Let’s Have a Ball
In the 1970s and ’80s up north where I’m from, soccer wasn’t even a thing. We’d heard of Pelé, but that’s about it. It was all football (Americanstyle), baseball, hockey, and basketball. That’s it. And, individually, swimming and golf. Having never been taught soccer, I spent most of my life ignoring it — until a really good Italian team made the World Cup. And eventually won it. This was in 2006, and I, as a full-blooded second-generation Italian, watched every second of every match. Sometimes at home. More often at The Grotto (R.I.P.). That’s when I realized I’d been missing out. Italy has pretty much sucked since then, so my fandom now encompasses Team Ghana, since my son is from Accra. For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, they’re in Group L with Croatia, Panama, and mighty England. Go, Black Stars!
And that’s the thing about sports. It truly is unifying. As a lifelong Pittsburgh sports fan and longtime resident of the Steel City, I grew up witnessing the material impact of sports on society. After all our steel mills closed in the mid-to-late 1970s, sending thousands of formerly proud men and women out of work, we had no identity and nothing to believe in — until the world champion Steelers and Pirates came along. Their success sparked the city’s second “renaissance,” as they called it, which ultimately led to Pittsburgh’s lofty standing as a place of groundbreaking medicine and technology, robotics specifically (because of Carnegie Mellon University).
Soccer, as the only truly international sport, has had similar impacts around the globe, perhaps not ones tied to real estate but to social unification and the conjoining of disparate factions, which is what most of us are hoping for through this World Cup: that we can put politics aside temporarily and come together to cheer on Team USA. I get it. It’s hard, but don’t let the fascists and Nazis running this clownshow of a government take away your patriotism to a country founded on and (up until recently) committed to two very specific anti-Nazi, anti-fascist things: words like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and deeds like 1776 and the world wars. Maybe Team USA’s performance can help transform “Old Glory” from the placeholder Confederate flag that it is today to a true representation of our shared Americanness, forming in a shining place once likened by some smart person to a melting pot, with all sorts of flavors, colors, and textures. That’s what makes America America: Baskin-Robbins’ big 31-plus1,000. Not just straight vanilla.
All of this is a roundabout way of saying there’s a ton of stuff to do and a bevy of ways to take in the World Cup action, many that don’t involve taking out a loan to purchase “Dallas Stadium” tickets. On pg. 12, our resident expert on X’s and O’s, Film Editor Kristian Lin breaks down Team USA’s chances and prognosticates on potential finalists, while on pg. 10, fellow soccer maniac Ryan Burger, who’s also the Weekly’s art director, discusses the potential action (or lack thereof) outside the pitch, with some yellow and red cards for the offenders. (“Quite frankly,” we’d be amazed Donald Trump doesn’t get one.)
Elsewhere in the issue, “Sports Rush” Olson and Editorial Board member Elaine Wilder look at all the soccer-themed artwork popping up throughout DFW in anticipation of the tourney (pps. 4 and 6), while on pg. 17, Elaine runs down some of the best spots in town for watch parties. All that and so much more await, so welcome to our inaugural (and perhaps last for a long time) Summer of Soccer issue. As the Beastie Boys once prophetically cried, “Kick it!” — Anthony Mariani, Editor
INTRO
2 Welcome to Summer of Soccer! The Weekly shows some local love for the World Cup.
By Anthony Mariani
Boot Scootin’
Visual art will enhance the hype around the tourney. By
Big Ticket: Let’s Kick It Art is everywhere around town this World Cup season. By Elaine Wilder
Staying Safe
With the World Cup attracting hundreds of thousands of bodies to the region, local epidemiologists are ready.
By Laurie James
Red and Yellow Cards
The 2026 FIFA World Cup faces some serious hurdles, most of FIFA’s own creation. By Ryan Burger
Handicapping the Tourney
Our soccer expert — and his curious self — lay out their predictions.
World Cup Watching
Check out these spots for all the fútbol action.
Eating Local Rex’s Bar & Grill is hosting watch parties for all the matches.
By Elaine Wilder
You’ll Never Walk Alone Wild and crazy soccer chants are varied and go back a long way.
By Kristian Lin
Listening Local: These Tips Don’t Lie
From Latin legends to Red Dirt country and anthemic global dance, every show at Dallas FIFA Fan Fest at The Pavilion at Fair Park will bring to life the spirit of soccer.
By Elaine Wilder & Ryan Burger
STAFF
Editor-in-Chief: Anthony Mariani
Art Director: Ryan Burger
Special Projects Manager: Jennifer Bovee
Calendar Editor: Elaine Wilder
Film Editor: Kristian Lin
Music Editors: Patrick Higgins, Steve Steward
Proofreader: Emmy Smith
Editorial Board: Anthony Mariani, Emmy Smith, Steve Steward, Elaine Wilder
Contributors: E.R. Bills, Jennifer Bovee, Jason Brimmer, Amber Chadwick, Jess Delarosa, Buck D. Elliott, Danny Gallagher, Ozzie Garza, Juan R. Govea, Mark Henricks, Patrick Higgins, Laurie James, Kristian Lin, Cody Neatherly, Rush Olson, Jeff Prince, Emmy Smith, Kena Sosa, Steve Steward, Jennifer Zooki Sturges, Teri Webster, Ken Wheatcroft-Pardue, Elaine Wilder, Cole Williams
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Director of Operations: Bob Niehoff
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Director of Marketing: Jennifer Bovee
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Sr. Account Executive: Stacey Hammons
Account Executives: Tony Diaz, Wendy Maier, Sarah Niehoff, Wyatt Newquist
Brand Ambassador: Clint Newquist
COPYRIGHT
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Inside cover photos by Rush Olson
ART
City of (World) Cups and Culture Visual art abounds throughout North Texas during the tournament.
BY RUSH OLSON
The soccer balls are “joyful, highly visible, and deeply local,” said Sundance Square Art Director Sarah Ayala in a press release.
The balls are also plentiful, with more than two dozen of them distributed throughout the Sundance Square neighborhood of downtown Fort Worth.
You should know they aren’t real soccer balls and you won’t be able to dribble them terribly effectively — they’re oversized and made of fiberglass. They’re painted works of art, each executed by a different local artist.
“The installation becomes a celebration of soccer but also of the artists and creative voices that make Fort Worth such a dynamic cultural city,” Ayala goes on to say.
A celebration of soccer has, in fact, begun across North Texas, thanks to Arlington staging a
tournament-high nine matches in the FIFA World Cup 2026, Dallas hosting the International Broadcast Center and fan fest, and numerous other public and private concerns embracing the sport. Such a happening fills one’s eyes with the vibrant oranges, blues, reds, yellows, and other hues belonging to supporters of different nations. Besides the organic visual smorgasbord the event provides,
a number of entities have looked to ensure more formal artistry finds itself well-represented within the sporting spectacle.
“We see art as a part of the cultural fabric of our community, and this major experience is going on in our city, so why wouldn’t we do something like this?” said Chris Hightower, president & CEO at the Arlington Museum of Art. His institution, located within walking distance of the stadium where the local games will be played, will host More Than a Match through August 2.
The exhibit includes four separately themed components displaying not only works of art created as such but also artifacts of the game like shoes, balls, and trophies. Such functional objects show the confluence of art and sport.
“Those things are all designed by craftsmen and artists, so why not show those things?” Hightower said.
He also feels the visual appeal can provide an easy point of entry for patrons who may have recently taken an interest in the beautiful game thanks to the buzz around the World Cup.
“For a casual soccer fan, even somebody that’s not a fan at all, I think this is the way to learn about the game, learn about the sport, learn about the history of the World Cup,” he said. “This is an easy way to kind of get into it.”
The AMA emplacement offers several ways to discover the essence of the sport. A set of historic maps created in conjunction with UTA helps visitors understand the geography of the countries whose national teams are scheduled to play in Arlington. In the next gallery, artifacts are
displayed in conjunction with text and photos telling the stories of all the Men’s and Women’s World Cups played to date. A section called “Art of the Game” features soccer-themed works of artists from around the world. It explores the game and the broader themes that affect it. There is also an area called “Fabrics of Fanatics” where the museum has hung scarves loaned by supporters, capturing what is perhaps the most universal way soccer fans visually express their loyalties.
Brewer Michael Peticolas has long expressed his love of soccer through beer. This year, he decided to also do so through photography.
He’s loved soccer since playing it as a child and took that passion to another level when he attended a match at the Cotton Bowl in 1994, the first time the United States hosted soccer’s biggest spectacle.
“That was kind of a life-changing moment for me,” he said. “Like, I was in the stadium, and it felt so different than anything else I’d ever been to. I don’t remember the score of that game, but I remember it being amazing, an experience like nothing else.”
