DFW Airport braces for crowds as 4th of July travel rush meets World Cup traffic

Thursday marks the start of the busy Fourth of July travel rush, and North Texas airports are getting an extra boost from the FIFA World Cup.

The Fourth of July travel rush is underway at DFW Airport, where officials expect one of the busiest holiday periods on record as holiday travelers and FIFA World Cup fans converge on North Texas.

DFW Airport projects approximately 1.75 million passengers will travel to, through or from the airport between Thursday, July 2 and Tuesday, July 7.

Thursday is expected to be one of the busiest days of the travel period, with more than 275,000 travelers moving through the airport. Airport officials also expect Monday to be the busiest day overall.

The surge comes as North Texas prepares to host a FIFA World Cup match on Friday at Dallas Stadium, where Australia will face Egypt. It is expected to bring an additional wave of international visitors into the region.

Airport officials say roadways, terminal curbs and parking facilities are expected to remain busy throughout the holiday weekend, particularly during late morning and early evening hours.

Travelers are encouraged to arrive early, check parking availability ahead of time and monitor security wait times before heading to the airport.

Many of the World Cup visitors arriving in North Texas have already logged thousands of miles following their teams across the United States.

Australian fan Harry Gelder described the lengthy journey his group took to reach California for a previous match before making plans to continue to Texas.

"Twenty-four hours. We had to detour. We went to Hong Kong, then Vancouver, then Seattle, and drove all the way down to San Fran," Gelder told the NBC-affiliate in the Bay Area for Australia’s most recent match. "Everyone has been so welcoming here. I honestly didn’t know the Americans could be this nice. The Aussies are the best, but you guys are not far behind."

The influx of international visitors comes during what AAA projects will be a record-setting Independence Day travel period nationwide.

According to AAA, 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday period, surpassing last year's record. In Texas, approximately 4.9 million people are expected to drive, while about 564,000 travelers will fly.

Despite gas prices remaining higher than they were a year ago, AAA says driving continues to be the preferred option for most holiday travelers. About 85% of Americans traveling over the holiday are expected to drive to their destinations.

For many World Cup supporters, however, the long flights and crowded airports are part of the experience and make the travel worthwhile.

"It is brilliant, and that's what football does. The World Cup brings all different cultures together," Australia resident Kristy Taddeo said.

DFW Airport says some restaurants are equipped with TVs broadcasting the games so that they can host World Cup watch parties, allowing passengers to keep up with the tournament while waiting for their flights.

Airport officials recommend arriving at least two hours before domestic departures and three hours before international flights to allow extra time for traffic, parking and security screening.