SMU selected as official FIFA World Cup 2026™ training site

SMU has been selected as an official Venue Specific Training Site for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, positioning the University at the center of one of the world’s most significant international sporting events.

SMU’s Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium will serve as a training site for participating teams during the tournament, which will bring international attention to Dallas and North Texas in June and July.

The selection reflects SMU’s expanding role as a globally engaged university with extensive connections across business, technology, sports and culture.

“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.”

SMU has cultivated a strong global presence across academics, research and student life. The University 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. Located in one of the world’s most vibrant, fastest-growing cities, SMU connects students and faculty with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, cultural institutions and major international events through partnerships and community engagement across Dallas.

The FIFA World Cup aligns with SMU's academic strengths in sport management, sport performance leadership and applied physiology. Programs within the Simmons School of Education and Human Development prepare undergraduate and graduate students for careers across the sports industry, and the M.S. in Sport Management draws on Cox School of Business and Simmons faculty with experience in professional leagues, sports media, marketing and sponsorship, facilities and intercollegiate athletics.

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 during a period of 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.

Dallas will host nine FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches, including a semifinal match at Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), further reinforcing the region’s position as a global destination for sports, culture and international business.

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)

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