When he started Peticolas Brewing Company, the soccer-obsessed beermaker infused the look of his favorite sport into it from the very beginning, including when designing the firm’s official logo. “I wanted it to look like the crest on a footballer’s chest, and so this logo was designed with the idea of, ‘Yeah, I want it to look like a soccer logo.’ ”
Since 2014, Peticolas has produced unique beers commemorating each World Cup. He called his first such special edition, an India Pale Ale, Thrilla in Brazilla, since Brazil hosted that 2014 tournament. continued on page 5
Created by Dutch artist Rosalie de Graaf, “One Field. Infinite Smiles” measures 250 feet wide by 150 feet high and sits adjacent to the in-development Harold Simmons Park along the Trinity River in Dallas.
Each created by a different local artist, more than two dozen fiberglass soccer balls are displayed throughout the Sundance Square neighborhood of downtown Fort Worth.
This year, he’s making three beers in homage to an event jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. After meeting noted Brazilian soccer photographer Marcelo Guelber Góes, Peticolas also decided to cover the walls of his taproom in football images.
“We said, ‘Hey, let’s see about turning this into a world soccer exhibit, as opposed to, you know what we typically have in here,’” Peticolas said. “I thought this gallery would be something cool, something different.”
Góes provided enough of his work to stretch throughout the two-story interior space where Peticolas sells his beer for on-and-off-site consumption. Outside, a huge image of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo hangs over the main entrance. “Ronaldo in the Rain” won Best Football Photo in the 2024 World Sports Photography Awards.
Peticolas will also have moving soccer pictures available for customers as he plans to show every game of the upcoming tourney live on his brewery’s televisions. He’s creating a special fourth beer, too, in conjunction with a Japanese supporters group who will party at his location during Samurai Blue’s local games. He’s even going with the group on a bus to their game in Monterrey, Mexico. Yes, he’s bringing beer.
Not far from Peticolas Brewing Company’s Dallas Design District location sits a much larger work of soccer art, spearheaded by grassroots art nonprofit Street Art for Mankind. Created by Dutch artist
Rosalie de Graaf, “One Field. Infinite Smiles” measures 250 feet wide by 150 feet high and sits adjacent to the in-development Harold Simmons Park along the Trinity River. It depicts children playing the sport and clearly enjoying the experience.
Facilitating sports opportunities for children factors into the vision for another larger-than-life
artistic expression that Street Art for Mankind helped place, this one in Arlington’s Entertainment District. Created by Nigerian artist Steve Ekpenisi, the massive sculpture of a soccer shoe, or boot, with a spur sits across Randol Mill Road from Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers. Ekpenisi crafted the “Texan Golden Boot” from locally reclaimed metal. The North Texas FWC Organizing Committee and North Texas Sports Foundation have launched their Buy a Brick
“Sports and art are not independent of each other. In fact, they just enhance one another.”
campaign to cover the grass plaza on which it sits. Donors who contribute $500 to $5,000 can have their names inscribed on individual bricks that will surround the sculpture. Proceeds will benefit the NTSF, including its Mini-Pitch Initiative that aims to place small-sided soccer courts in under-resourced neighborhoods.
The campaign serves as one of many of examples of how aesthetics can complement athletics. FC Dallas President Dan Hunt, speaking at the “Texan Golden Boot” dedication ceremony, confirmed it, saying, “Sports and art are not independent of each other. In fact, they just enhance one another.”
The World Cup that he and his family helped bring to North Texas is providing multiple opportunities to amplify that sentiment. l
SUNDANCE DAYS STOCKYARDS NIGHTS
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In Arlington’s Entertainment District, Nigerian artist Steve Ekpenisi’s “Texan Golden Boot” was created with locally reclaimed metal.
CALENDAR
Big Ticket: The Art of the Game
Arts organizations across North Texas are leaning into soccer with their exhibits this summer.
BY ELAINE WILDER
Along with the places mentioned in “City of (World) Cups and Culture” (pg. 4), there’s also a great piece of soccer art in the Modern’s permanent collection. This directory will help you with the when, where, what, and how much.
City of (World) Cups and Culture
At the Arlington Museum of Art (1200 Ballpark Way, Arlington, 817-275-4600), More Than a Match includes four separately themed components displaying works of art and soccer artifacts, such as shoes, balls, and trophies, now thru Sun, Aug 2. The museum is open 1pm-5pm Sun and 10am-5pm Tue-Sat. For tickets ($25)
and more info, visit ArlingtonMuseum.org/ morethanamatch
Peticolas Brewing Company (1301 Pace St, 214-234-7600) was born for this moment.
As a lifelong soccer fan, founder Michael Peticolas put his love for the game right there in the logo. Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the brewery has themed beers on tap and a sports photography exhibit on its walls of more than 35 stunning images from internationally acclaimed Brazilian sports photographer Marcel Guelber Góes. For updates on watch parties and other goings on, follow Peticolas at Facebook.com/ PeticolasBrewing.
Street Art for Mankind, a grassroots art nonprofit, has two local installations during the World Cup. “One Field. Infinite Smiles” by Dutch artist Rosalie de Graaf will be on display
on a building adjacent to Harold Simmons Park (2601 N Beckley Av, Dallas, 214-740-1616), and the “Texan Golden Boot,” a metal sculpture of a soccer shoe by Nigerian artist Steve Ekpenisi, can be found in Richard Greene Linear Park at the corner of Stadium Drive East and Cowboys Way. It’s a permanent landmark in a free public space, so take your time.
And in Sundance Square (420 Main St, Fort Worth, 817-222-1111), “Summer of Soccer” consists of two dozen fiberglass soccer balls that can be viewed for free throughout the neighborhood through the end of the tournament.
The Art of the Game
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (3200 Darnell St, TheModern.org) is getting in on the
action with a special display of a notable work by Burgwas Jess Franklin, known simply as Jess, now thru the end of the tournament.
Acquired by the Modern in 1996, “Montana Xibalba: Translation #2” (1963) is the second work in the artist’s Translation series and is a reproduction of a photograph of a soccer game from a yearbook Jess found in a second-hand shop. The image reminded him of an ancient Mayan cosmological myth in which the birth of the sun and the moon resulted from a ball game between two earthly heroes and the lords of Xibalba, a realm akin to Hades.
The yellow ball in the painting represents the sun, while the athletes portray the heroes. Admission to view the work in the museum’s Grand Lobby is free and can be viewed 10am5pm Tue-Sun and 10am-8pm Fri. l
Acquired by the Modern in 1996, Jess’ “Montana Xibalba: Translation #2” (1963) is on display in the Modern’s Grand Lobby.
World Cup Chaos
With
hundreds of thousands of soccer fans coming to Fort Worth, Arlington, and Dallas, who’s watching the health of the population?
BY LAURIE JAMES
During the nine World Cup soccer matches at AT&T Stadium, a.k.a. “Dallas Stadium,” an estimated 4 million visitors will flow through Tarrant and Dallas counties, with the potential for 100,000 extra humans to be in our cities daily. From a public health standpoint, there’s a lot going on. Globally, there’s a resurgence of Ebola in three African nations. The extremely contagious virus can be transmitted through blood, sweat, and other bodily fluids. About three weeks into infection, the disease progresses from mild flu-like symptoms to vomiting, diarrhea, and internal hemorrhage.
The Andes strain of Hantavirus making the news has the slightly terrifying ability to be spread person to person by respiratory secretions, and there are local upticks in measles virus (which is vaccine-preventable, but there are about 200 cases in Texas) and norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhea.
All these conditions can show up in our airport at any time, but the massive influx of essentially two AT&T Stadiums’ worth of air travelers –– daily! –– sounds like the perfect recipe for one of those sci-fi horror movies that begins with an outbreak and ends with zombies.
From a monitoring standpoint, the national response to anything epidemic-wise seems, putting it kindly, scattered. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have fairly generic information on the main website –– it’s good hygiene info, but it does not address epidemiological emergencies. The federal Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy, founded in 2022 with bipartisan support to address the next big pandemic, was left rudderless and staff-less by the current presidential administration. And last week, Donald Trump and company issued an executive order for workers in public health –– epidemiologists, health scientists, and toxicologists –– that reclassifies these positions into “at will” status. In other words, the people who are most
METROPOLIS
able to tell the public the truth about any health trends can get fired for doing so.
