not be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington was the rare instance of the “big win” that still felt like a devastating defeat. AT&T Stadium was picked to host nine matches, the most of any site, including a semifinal, but Sunday’s announcement was still the playoff win for DFW that played out like just another Cowboys’ wildcard loss. “There is some disappointment here; I gotta speak my mind,” former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith said in a press-only event at AT&T Stadium, shortly after the announcement was made. “I can’t believe we lost to New Jersey.” Amen, brother.

For more than a year, all of the reports from overseas insisted that the biggest soccer match in the world was coming here. In the months, days and weeks leading up to Sunday’s announcement, none of the local leadership for this bid was sure if these reports were accurate. They were hopeful, but not entirely sure. They wanted to believe it, and by their reaction on Sunday it was apparent nearly all of them bought the reports. “I knew it was up in the air; FIFA has been good about keeping things close to the chest,” Arlington mayor Jim Ross said. “We knew that it was just a rumor. We had no proof of any of that. We all wanted that final game. Instead, we got nine of them. I’m happy with that.” The announcement of the entire schedule was made in a Miami production studio for an awkward made-for-TV event co-hosted by comedian Kevin Hart, rather than Katt Williams. One of America’s co-hosts for this TV event was “soccer star” Kim Kardashian. Anyone who has ever attended a sporting event at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey knows Emmitt Smith is correct. “It was a helluva battle,” said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who lobbied FIFA so hard to get the final match here. “We almost got there. We’re disappointed. We are. No question about that.” This wasn’t about New Jersey, or even the venue. This is about New York City beating out all of DFW, and every other city scheduled to host matches in the 2026 World Cup that will be played between Canada, Mexico and the U.S. New York is New York. Even the most loyal and ardent supporter of DFW would say, “OK, I get it.”