As North Texas prepares to welcome the world, planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is extending well beyond stadiums and scorelines. Expanded transit access, walkable event zones, volunteer opportunities and community-based programming are beginning to take shape—changes designed to reduce barriers to movement, connection and participation. Together, these efforts signal a broader shift toward making wellness easier at the community level, even before the first match is played.

Against that backdrop, the final countdown to the tournament is officially underway. FIFA has opened its third and final Random Selection Draw ticketing phase, giving fans until January 13, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. ET to apply for single-match tickets. This marks the first opportunity for supporters to select seats based on the fully finalized match schedule, including confirmed dates, venues and team assignments.

Demand has been unprecedented. FIFA reports approximately 20 million ticket requests submitted during this phase alone, following nearly two million tickets sold in earlier presale rounds. In response to international criticism around affordability, FIFA has introduced a new Supporter Entry Tier, offering a limited number of $60 tickets for fans of qualified national teams.

These discounted tickets will be available for all 104 matches, including the final, and will be distributed through each nation’s football association to help ensure they reach long-standing supporters. Successful applicants will be notified and automatically charged in February. Unsuccessful applicants who applied through their national association will have administrative fees waived if their team does not advance beyond the group stage.

For Dallas–Fort Worth, the ticketing surge underscores the region’s outsized role in hosting the largest World Cup in history. AT&T Stadium will host nine matches—more than any other host city—including group-stage games featuring Argentina, England, the Netherlands and Japan, as well as a semifinal scheduled for July 14, 2026. Local officials estimate more than 100,000 daily visitors during peak match days.

To support this influx, planning is accelerating across Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Trinity Railway Express and other regional transportation partners, with an emphasis on mobility, parking access and crowd management.

January also marks an increase in volunteer recruitment, cultural programming and host-city preparations. Public art installations, community partnerships and FIFA-branded activations are rolling out across Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth, positioning North Texas as a welcoming global stage—while advancing everyday infrastructure that supports movement, access and community well-being long after the final whistle.