That puts preparedness back onto the states and local jurisdictions like Fort Worth, Arlington, Dallas, and Houston. A professor at Georgetown University and director of its Center for Global Health, Science & Security, which is a partnership between the university and Medstar Health, Dr. Rebecca Katz has worked pandemic preparedness and pandemics for 25 years and currently heads the Health Security Operations Center, where, as she says, they’re trying to provide disease information in real time where it’s needed. Her team of epidemiologists, clinicians, emergency management professionals, and public health policy leaders are providing real-time technical guidance to state and local health departments.
Katz acknowledged the deficit of rapidly communicated information about epidemiologic needs within a single federal source specifically since the United States infamously pulled out of the World Health Organization. However, she remains optimistic that local health jurisdictions are well-armed and that there are private groups stepping in to assist in the epidemiological work of tracking people and infectious disease.
“Public health is a power delegated to the states in the U.S. Constitution,” she continued.
“There are 48 affected jurisdictions. The number of people who work at the federal level has diminished, but that doesn’t mean there’s not federal
response happening.”
According to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, there are actually about 50 respiratory, food-borne, and insect-borne illnesses on the watchlist during the World Cup. That’s all in addition to the heat and humidity in North Texas, which routinely causes illness, plus there are sexually transmitted infections (STIs) not particular to soccer but that may increase with the number of people, parties, and unprotected sex.
At this writing, the state’s Center for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response is working alongside the organizing committee and plus officials from Fort Worth, Dallas, and Houston
to assist in planning and monitoring. Regionally, Tarrant, Dallas, and surrounding counties also have a robust disaster task force in place for all the things that Mother Nature and anyone else has thrown at North Texas.
Chief medical director for Arlington Fire and AMR Arlington, Dr. Keegan Bradley said that the two-year lead-up to the event has been spent planning for and rehearsing almost every possible scenario, with a focus on summer injuries and ailments.
“There’s a lot of expectation, and I am excited,” he said. “No one does better at big events like this than Arlington. We’re prepared. We’re all clicking on the same page. I think our city’s ready for it.”
Because Tarrant County includes a football stadium, a baseball stadium, and a major racetrack in addition to an amusement park and a zoo, the potential for what Bradley called “the headline things” –– chemical or terrorist attacks or even just the Texas weather –– have warranted regional mitigation plans for years. What’s different here is the epic scope of population-migration mass during the FIFA events.
Bradley said that the World Cup governing board came to the table two years ago with some ready-made concerns. “FIFA came to us with a few topics to address and coordinate care, including heat mitigation, natural and manmade disasters, and crowd control issues.”
The major issue that’s predictable is the heat of a Texas summer, more specifically, how to help tourists from places that don’t usually see 100-degree days manage during a long soccer match or an outdoor watching party.
“Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington wanted our responses to look uniform,” Bradley said.
To that end, all cities involved will have the goal of getting people hydrated and out of the environment as needed. In Arlington around the stadium, there will be multiple cooling structures staffed by paramedics and medical volunteers. Bradley also said there will be two field hospitals on-site for initial treatment of illness or injury to fans.
The price tag for all this is borne in part by the states affected and cost-shared by FIFA, along with federal grants to the cities that have agreed to host. Should a mass pandemic occur, though, no one knows who foots that bill.
“There is a need to integrate the private sector more fully as funding shifts,” Georgetown’s Katz said.
At press time, Tarrant County Public Health and DFW Airport had not responded to inquiries about how their entities are handling the multitude of epidemiological issues, including any health screening at the airport.
Director of Dallas County Health and Human Services and the Dallas County health authority, Dr. Philip Huang said Dallas’ new incident command will host state health officials, city partners, and other entities both virtually and
Measles infections are on the rise in Texas, despite the fact that the disease is preventable via vaccine. At the time of this writing, there are about 200 new cases in Texas.
County has an emergency planning hub similar to the one pictured to respond to any disasters.
in-person to monitor events in Dallas County. As far as monitoring, Huang said Dallas has stepped up wastewater monitoring, hand syndromic surveillance, and enhanced mosquito surveillance.
“Wastewater can detect things early, before symptoms drive people to the hospital,” he said. This kind of surveillance doesn’t require tests to be reported to the state or county.
“It’s been very helpful for monitoring for Mpox and measles and early response,” Huang said Huang said regional hospitals are also attuned to adding screening criteria, to be on the lookout to ask the questions about where people have been and if they’ve been to a FIFA-associated event.
Arlington’s Bradley confirmed that during calls to emergency medical services, medics will be asking more questions about travel and particular symptoms, and the emergency departments have access to an infectious disease team standing by.
And there’s another source for monitoring both illness and rumors. Dr. Katelyn Jetelina founded Your Local Epidemiologist in 2020 to translate ever-evolving public health science so that the average person could make evidence-based decisions. YLE’s team of scientists has been demystifying epidemiology for six years. YLE is deeply embedded in Katz’s Center for Global Health and Security response team, and you can actually take part in a monitoring initiative they’re calling The Pulse. Volunteers in the cities hosting World Cup events (like you) who are willing to anonymously submit episodic three-minute questionnaires electronically
during the next several weeks will aid in real-time monitoring of trends, rumors, and possibly disease prevention. If you’re interested in participating in the YLE data collection, surveys open every Tuesday morning over the next six weeks, and you can find the link here. Even if you don’t want to participate in the surveys, YLE remains a source of rapid access to health information.
In the month leading up to the FIFA events, the City of Arlington started boosting restaurant inspections, citing the influx in crowds for additional surveillance specific to food-borne illnesses like Hepatitis A, botulism, salmonella, and others. Dallas County has also increased its mobile food surveillance.
Norovirus, in particular, is tricky because it’s transmitted by regular contact with people and can linger on surfaces for days or weeks. It isn’t susceptible to the alcohol in hand sanitizer, and you can be infectious for up to two weeks without showing symptoms. Handwashing with soap, warm water, and a lot of friction for an appropriate amount of time will prevent infection, but soap and clean water are sometimes hard to find in a concert venue, stadium, or food truck park.
Arlington’s Bradley said that because there are two Argentinian matches locally, focus has been on the Hantavirus. The good news is this doesn’t seem to be spread as easily as norovirus or Ebola.
“It’s a pretty long incubation period,” he said, “and the transmissibility seems fairly low.”
When it comes down to best advice, Bradley says that there are two issues. The first is getting the message to out-of-country visitors who’ve not experienced a Texas summer. “We’re trying to get the education out to stay hydrated.”
The second issue, Bradley went on, is the past practice of local fans around sports activities.
It’s not uncommon for locals without tickets to a sporting event to gather at a bar near the stadium or in the parking lot. For the next few weeks, there won’t be places to park or easy access to ride-share due to road closures to allow the emergency and security workers access.
“Being around the stadium is not necessarily where you want to be unless you have a reason to be there,” Bradley said. “It’s not like a Cowboys game, where you can go to a bar and then drive away or take an Uber. Close parking will be nonexistent.”
Dallas County’s Huang says there’s nothing magical to help prevent illness, whether you’re attending a match or a watch party or you’re staying clear.
“Wash your hands, stay out of heat, stay hydrated, protect yourself from STIs,” he said. “It’s all what we normally say, just magnified with the number of people coming to town.”
Finally, if you’re able to donate blood, now is a good time to roll up your sleeve. Blood donations are typically in higher demand during the summer months, but both Carter BloodCare and the American Red Cross are now calling for donors of all types in advance of the World Cup’s potential increased demand. Type O Negative, O Positive, and plasma are what’s needed the most, and it’s likely that the region will need more stocked blood supply than normal after the last whistle’s blown on July 6. l
The Ebola virus is highly contagious, but it is not the only concern for infection transmission during the World Cup.
FEATURE
Red and Yellow Cards Potential fouls are everywhere in the summer of soccer 2026.
BY RYAN BURGER
Ihave full-blown World Cup fever. Symptoms include binge-watching soccer for a solid month, following 20 different teams across the world to watch national team players, and harboring unrealistically high expectations for a mediocre team, to name a few. However, this year’s tournament’s symptoms also include dread, worry, embarrassment, and concern. This edition of the World Cup is not the only soccer tournament in history to have some issues, but this one feels like it has more unstable potential, like playing with a football made of uranium.
A reminder on football rules: A red card is administered for an egregious foul, resulting in the dismissal of the player. This player cannot be replaced by another player, and the team must complete the match a man down. A yellow card is administered for a hard foul or accumulation of fouls. Two yellow cards in a single match equal a red card, and that player is dismissed.
Previous World Cups have had issues, major issues that had an effect on the people, the tournament, and the World Cup legacy. FIFA itself has a long history of corruption, which only seems to become more fervent with each passing tournament. The 2018 and 2022 tournaments in Russia and Qatar respectively were awarded in questionable fashion, with suspicions rife with corruption. Qatar also built its stadium infrastructure on the backs of immigrant labor, full of poor conditions and worker deaths.
