How to Navigate Dallas During FIFA World Cup 2026™
DART routes, rideshare zones, parking hacks, and why you should probably not trust your GPS to on game day.
You thought the hard part was scoring World Cup tickets. Turns out, it's actually getting to the game.
Dallas Stadium hosts nine matches over five weeks, Fair Park runs the free FIFA Fan Festival from June 11 through July 19, and four million people are descending on North Texas to see all of it. Anyone who's ever been stuck on I-30 after a Cowboys game knows logistics matter. Here's how to move around the metroplex like a local.
Getting to Dallas Stadium in Arlington
If you're driving, I-30 is your primary east-west route to the stadium.If you buy parking through FIFA, they'll assign you a specific route to your lot to help balance traffic. So don't blindly follow your GPS, it might not take you the right way.
If you’re taking public transportation, you can board the Trinity Railway Express at Victory Station in downtown Dallas or Fort Worth Central Station, ride to CentrePort Station, then transfer to charter buses that drop you at the Bus Hub near the stadium. Total trip time is about 90 minutes, but officials recommend leaving up to four hours before kickoff.
If you are taking rideshare, you can find the designated rideshare drop-off and pickup zone in the eSports Stadium Arlington lot.
Getting to Fair Park & the Fan Festival
Getting to-and-from the Fan Festival should be easier than to-and-from Arlington. Fair Park is right here in Dallas and unlike Arlington, the train goes directly there.
If you’re driving, you can try to snag one of Fair Park’s 14,000 parking spaces. But with 30,000 fans expected per event day it might be a battle for the last space. Taking public transportation to the park might be your best bet.
If you’re taking public transportation, DART’s Green Line is your best bet. The train stops at two Fair Park entrances. One is at Fair Park Station on Parry Avenue right at the main gate and the other is at MLK Jr. Station on the south side near Gate 6. The Red, Blue, and Orange Line riders can transfer to the Green Line at any downtown station. Coming from Fort Worth? Ride the TRE into Dallas and connect from there.
If you are taking ride share, the designated rideshare drop-off and pickup zone is between Washington Street and McKenzie Street.
Where to Base Yourself & Walk Around
Let’s be real, Dallas is not a "just walk everywhere" city. But there are pockets where you absolutely can, and knowing them makes the whole trip easier.
Arlington
The Arlington Entertainment District is walkable within its "stadium bubble" that includes Dallas Stadium, Globe Life Field, and Texas Live! all sit in a tight radius. If you're staying here, you can walk to the game, walk to dinner, and walk back. Everything else outside that bubble requires a car or rideshare.
Fan Festival at Fair Park
Deep Ellum is your move. The neighborhood sits right next to Fair Park, drops you on the DART Green Line, and delivers everything Dallas does best — live music, craft breweries, street art, and some of the most legendary BBQ in the state. Brisket is a must when visiting the Lone Star State and both Pecan Lodge and Terry Black's BBQ are right here in Deep Ellum. You can walk off the “three-meat-plate and cobbler” with the 30-minute walk to the Fan Festival.
Best all-around base
Downtown Dallas is the smartest central hub. It is walkable (by Texas standards), loaded with hotels, and connected to DART for both the Fan Festival and the TRE to Arlington. You're central to everything without being locked into one venue.
Pro Tips:
- Download the GoPass app before you leave home. It covers DART, TRE and Trinity Metro all in one place. You can plan your route, buy your ticket and track your train in real time.
- Your Uber or Lyft cannot drop you at Dallas Stadium. The rideshare zone is at the eSports Stadium Arlington lot, about a mile away. Tell your driver upfront to use Ballpark Way, not AT&T Way.
- The stadium is air conditioned, but walk from the parking lot and bus hub is not. June and July in Dallas means 95 to 100 degrees with humidity. Dress light, bring water and do not underestimate the walk in.
- After the game, do not race to your car. Head to Texas Live!, grab a drink, and let the 80,000 person exodus clear out.
