International Soccer
International Soccer
Following the success of the World Cup, Dallas was seen as a soccer city. Soon to follow were additional international tournaments, along with international friendlies. Fair Park hosted half of the 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup matches, and since AT&T Stadium has opened, it’s hosted Gold Cup matches in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017, with Toyota Stadium also hosting matches in 2017 and 2019. There have also been a number of friendlies played in the region, bringing worldwide soccer stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to Dallas.
Dallas has become the second home of the Mexican National Team, hosting numerous friendlies and international matches featuring the Mexican National Team, including the first sporting event in AT&T Stadium and a memorable match in 2012 when 84,000 fans saw El Tri beat five-time FIFA World Cup champion Brazil, 2-0. Mexico will continue to be a regular visitor for friendlies and community engagements over the next four years through a groundbreaking partnership with the city.
Hosting The World's Best
- The first Dallas meeting between Team USA and Mexico came in 2004 at Cotton Bowl Stadium before 45,000 fans when Team USA prevailed 1-0 in extra time on a Eddie Pope goal
- National Teams that have trained in the region include Mexico, Ivory Coast, USA, Honduras, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Argentina, Croatia, Germany, Bulgaria, Sweden, and Holland
A Celebration of Soccer and Culture
In 2019, a landmark partnership between the Mexican Soccer Federation, the Dallas Cowboys, FC Dallas, and the Dallas Sports Commission made Dallas the home-away-from-home for the Mexican National Soccer Team. For four years, through 2022, the Mexican National Soccer team will train in Dallas and play international matches in AT&T Stadium during the Mexican National Team U.S. Tour.
Dallas’ partnership with the Mexican National Team is more than just one day and one match each year. It is about engaging and giving back to our community, providing opportunities for the youth within our region to experience something truly special, celebrating the culture, creating new soccer fans, and igniting the passion and excitement of our community to make this truly feel like the home of the Mexican National Team throughout the span of the partnership.
Community events include an annual MexTour Fan Fest in downtown Dallas that celebrates the soccer culture and features concerts and musical acts, legend and mascot appearances, interactive games and activities, food trucks, beer gardens, FIFA gaming stations, and more. The partnership also includes reading programs for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, promoting bilingual literacy to students from Dallas, Arlington, Mesquite, and Frisco.