Brazil 2014 spent exorbitant amounts of money to prepare the stadiums for their tournament, while the poverty level of many of their citizens was extreme. Mexico 1986 was hosted there only after Colombia transferred hosting duties due to cartel violence. Argentina 1978 was hosted under a dictatorship rule with political pressure on players and referees. Chile 1962 was a tournament full of violence. The 1934 tournament in Italy was held under Mussolini’s fascist regime and was a major tool in his propaganda machine. The upcoming 2026 edition of the tournament may potentially have a sampling of each of these issues, if not a combination. Here are some of the potential yellow and red cards that the tournament might receive this summer.
Yellow Cards
Already a solid yellow card with the biggest chance to turn red, the exorbitant ticket prices for
games and fan experiences are something almost everyone is aware of at this point. Price gouging, extortionate resale ticket prices, and parking and transportation fee hikes are just some of the hurdles fans face this summer. Group-stage tickets are averaging $500-600 for basic seats, and getting to the final could cost at least $10,000. Add on $100 parking fees and $15 beverages, and this quickly prices out the average soccer fan. This price point certainly becomes exclusive and excludes a large portion of fans. I think enough people will cough up this money to fill the stadiums, but it’s doubtful they will be avid soccer fans. This could result in a lackluster fan atmosphere in the stadiums and not deliver the game to true fans who have been waiting for years or even lifetimes to see their national teams play in this tournament.
Tickets aren’t the only example of the cash grab. Transportation in certain areas has been raised, parking fees increased, and even normally free fan zones are charging admission. For the local fan, taking a family to a single low-profile game could still cost several thousand dollars. The World Cup should bring enough revenue to the
host cities without the abundant greed permeating throughout. Soccer is supposed to be for the people, not just the elite. The US Soccer Federation constantly focuses on growing the game and inspiring young athletes to play. If only rich kids get to be inspired by watching someone score a goal at the World Cup, the U.S. is never going to truly produce enough great talent to challenge at the international stage.
The revenue expected to be generated from the tournament is projected to break records from previous tournaments. There are some worrying signs for the potential boon local businesses will see. FIFA canceled many of their reservations of hotel blocks, which were reserved for the tournament. Fewer than expected hotel bookings, which, if it holds true, can lead to diminished revenues among restaurants, bars, transportation services, and retail locations preparing to host a flood of traveling footy fans.
In the summer of 2025, the USA hosted the Club World Cup, an international soccer tournament with club teams from around the world. When Chelsea won, Trump and Infantino
There are some worrying signs for the potential boon local businesses will see.
presented the trophy to the team after their victory. Not knowing how to have anything not be about himself, Trump proceeded to stay with the team during their own team celebrations. Even the king of corruption, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, knew how to let the team celebrate on their own. We’ll just have to wait anxiously for what sort of misguided and ignorant selfish comments, AI images, or podium crashes Trump will make.
As far as the on-field issues, I hope for a fantastic tournament. There are several World Cup debutants with the expanded 48-team format. The talent pool of superstars highlighting their skills will be massive. The USMNT has more players plying their trade at high-level clubs than any previous generation. However, the last few years have been a rollercoaster of performances. The USMNT absolutely crumbled in the 2024 Copa America, and the results since then have been lacking. They have had some positive results but also enough results to raise concerns. The team has enough talent to produce a deep run this summer but also enough question marks to have an early exit. I would not be surprised if this year’s squad makes the quarterfinals or gets knocked out in the group stage.
A poor performance from the national team on home soil would set the soccer program back significantly. This sport only gets national attention every four years, and if the boys don’t show out, the casual fan will become even more negative very quickly. The momentum generated from the 1994 tournament and fan interest spawned Major League Soccer and inspired an entire generation of kids to go kick a ball. Losing a new generation of future superstars would be a massive setback to soccer in the United States.
Water breaks will be a required part of every single World Cup game this summer. While this is a healthy step forward for many of the games that will be taking place in 100-degree weather, it seems rather unnecessary at indoor air-conditioned stadiums such as “Dallas Stadium” (AT&T Stadium). This decision was more likely another cash grab, and this creates a perfect commercial break midway through each game. Soccer is a flowing game built on momentum. Inserting a break significantly disrupts the flow. There are no timeouts in soccer, but now coaches will be able to implement strategy changes during the commercial/water breaks. The sport has undergone many changes throughout its long history, but this feels catered more to extra advertising dollars and short American attention spans. continued on page 11
The USMNT has immense pressure to perform this summer.
This World Cup final will also feature a halftime show for the first time since the first World Cup final in 1930. As I predicted, Shakira has written a very catchy World Cup song (“Dai Dai”) and will perform with Madonna and BTS at the halftime show during the final. Everyone expected this World Cup to be “Americanized” somewhat, but this show also alters the on-field product. Typically, halftime is a 15-minute break that allows for player rest, tactical shifts, and motivational talks with the coaches. With the halftime show now, that break will be a minimum of 30 minutes. For players who need to stay warm and focused, this creates a disconnect in the game. Muscles can go cold, and focus can shift, possibly altering the outcome.
Red Cards
An immediate straight red card involves banning fans from supporting their nation at the biggest stage. The international component of the tournament is a huge reason why the World Cup is the most successful and popular tournament on the planet. However, the current administration has created more division than unity, leaving several fan groups looking from the outside in. Fans from Iran, Haiti, Senegal, and the Ivory Coast are all banned from traveling to the USA to support their national teams. While these respective nations might have some internal and international issues, lumping their fans into one giant group of undesirables leaves many well-intentioned fans in the cold.
Even if your nation hasn’t been outright banned from traveling to show support, many potential areas of disruption still exist. With ICE creating a shitstorm in the USA over the last year, it would behoove any world travelers to make sure to have their paperwork in order. Comedian Ron Funches sums it up very well by reminding travelers to “Please bring your papers!” In addition, there is a louder portion of our nation that is less accepting of foreigners. The same people raising prices and hosting World Cup special events are also screaming at those who “don’t speak ’Murican.” I sincerely hope that all fans traveling to this summer’s tournament return safely to the country from where they traveled.
Travel has already been proving an issue for many World Cup fans, since the current administration has placed 39 countries on a travel ban. This is already affecting participants in the tournament, not just fans. An assistant coach and other staff from South Africa were not allowed to travel to the United States due to visa issues. Iraqi footballer Aymen Hussein was detained at Chicago’s O’Hare airport for seven hours and questioned before being allowed to join his teammates. Hosting the world’s biggest event but implementing massive restrictions and hurdles doesn’t really promote peace and unity.
Iran qualified for the World Cup by playing gritty football with passion and skill through a very long and arduous qualifying campaign. These professional athletes dedicated their lives to have the chance to represent their nation at the world’s greatest athletic stage. The war in Iran with the U.S. and also the wider conflict in the Middle East have drawn politics into football once again. Sports and, more specifically, soccer have unfortunately always been intertwined with politics and national agendas. However, this will be the first time a nation
currently at war with a host nation is expected to play in the host nation’s tournament. Through a back-and-forth quibble between Trump and Infantino on whether Iran would actually be able to participate in this tournament, Iran’s football team has been allowed to participate at this point in time. Changing venues, teams, and team camps at this late stage would be far too costly both financially and logistically. As a result of this conflict, Mexico has stepped up and agreed to host Iran’s training camp at this summer’s tournament. Their games will still take place in the United States, with the first two group-stage games at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and the last group-stage game at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.
Hard Fouls (No Card)
Perhaps one of my biggest pet peeves is the mispronunciation of names by professional sportscasters. With 48 nations participating in this tournament, there will surely be plenty of butchering of players’ names on-air. If your one job is to say words, I would think you might research on how to actually pronounce those words. Failure to do
Fans will be expecting to be able to walk from their hotel in Dallas to the stadium in Arlington, then walk to a steakhouse in Fort Worth after the game. Good luck with that.
so is disrespectful to the player, the nation, and their people. Let’s hope for a minimal display of ignorance with pronunciation.
Europeans complaining about the heat. Make sure the team trainer picks up some extra sunscreen. Sorry, England. Texas is hot. Deal with it. It will not be the reason it’s not coming home in 2026.
Transportation will be a bigger hurdle than most visitors will be prepared for. For instance, the games hosted and marketed at “Dallas Stadium” will not be in Dallas. Many visiting fans won’t be prepared for the lack of public transportation, high Uber fees, and dangerous five-lane freeways. Even with the progress of trains and buses in DFW, many fans will be expecting to be able to walk from their hotel in Dallas to the stadium in Arlington, then walk to a steakhouse in Fort Worth after the game. Good luck with that.
