SMU selected as training site for World Cup teams playing at ‘Dallas' stadium

8 teams, including Argentina, Croatia, and England will play Group Stage games in Arlington

SMU’s Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium has been selected as an official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Training Site.

Training sites differ from base camps. Teams will spend most of the tournament at their base camp before traveling to non-local training sites to prepare for their other Group Stage games.

Czechia and Sweden will be based in Mansfield and Frisco, respectively.

Eight teams will play Group Stage matches at 'Dallas' stadium. Only Sweden's base camp is local, so Argentina, Austria, Croatia, England, Japan, Jordan, and the Netherlands could all potentially train at SMU during the month of June.

AT&T Stadium in Arlington, which will be renamed Dallas Stadium to comply with FIFA policy prohibiting corporate sponsorships at competition venues during the tournament, will host nine matches throughout the event. That's the most for any single venue and includes five Group Stage matches, four knockout matches, and a semifinal on July 14.

Teams that advance to the knockout stage could also train at SMU.

The top two teams in each group, based on play in the Group Stage, advance to the knockout stages, as well as the top-eight teams that finish third in their respective group. Fourth-place teams are automatically eliminated.

Dallas Stadium hosts two Round of 32 matches on June 30 and July 3, and a Round of 16 game on July 6.

Team training activities at SMU will not be open to the public.

“Dallas is one of the world’s most dynamic and globally connected cities, and SMU is proud to help welcome the FIFA World Cup to our region,” President Jay Hartzell said. “This opportunity reflects the strength of our partnerships, our global community, and the exceptional experiences available to our students and faculty. We’re excited to contribute to the energy and momentum this historic event will bring to North Texas.”

The selection marks a return to the FIFA World Cup for Washburne Stadium, which previously served as a training site during the 1994 FIFA World Cup when the venue was known as Westcott Field. National teams, including Germany, Bulgaria, Sweden, and the Netherlands, trained there ahead of matches at the Cotton Bowl.

The announcement follows recent upgrades to Washburne Stadium and comes amid continued momentum for SMU Athletics and the University overall. In just its second season competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference, SMU Men’s Soccer won the ACC Championship.

World Cup Matches in Dallas

June 14 | 3 p.m. CT – Netherlands vs. Japan (Group Stage)

June 17 | 3 p.m. CT – England vs. Croatia (Group Stage)

June 22 | 12 p.m. CT – Argentina vs. Austria (Group Stage)

June 25 | 6 p.m. CT – Japan vs. Sweden (Group Stage)

June 27 | 9 p.m. CT – Jordan vs. Argentina (Group Stage)

June 30 | 12 p.m. CT – Round of 32 (2E vs. 2I)

July 3 | 1 p.m. CT – Round of 32 (2D vs. 2G)

July 6 | 2 p.m. CT – Round of 16 (W83 vs. W84)

July 14 | 2 p.m. CT – Semifinal (W97 vs. W98)

SMU is home to more than 2,400 international students and scholars, approximately 260 international faculty members, and more than 140 study abroad programs in more than 40 countries.

TCU, UNT in Denton and DBU were all named potential base camp options. It's unclear if they will host any team training.