My World Cup fever will have to just run its course this summer, and the best cure will be goals, smiling fans, and a peaceful celebration of the greatest sporting event on the planet. With any luck, my potential string of negative symptoms will not include hate, xenophobia, and ignorance. I hope any cards given out this summer are strictly for on-field incidents and not for the tournament itself. l
Donald Trump celebrated with FIFA Club World Cup champions, Chelsea F.C., in 2025.
Courtesy Rawpixel.com
FEATURE
World Cup Preview
As the big soccer tournament comes to America, we answer our own questions.
BY KRISTIAN LIN
Because North Texas will probably never host an Olympics, this World Cup tournament is likely the biggest sports event that you will ever get to witness without leaving home. AT&T Stadium has been renamed Dallas Stadium for the occasion — how’s that supposed to make us in Tarrant County feel? (MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford has been temporarily renamed “New York New Jersey Stadium.” FIFA couldn’t spring for Fort Worth’s name?) Anyway, the place in Arlington will host more matches than any other venue, with five in the group stage and four in the knockout rounds, even if the final will be in *sigh* New York New Jersey Stadium.
With 48 different fanbases coming to our shores and 104 games to be played (as opposed to 64 in years past), there’s a lot to sort through. I already published Part 1 and Part 2 of my recap of the different countries that will be competing. Even so, my imaginary interviewer and I will be working overtime to help you make sense of everything. Boo-yah! Let’s get this party started with some gossip. What is the juiciest story on USA’s squad? Gio Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter will be
teammates. This comes after the winter of 2023, when Gio’s dad effectively got Sebastian’s dad fired as USA’s head coach. Smartly, U.S. Soccer hired a new coach in Mauricio Pochettino who has no prior loyalties to either family. (He’s also coached in a Champions League final, so there’s that.) The young Berhalter can deliver an accurate dead ball but is too easily overrun in midfield during open play. The young Reyna can produce odd moments of magic in attack but has suffered too many injuries in the last four years to find a consistent groove. Both players might see action if USA is trailing late and needs a goal. Neither figures to crack the starting lineup. It could get real awkward on that sideline.
How will USA play?
Your guess is as good as mine. Pochettino is smarter than me when it comes to the X’s and O’s
of this sport. One adjustment he has made in USA’s friendly matches leading up to this has been playing Sergiño Dest as an out-and-out winger. The PSV Eindhoven right-back is listed as a defender, but actually defending has been the weakness of his game, so taking away his defensive responsibilities makes sense. (He scored in the tune-up match against Senegal, too.) Elsewhere, the coach seems to favor playing Weston McKennie in midfield beside Tyler Adams, even though McKennie’s coach at Juventus, Luciano Spalletti, converted him into an attacking winger this past season and saw McKennie churn out goals and assists from that position. It’s a shame that Johnny Cardoso’s high-grade ankle sprain is causing him to miss this World Cup, because a lineup with Cardoso and Adams holding down midfield and McKennie bombing forward would be formidable.
Are there other areas of concern?
The extravagantly Afro-ed Chris Richards is USA’s best defensive player, but he hurt his ankle last month playing for Crystal Palace and has been on the bench since. If he’s limited or out when the tournament actually starts, that will place enormous pressure on the rest of the defensive corps. In response, Poch has switched between alignments with three and four defenders, which affects how the team conducts business farther up the pitch.
Will our defense hold up?
The good news is that USA’s Group D opponents Australia and Paraguay might not have enough offensive talent to make it matter how our guys line up. It will still bear watching how the coach sets his players out against the Turks’ high-level creators. If I’m Türkiye Coach Vincenzo Montella, I’m thinking hard about moving winger Arda Güler to the middle of the offense against USA. The thought of 38-year-old Tim Ream having to deal with the fast and tricky Real Madrid attacker must give us pause. Encouragingly, Richards recently said that he feels great and was seen looking relaxed on the bench during USA’s loss to Germany in the last friendly match before the World Cup.
If Richards can’t go, can he be replaced?
Yes. The deadline for injury replacements is 24 hours before the team plays its first match, so Pochettino can call up someone else until Friday, June 12.
Is there precedent for this?
At World Cup 2002, Brazilian defensive linchpin Émerson got hurt in practice after the team had already arrived in Japan. The Brazilians surprisingly tapped Gilberto Silva to replace him, and “The Invisible Wall” played every minute during Brazil’s run to the title. Silva would go on to enjoy a glittering career as a player.
What would constitute failure for Team USA here?
This much is certain: If USA fails to advance out of the group stage, that will be more embarrassing than not qualifying for World Cup 2018. Given the favorable draw and the fact that some third-place teams will survive, there can be no excuses for crashing out at the first hurdle. It would tarnish the reputations of everyone involved.
continued on page 14
Chris Richards’ fitness is a major concern for USA heading into the World Cup. Courtesy U.S. Soccer
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World Cup Preview
How would we measure success for Team USA? We need a scalp. Our Mexican neighbors beat a dysfunctional France side in 2010 and took down mighty Germany in 2018. A similar win over one of soccer’s established superpowers would do wonders for our national program. Failing that, a memorable last-second escape like Landon Donovan’s stoppage-time winner against Algeria in 2010 would do. Good performances on the world stage matter, but not as much as great moments.
Will this be the least fan-friendly World Cup ever? It’s already in the running, which is impressive given Russia’s dictatorship in 2018 and Qatar withholding alcohol and telling the gays to stay home in ’22. We’re going to counter that with scorching heat, price gouging, sky-high gas prices, public transportation systems stretched to the breaking point, and ICE agents at the games. Some of these issues have already driven away overseas tourists, and it wouldn’t be surprising if some foreign visitors took this opportunity to show the world how much they hate America, especially if the creep who started a war to take our minds off the Epstein files shows up at one of the matches.
Why are ICE agents going to be at the games? Ya got me there. The games will have so many for
aren’t much fun at parties. If Lamine Yamal is truly fit and firing, then I’d consider Spain among the favorites as well.
Who’s going to disappoint?
I usually look to France to provide some dysfunction and unnecessary off-pitch drama, but this current version of Les Bleus doesn’t give off that vibe. Instead, I’m looking at Germany. I like Julian Nagelsmann as a coach, but I’m seeing a lot of question marks on the offensive end. Conversely, Netherlands has an iffy defense, with dynamic fullbacks alongside central defenders who are starting to creak, particularly with Matthijs de Ligt missing this World Cup through injury.
Which team has the highest range of outcomes?
should stumble, Congo will be there. The team will have to quarantine before they arrive here because of the country’s headline-making Ebola outbreak. The DRC could use a feel-good story.
Does FC Dallas have anybody in this tournament?
What do you think of the new Team USA jersey?
Our national team has a history of uniforms that aren’t very exciting to look at, and while you could say the same about England and Germany, those countries’ success on the pitch has more than made up for it. The players actually gave their input on Nike’s redesign of USA’s jerseys for 2026, and I say it works. The wavy red stripes on the primary kit are more dynamic than the straight red bands the team sported in 2012 or the red-and-blue stripes from 2016.
So, who’s gonna win this one?
The usual suspects are in place: France, England, and Brazil all have top-level players distributed evenly throughout their lineups plus proven
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Portugal. Their talent in defense, midfield, and attack is as good as the contenders, but they have shaky goalkeepers, guys with questionable work ethic (João Félix, Rafael Leão), and two scorers in Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes who can nevertheless grind the offense to a halt. Intellectually, Coach Roberto Martínez is capable of sorting it out, but whether he can impose his will on this group of players is another question.
Who’s going to surprise us?
Under other circumstances, I might go with Norway, but too many people are seeing them coming. Ecuador and Bosnia-Herzegovina have intriguing mixes of talent and winnable group matchups, but I’m picking the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While the Leopards don’t have any superstars who can drag them through a poor game, they have both experience and youth in defense and offense. If Portugal or Colombia
Yes, three players. I already mentioned Louicius Deedson (Haiti). Herman Johansson has made Sweden’s squad as a fullback, though he’s a long shot to see the pitch. Hoops fans will be more familiar with Petar Musa, who has scored 45 goals for FCD. The big Croatian center forward will likely serve as a backup to Ante Budimir, who has been finding the net regularly for Osasuna in Spain’s top flight, but Croatia may well throw on Musa late in games if they need a goal. On Team USA, Richards, McKennie, and Ricardo Pepi are all former FC Dallas guys.
Can this tournament be a success for our nation? Ultimately, what observers tend to remember about World Cups is the moments that the games provide. Mexico in 1986 had to deal with political unrest and air pollution, but people mostly remember Diego Maradona rampaging through opposing defenses and scoring the infamous “Hand of God” goal. Brazil in 2014 had the home side receiving that massive beatdown from the Germans. Qatar in 2022 had Lionel Messi finally getting that gorilla off his back and winning a World Cup. It’s not impossible that our idiot president will take the occasion to lay a turd on the world stage that tarnishes America’s image even more than he already has, but the matches are what everybody’s here for. World Cups are always epic, so let’s see what this one has in store. l
A great defender for Argentina, Mauricio Pochettino now leads Team USA from the sideline.
Museum
Worth Report
(detail), Naples, 1746, gold, rubies, emeralds, and diamonds. Terra Sancta Museum, Jerusalem. Photo by Joseph Coscia Jr.
TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND PARTIES:
U.S. Venture, Inc., has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for renewal of Air Quality Permit No. 56119, which would authorize continued operation of a Bulk Petroleum Products Terminal located at 301 Terminal Road, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas 76106. Additional information concerning this application is contained in the public notice section of this newspaper.
EATS & drinks
Where to Watch the World Cup
From fan festivals to giant-screen TVs, we’ve got you covered.
BY ELAINE WILDER
Nine World Cup matches will be played in Arlington at AT&T Stadium. Dubbed “Dallas Stadium” for the tournament, it will host more games than any other spot in the country. Don’t have tickets? Don’t worry. Watch parties and soccer-themed events are happening all over.
Free Fan Fests
972-292-6500), with watch pods, giant screens, live music, food, drinks, and more. For updates, go to FCDallas.com.
As for Fort Worth, Sundance Square (420 Main St, 817-222-1111) is hosting free public watch parties for 104 matches, complete with bars like Hopscotch (101 W 3rd St), which serves up traditional Mexican drinks and sweets right on the plaza, plus there’ll be other food vendors, live music and DJs, arts and theater events, yoga classes, and more. For updates, keep an eye on SundanceSquare.com/events.
Cheers to Fútbol!
An award-winning distillery producing whiskey, bourbon, gin, vodka, rum, liqueurs, and cordials, Acre Distilling (1309 Calhoun St, Fort Worth, 817-632-7722) offers experiences like tasting tours, blending sessions, pairing events, and cocktail classes. The Hell’s Half Acre Bar serves craft cocktails, hosts events, and includes a retail space for merchandise and bottles.
A locally owned hangout with more than 220 TVs across all three locations, Buffalo Bros (three area locations, BuffaloBros.com) has an extensive beer list with local craft favorites, plus great daily specials on food and drink. Open 11am-2am daily, Buffalo Bros will host free watch parties for every World Cup match throughout the tournament, making it the perfect place to catch all the action.
During those same dates in Frisco, the free FC Dallas Soccer Celebration is taking place at Simpson Plaza (6094 Frisco Square Blvd,
Throughout the event, on all 34 game days, North Texas cities are hosting free fan festivals. Dallas will transform Fair Park (3809 Grand Av, 214-670-8400) into a 1-million-square-foot celebration. The free FIFA Fan Festival will have live match screenings, concerts, and interactive soccer experiences. More info at DallasFWC26. com/our-venues/fan-festival.
Crystal Springs Hideaway (113 Roberts Cut Off Rd, Fort Worth, 682-224-2583, CrystalSpringsHideaway.com) will show the games on large TVs indoors and outside. This genuine beer garden serves delectable burgers, continued on page 19
Buffalo Bros will be showing every match at all three locations.
Buffalo Bros
Eats & Drinks
salads, and other handhelds. There are 25 beers on draft, plus assorted cocktails and a unique wine-and-cheese shop. No cover or ticket required. There will be all-day happy hours on weekdays, plus World Cup drink specials.
The Last Drop (2929 Race St, Fort Worth, 682-224-2347) is a neighborhood sports bar offering affordable drinks, large TVs, a friendly staff, and free parking. There are many options, including beers, cocktails, liquor, food, billiards, and arcade games. Essentially, everything you and your friends or family need for a full day of fun is right here at the Last Drop.
Mule Alley (122 E Exchange Av), located in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, includes restaurants, entertainment, shops, and a 4-star hotel. There are unique attractions, a daily cattle drive, historic tours, and live music, all reflecting the rich history of the American West.
No Frills Grill & Sports Bar (four area locations, NoFrillsFrill.com) offers the ultimate game-day experience. With 100+ HD TVs at each location, you won’t miss a moment of
World Cup action. Spacious dining rooms accommodate groups of all sizes, while there’s an extensive menu of American favorites, Tex-Mex specialties, and more. Enjoy daily food and drink specials, shoot a game of pool, and cheer on your favorite team in a fun, welcoming atmosphere.
Celebrating 36 years, No Frills delivers a true Texas sports bar experience.
Rex’s Bar & Grill (1501 S University Dr, 817-968-7397) is the home bar for Team Japan fans in Fort Worth, but it will also be screening every single game (“ World Cup with Wagyu,” May 6, 2026). The first of the nine World Cup matches to be played here is the Netherlands vs. Japan on Sun, Jun 14. To book a table, call the restaurant or go to RexsFTW.com/ watch-parties.
For those with game tickets, Social House Arlington (1705 N Collins, Ste 101, 682-2763830, SocialHouseArlington.com) will have shuttle rides to and from the stadium. For more info, visit @SocialHouseDFW on IG. The Arlington location, as well as the one in Artisan Circle (840 Currie St, Fort Worth, 817-820-1510, SocialHouseFortWorth.com), offers lunch, dinner, happy hour, and weekend brunches. With 20+ TVs, this casual bar and grill is a spot to watch the games from every angle.
continued from page 17 continued on page 21
Hopscotch in Sundance Square is serving up traditional Mexican drinks and sweets right on the plaza.
Courtesy Hopscotch
On match days at Crystal Springs, Big Kat food truck will serve their award-winning handmade burgers plus salads, other handhelds, and ice-cold drinks.
Eats & Drinks
continued from page 19
Texas Live! (1650 E Randol Mill Rd, Arlington, 817-852-6688) will show the games on its 100-foot screen across 11 bars and restaurants under the same roof. Promoters
promise drumlines, interactive fan games, DJs, and nonstop fan hype — all just steps from Dallas Stadium. Tickets and table reservations for select games are coming soon at Texas-Live.com.
Upper 90 (961 W Magnolia Av, Fort Worth, 817-882-6614) is an ideal venue for fútbol fans and casual visitors, with a welcoming atmosphere, friendly staff, and multiple screens
With 20+ TVs, Social House is a spot to watch the games from every angle.
for live games. There are classic bar games, inventive cocktails, and a sense of community, making U90 a vibrant gathering place for
memorable experiences. Fun fact: The phrase “upper 90” is soccer lingo for the top corners of the goal. l
EATING LOCAL
Watch Parties at Rex’s
Rex’s started out as a Team Japan watching spot but has expanded to encompass all 48 FIFA World Cup squads.
BY RUSH OLSON
Japan’s men’s national soccer team ranks 18th in the world. That rating and their track record indicate they stand a good chance of emerging from their group (F) at the FIFA World Cup 2026 but not impacting the later rounds. However, the Samurai Blue may have had a substantial effect on one Fort Worth restaurant’s efforts to entice fans to watch the entire tournament on one or more of the eatery’s 50-plus televisions.
A big part of the business model at the TCU area’s Rex’s Bar & Grill involves servicing diners and drinkers as they share a communal sports-viewing experience via those TVs. A huge summer soccer tourney taking place after the NBA and NHL playoffs but before pro and college football begin could drive business. Doing promotional activations with the TCU soccer program helped get Rex’s thinking about the sport and, eventually, the first Asian team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup — Japan.
There’s a connection. The family of Rex’s owner, Rex Benson, also owns the Fort Worth restaurant Japanese Palace (along with Ol’ South Pancake House, which shares a parking lot with Rex’s). They’ve developed further ties to the area’s Japanese community via the Fort Worth Japanese Society and through their marketing agency rep, the Time Group’s Margaret Mckoin, who works with the Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth. During the buildup to the latter society’s gala, the concept of a gathering spot for the Japanese team’s games arose.
“They wanted to book a watch party for when Japan played,” Benson recalled, “and they wanted to have it Texas-style, where they would have a Texas-style buffet.”
The idea sparked a vision for a broader business opportunity.
“We were going to have three official watch parties for the country of Japan,” Benson said. “We started to look at it and go, ‘Well, why would we not do a watch party for every nation that’s involved in the World Cup? Why would we not get Argentina? Why would we not get South Korea?’ ”
Benson and his staff decided they would try to make every World Cup game a special occasion at Rex’s.
“We’ve created 104 watch parties,” he said, “so we’re doing a specific watch party for each and every country for every single game.”
Benson and company hope to welcome local fans of the beautiful game but also a broader spectrum of visitors and expatriates. Rex’s marketing materials reflect
their desired reach, with details in English and the native language of the targeted countries’ supporters. They hope to make fans feel welcome no matter what jersey they wear while supplying some Lone Star hospitality.
Viewers can watch the games for free or take advantage of the $59 all-you-can-eat buffet for which you must register at least 24 hours in advance of the game via RexsFTW.com. It includes food plus two beer or wine beverages. Rex’s recognizes that some games may draw more reservations than others, so if they don’t have at least 20 people register for the buffet package for a given contest, they’ll forgo the buffet for that game and food ordering will come from the menu as it normally would. Customers already registered for the buffet in such cases would receive a menu credit for the amount paid.
Planning for multiple parties that include 48 nations would require substantial attention to detail no matter what, but official restrictions that
accompany an event of this magnitude add significantly to the operational challenges. Benson said the Texas Restaurant Association has worked with him and other members to navigate FIFA’s sizable list of rules, which include not using the terms “FIFA” or “World Cup” in marketing collateral. Staying on the governing body’s good side even extends to how games are shown: You must show the pregame 30 minutes in advance and the postgame.
Such rules preserve value for FIFA’s official sponsors and TV partners. One way Benson has made those agreements work to his advantage is by partnering with Anheuser-Busch, the official beer sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The brewer can provide a retail partner like Rex’s with official signage and more.
“We’re going to be giving away a lot of swag, lots of cups, hats, and things like that,” he said of co-branded Michelob Ultra/World Cup promotional items. But the most valuable assets will enable
some lucky patrons to watch tournament games somewhere other than Benson’s bar and grill.
“We don’t know exactly when, but they are going to have two giveaways to give away two pairs of World Cup tickets to two different games,” he said. “We’re getting four total tickets.”
Rex’s has already started to build a presence on their website, and Benson said to expect lots of social media marketing, especially when they find out the details of how they’ll award the coveted tickets. He’s also taken a Texas-sized step to ensure nobody in the vicinity of his restaurant will have any doubt they can watch association football inside.
“We have a 25-foot soccer ball that says ‘Rex’s’ on the logo, and it’s massive,” he said. “We’re going to put that out in the front of the restaurant, because I wanted to make sure that everybody knew that we were football-friendly when it came to the World Cup.” l
MUSIC
The Music of Football
A handy guide to the chants and serenades of soccer.
BY KRISTIAN LIN
As the World Cup comes to Tarrant County, I’ve been tapped to look at the wild and extremely varied world of soccer chants. Fans all over the world have used music as a way of encouraging their team, winding up the opposition, and expressing their solidarity. If you’re used to college football and basketball teams employing bands to amp up their fans, strap in for this look at sports-related music that comes from the fans themselves.
Some songs become identified with certain clubs, most notably Liverpool adopting “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from the Broadway musical Oklahoma! The song came to be identified with the Reds after British Invasion band and Liverpool natives Gerry and the Pacemakers scored a chart-topping hit with it, and it can be spine-tingling when Liverpool fans sing it in full roar.
West Ham United took up an even older song in “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles,” which dates to 1919. The reasons the team chose this song remain obscure, but to this day, West Ham celebrates home victories with machines blowing soap bubbles to the fans.
On England’s southern coast, Southampton’s team is nicknamed the Saints, and so the fans sing “When the Saints Go Marching In” when the team does well.
Nor is it just British fans who use popular songs: Rotterdam-based powerhouse Feyenoord plays “I Will Survive” as their club song. In postWorld War II Brazil, the Rio de Janeiro-born songwriter Lamartine Babo famously responded to a dare from a radio show caller by writing fight songs for all 11 professional soccer teams that called Rio home. Many of those songs are still in use all these decades later.
Then there are chants that are about specific players. In the 1990s, Manchester United fans celebrated their Norwegian striker Ole Gunnar Solskjær (whose last name is pronounced sol-share) by singing, “You are my Solskjær, my Ole Solskjær, you make me happy when skies are gray.”
On an even funnier note, longtime Everton left-back Leighton Baines inspired his fans to channel Carly Simon: “Leighton Baines, I’ll bet you think this song is about you.” Bobby Zamora was a powerful, left-footed striker whose early career in the 2000s was marked by egregious misses that he sent into the seats behind the goal. Thus, fans sang to the tune of “That’s Amore!”: “When you’re sitting in Row Z / And the ball hits your knee / That’s Zamora!”
Fans all over the world have used music as a way of encouraging their team, winding up the opposition, and expressing their solidarity.
National teams also have their own chants, ones that can make American fans’ “U-S-A” chant look trite. (Our “I believe that we will win” chant is more creative and began in the U.S. Naval Academy.) Chilean fans are known for their cry of “Chi, chi, chi! Le, le, le! Chile!,” while Italy fans became famous in 2006 by singing the guitar riff from the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” during their team’s triumphant run to the World Cup title. When African countries started competing in the World Cup, supporters of Cameroon, Nigeria, and Senegal captivated the world by playing drums for all 90 minutes of the game and stoking a party atmosphere in the stadium.
Of course, much like all types of fandom, soccer chants can shade over into hatefulness and cruelty. The sport’s history is littered with racist and homophobic taunts, often aimed at specific players by fans who believe that these fall within the bounds of acceptable gamesmanship.
But then, when players and coaches bring derision on themselves, chants can be a creative and nonviolent way for fans to express their disapproval. In 2022, when video surfaced of West Ham defender Kurt Zouma physically abusing his own cat, fans around England let him have it, encouraging him to kick the ball like it was his cat. When he exited a game against Manchester City with an injury a few weeks later, the City fans sang at him: “That’s how your cat feels.”
The chant of “you don’t know what you’re doing” can be shouted at either opposing teams or one’s own team and has applications well beyond sports. During lopsided home losses, fans of downtrodden teams have chanted at the opposition, “You’re nothing special, we lose every week.”
However, losing can also bring out the best in fans, too. People still talk about Euro 2012, when Ireland crashed out of the tournament thanks to a 4-0 shellacking from eventual champions Spain. Rather than lamenting their team’s poor performance, the Irish fans sang their fight song “Fields of Athenry.” The display of spirit was so inspiring that the broadcasters calling the game for German TV fell silent in admiration. At times like that, the music can remind everyone of what really matters about sports. l
LISTENING LOCAL
These Tips
Don’t Lie
BY FORT WORTH WEEKLY
Shakira will be entertaining the world alongside BTS and Madonna at the final at the Meadowlands in New Jersey in mid-July, but in the meantime, other big stars are headed to the Dallas FIFA Fan Fest in Fair Park: three massive nights of live music that bring the spirit of the World Cup to life. From Latin legends to Red Dirt country and anthemic global dance, every show at The Pavilion at Fair Park is built for singing loud, dancing hard, and making memories with thousands of fans. And, yes, by The Pavilion, we mean Dos Equis Pavilion (or Coca-Cola Starplex for us OG amphitheater enthusiasts). Another victim of the FIFA renaming restrictions. Anyway, admission to the festival is free, but the concerts require a separate $26 ticket for each performance at DallasFWC26.com/fifafanfestival-dallas.
The Latin Legacy Tour, featuring Baby Bash, Lil Rob, MC Magic, and special guest Concrete, ignites the stage at 7:30pm with a night of classic hits and party anthems, feel-good vibes, soaring hooks, and nonstop throwback energy.
Red Dirt favorites Turnpike Troubadours will deliver a powerful roots-driven headline set at 7:30pm filled with storytelling, soaring fiddles, and sing-along favorites — perfect for the Fourth of July. The Troubadours are on tour in support of their new album, The Price of Admission, but this is the only North Texas stop on their current schedule. (Note: While the City of Dallas normally has its Independence Day fireworks event on this day, they are graciously moving their event to the day before: Fri, Jul 3.)
stop on their current schedule.
Global dance trio Major Lazer, featuring Diplo, Walshy Fire, and Ape Drums, will turn the festival into one giant dance floor at 8:30pm with their explosive fusion of reggae, dancehall, and electronic hits.
Dream with us, won’t you? On Sun, Jul 19, in the Meadowlands, New Jersey, Team USA (fingers crossed) will use a small, round ball that people enjoy kicking into a net as a universal tool for uniting people from all over the world, regardless of their religion, race, nationality, gender, or identity. Americans will have spent the summer learning from and about 47 other amazing nations, their cultures, and their peoples. The beautiful game will cement its place in America’s sporting heart. Sorry, baseball. You’re outta here! Read more at Bit. ly/FWW_Dreamtime. — Ryan Burger Whichever two countries make the finals, we know that all eyes will be on the Meadowlands today, Sun, Jul 19, and we know that for the first time, FIFA is incorporating a Super Bowl-style halftime show, this one co-headlined by BTS, Madonna, and Shakira, who is releasing a new song for the occasion.
The spectacle will be curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin with some of the Muppets from The Muppet Show and Sesame Street as special guests. In a short film announcing the performers, Martin unveiled the star-studded lineup and said that the show will be “all about togetherness … and everyone’s invited.”
The event is produced in collaboration with Global Citizen and Live Nation. The historic performance will help raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. — Elaine Wilder l
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
NOTICE OF RECEIPT OF APPLICATION AND INTENT TO OBTAIN AIR PERMIT (NORI) RENEWAL
PERMIT NUMBER 56119
APPLICATION. U.S. Venture, Inc., has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for renewal of Air Quality Permit Number 56119, which would authorize continued operation of a Bulk Petroleum Products Terminal located at 301 Terminal Road, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas 76106. AVISO DE IDIOMA ALTERNATIVO. El aviso de idioma alternativo en espanol está disponible en https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/air/newsourcereview/airpermits-pendingpermitapps. This link to an electronic map of the site or facility’s general location is provided as a public courtesy and not part of the application or notice. For exact location, refer to application. https://gisweb.tceq.texas.gov/LocationMapper/?marker=97.348333,32.82&level=13. The existing facility is authorized to emit the following air contaminants: carbon monoxide, hazardous air pollutants, nitrogen oxides, organic compounds, particulate matter including particulate matter with diameters of 10 microns or less and 2.5 microns or less and sulfur dioxide.
This application was submitted to the TCEQ on May 12, 2026. The application will be available for viewing and copying at the TCEQ central office, TCEQ Dallas/Fort Worth regional office, and the Fort Worth Diamond Hill/Jarvis Library, 1300 Northeast 35th Street, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas beginning the first day of publication of this notice. The facility’s compliance file, if any exists, is available for public review in the Dallas/Fort Worth regional office of the TCEQ. The application, including any updates, is available electronically at the following webpage: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/air/airpermit-applications-notices
The executive director has determined the application is administratively complete and will conduct a technical review of the application. Information in the application indicates that this permit renewal would not result in an increase in allowable emissions and would not result in the emission of an air contaminant not previously emitted. The TCEQ may act on this application without seeking further public comment or providing an opportunity for a contested case hearing if certain criteria are met.
PUBLIC COMMENT. You may submit public comments to the Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below. The TCEQ will consider all public comments in developing a final decision on the application and the executive director will prepare a response to those comments. Issues such as property values, noise, traffic safety, and zoning are outside of the TCEQ’s jurisdiction to address in the permit process.
OPPORTUNITY FOR A CONTESTED CASE HEARING. You may request a contested case hearing if you are a person who may be affected by emissions of air contaminants from the facility. If requesting a contested case hearing, you must submit the following: (1) your name (or for a group or association, an official representative), mailing address, daytime phone number; (2) applicant’s name and permit number; (3) the statement “[I/we] request a contested case hearing;” (4) a specific description of how you would be adversely affected by the application and air emissions from the facility in a way not common to the general public; (5) the location and distance of your property relative to the facility; (6) a description of how you use the property which may be impacted by the facility; and (7) a list of all disputed issues of fact that you submit during the comment period. If the request is made by a group or association, one or more members who have standing to request a hearing must be identified by name and physical address. The interests the group or association seeks to protect must also be identified. You may also submit your proposed adjustments to the application/permit which would satisfy your concerns.
The deadline to submit a request for a contested case hearing is 15 days after newspaper notice is published. If a request is timely filed, the deadline for requesting a contested case hearing will be extended to 30 days after mailing of the response to comments.
If any requests for a contested case hearing are timely filed, the Executive Director will forward the application and any requests for a contested case hearing to the Commissioners for their consideration at a scheduled Commission meeting. Unless the application is directly referred to a contested case hearing, the executive director will mail the response to comments along with notification of Commission meeting to everyone who submitted comments or is on the mailing list for this application. The Commission may only grant a request for a contested case hearing on issues the requestor submitted in their timely comments that were not subsequently withdrawn. If a hearing is granted, the subject of a hearing will be limited to disputed issues of fact or mixed questions of fact and law relating to relevant and material air quality concerns submitted during the comment period. Issues such as property values, noise, traffic safety, and zoning are outside of the Commission’s jurisdiction to address in this proceeding.
MAILING LIST. In addition to submitting public comments, you may ask to be placed on a mailing list for this application by sending a request to the Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below. Those on the mailing list will receive copies of future public notices (if any) mailed by the Office of the Chief Clerk for this application.
AGENCY CONTACTS AND INFORMATION. All public comments and requests must be submitted either electronically at www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/, or in writing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087. Please be aware that any contact information you provide, including your name, phone number, email address and physical address will become part of the agency’s public record. For more information about the permitting process, please call the TCEQ Public Education Program, Toll Free, at 1-800-687-4040 or visit their website at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/pep. Si desea información en Español, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040. You can also view our website for public participation opportunities at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/participation.
Further information may also be obtained from U.S. Venture, Inc., 222 W. College Avenue, Appleton, Wisconsin 54911 or by calling Ms. Jeannette Meade, Environmental Specialist at (920) 358-3508. Notice Issuance Date: 10 June 2026
For the first time, FIFA is incorporating a Super Bowl-style halftime show at the game on Sun, Jul 19, co-headlined by BTS, Madonna, and Shakira, who is releasing a new song for the occasion.
Red Dirt favorites Turnpike Troubadours are on tour in support of their new album, The Price of Admission. Dallas FIFA Fan Fest is the only North Texas
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KITCHEN SUPPLIES SALE!
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PUBLIC NOTICE
The following vehicle has been impounded with fees due to date by Sega Tow (VSF0576658) at 2711 S Riverside Dr, Fort Worth TX, 76104, 817-572-7775: 2016 Ford Fusion, VIN 3FA6P0G72GR271599, $374.
PUBLIC NOTICES / AUCTIONS
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER
59 OF THE TEXAS PROPERTY CODE: Curio Storage Vega Dr, Fort Worth, located at 6129 Vega Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76133 (phone: 409-203-4147) will hold a public auction of property being sold to satisfy the owner’s lien for unpaid rent and other charges. The sale will take place at www.bid13.com beginning on 06/20/2026 at 12:00 AM and ending on 06/28/2026 at 6:00 PM. Property in each space will be sold by the space. Deposit for removal and cleanup may be temporarily required. No cash accepted. Seller reserves the right to not accept any b id and to withdraw property from sale. All units may contain household goods, furniture, boxes, and/or miscellaneous personal items. Sale subject to cancellation if payment is made prior to auction closing. Name and unit number of tenants: Rashana Walker, unit 202; Randy Welch, unit 404; Aaron Hall, unit 504; Deondralique Greene, unit 601; Deondralique Greene, unit 621; Amanda Chavez, unit 727; Duanne Rosenauer, unit 809.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER
59 OF THE TEXAS PROPERTY CODE: Curio Storage DeSoto, located at 601 S Interstate 35 E | DeSoto, TX 75115, (phone: 409-203-4147) will hold a public auction of property being sold to satisfy the owner’s lien for unpaid rent and other charges. The sale will take place at www.bid13.com beginning on 06/20/2026 at 12:00 AM and ending on 06/28/2026 at 6:00 PM. Property in each space will be sold by the space. Deposit for removal and cleanup may be temporarily required. No cash accepted. Seller reserves the right to not accept any bid and to withdraw property from sale. All units may contain household goods, furniture, boxes, and/or miscellaneous personal items. Sale subject to cancellation if payment is made prior to auction closing. Name and unit number of tenants: Deangelo white, unit 0A20; Octavia Gant, unit 0B07; Khalilah Mclemore, units 0F15 & 0G59; Tiondala Andrews, unit 0G07; Magan Munoz Abu Dari, unit 0G22; Kevone Edmonds, unit 0G30.
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ZZZ ... Don’t Sleep on This!
Do you own a service-oriented business? Cleaning Services, Handymen, Haulers, Landscapers, Painters, and other service companies, how are you reaching new customer? We’d love to feature you here! Reach out for some affordable options. Stacey@fwweekly.com
