World Cup 2026 Game Planning

Dallas -- Family Trip Research

Game: England vs. Croatia (Group L, Matchday 1)
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 – 4:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM CT kickoff
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX (renamed “Dallas Stadium” for the tournament), ~80,000 capacity
Note: AT&T Stadium is in Arlington (~20 miles west of downtown Dallas), not in Dallas itself. Air-conditioned with retractable roof.

1. Flying from Boston

Nonstop Options: BOS -> DFW

AirlineNonstops/weekNotes
American Airlines~50Most frequent. DFW is AA’s hub.
Delta~17
JetBlue~8
  • Flight time: ~4 hours 19 minutes
  • Earliest departure: ~5:00 AM (American)
  • Multiple daily options – 11+ nonstop flights per day
  • Typical fares: $94-$200+ each way (will spike for World Cup dates – book early)

Airport -> Stadium

  • DFW to AT&T Stadium: ~25 min by car/Uber ($30-40)
  • DFW to downtown Dallas: ~30 min by car, or DART Orange Line train (~50 min, $2.50)
  • No public transit to AT&T Stadium – Arlington opted out of DART rail. Car rental or rideshare required for game day.

Recommendation

Fly American nonstop BOS->DFW. Rent a car at the airport – you’ll need it all trip. DFW is sprawling with no rail to Arlington.

2. Kid-Friendly Attractions

Tier 1 – Must-Do

Perot Museum of Nature and Science (downtown Dallas)

  • 11 permanent exhibit halls. T. rex & Alamosaurus fossils, interactive STEM labs.
  • “Soccer: More Than a Game” exhibit (open through Sep 7, 2026) – 10,000 sq ft of interactive soccer science. Kids kick balls at trajectory stations, design jerseys/mascots, build Lego stadiums. Partnership with Mexico City’s MIDE museum.
  • Tickets: museum admission + $12 adults / $10 youth (ages 2-12) for soccer exhibit.
  • Perfect pre-game activity. Allow 3-4 hours.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor (Arlington, near AT&T Stadium)

  • 47-acre water park. Splash Island family area, lazy river, 1M-gallon wave pool.
  • Best way to beat 95°F heat. Walking distance from the stadium area.
  • Full-day attraction.

Six Flags Over Texas (Arlington, near AT&T Stadium)

  • Classic theme park with coasters and family rides. Adjacent to AT&T Stadium.
  • Full-day commitment.

Dallas Zoo (south of downtown)

  • 106 acres, 2,000+ animals, 400+ species. Top 10 in USA.
  • Allow 3-4 hours.

Dallas World Aquarium (downtown)

  • Rainforest walk-through + aquatic exhibits. Flamingos, sloths, manatees, sharks.
  • Unique format – more than a typical aquarium. Allow 2-3 hours.

Tier 2 – If You Have Time

Klyde Warren Park (downtown)

  • Free. 5.2-acre greenspace built over a freeway. Children’s park with 35-ft climbing tower and slide, water features, food trucks, lawn games.
  • Great for a casual hour or two. Good lunch spot.

Trinity Forest Adventure Park (south Dallas)

  • Ropes course, zip lines, cargo nets, obstacle courses at varying difficulty levels.
  • Good for active kids, especially Luka. Allow 2-3 hours.

Universal Kids Resort (Frisco, ~30 min north of Dallas)

  • Brand new 32-acre theme park. Themed lands: Gabby’s Dollhouse, Trolls, Shrek, Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous, SpongeBob, Despicable Me. 300-room hotel.
  • Targeted opening: late May / early June 2026 – verify before trip. If open, this is a huge draw, especially for Maja.

3. World Cup / Soccer Events

FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park

  • Location: Fair Park, Dallas (~15 min from downtown, ~25 min from AT&T Stadium)
  • Dates: June 11 - July 19, 2026 (all 34 match days; closed on 5 rest days)
  • Admission: FREE, no tickets needed, walk-in
  • Capacity: Up to 35,000
  • Size: ~1 million square feet
  • Hours: Opens 1 hour before first match, closes 1 hour after last match
  • What’s there: Giant screens broadcasting every match live, concerts, live entertainment, food/beverage from local vendors, skills contests, mini pitch, playground for kids, interfaith prayer space
  • Transit: DART Green Line to Fair Park Station

Other Soccer Experiences

  • Perot Museum “Soccer: More Than a Game” – see attractions above
  • Klyde Warren Park fan zone – downtown, another free watch-party venue
  • Dallas hosts 9 matches total (most of any venue) including a semifinal on Jul 14 – the city will be saturated with World Cup energy all summer

4. Where to Stay

Option 1: Arlington Entertainment District (BEST for game day)

  • Walking distance to AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Field, Six Flags, Texas Live!
  • Downside: Not walkable to downtown Dallas attractions – need car

Marriott Bonvoy picks in Arlington:

  • Courtyard by Marriott Arlington/Entertainment District (TOP PICK) – 0.7 miles from AT&T Stadium, walkable. 2-queen rooms, indoor/outdoor pool. WC pricing ~$300-450/night.
  • SpringHill Suites Arlington North – 1.6 mi from stadium. All-suite hotel, free breakfast, outdoor pool, free parking. Best family value. ~$250-400/night.
  • TownePlace Suites Arlington North – 1-2 mi. Full kitchens, free breakfast, Sport Court, pool. Extended-stay format great for families. ~$250-400/night.
  • Four Points by Sheraton Arlington – 2 mi. Budget option, outdoor pool, in-room fridge/microwave. Normal from ~$60/night; WC ~$200-350.

Option 2: Downtown Dallas (BEST for sightseeing)

  • Walking distance to Perot Museum, Klyde Warren Park, Dallas Arts District, Dallas World Aquarium
  • Easy DART to Fair Park (Fan Festival)
  • Downside: 20-30 min drive to Arlington for the game

Option 3: Split Stay

  • Downtown first for sightseeing, move to Arlington for game day + Six Flags
  • Best of both worlds but more hassle with luggage/check-in

Booking Note

Book EARLY. Dallas hosts 9 matches and a semifinal – hotel prices will be extreme. Arlington hotels near the stadium will sell out months in advance.

5. Food Scene – Family Highlights

BBQ (mandatory in Dallas/TX)

  • Pecan Lodge – ranked among top BBQ globally by Texas Monthly. Deep Ellum. Brisket, ribs, pulled pork. Lines are long – go early or late.
  • Lockhart Smokehouse – location in the Arlington Entertainment District near AT&T Stadium. Convenient game-day dining.
  • Smoky Rose – large outdoor patio with green area where kids can play. Great smoked meats.

Tex-Mex (Dallas is the birthplace of Tex-Mex)

  • Nico’s Cocina – covered patio with enclosed playground (two playsets). Taco Tuesday every day.
  • Eddie’s Tex Mex Cocina – from-scratch cooking, colorful open-air patio, kid-friendly quesadillas.

Family-Friendly with Play Areas

  • Hat Creek Burger Company – multiple DFW locations. Outdoor playground at every location. Burgers, shakes, chicken.
  • Smoky Rose – patio + green area for kids (see above).

Game Day

  • Texas Live! – entertainment complex between AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field. Multiple restaurants, bars, big screens. Pre/post-game hub.
  • Lockhart Smokehouse – walking distance from the stadium.

Don’t Miss

  • Whataburger – Texas fast-food institution. Kids will love it. Locations everywhere.
  • In-N-Out Burger – multiple DFW locations.

6. Getting to the Game

From Downtown Dallas to AT&T Stadium (~20 miles):

  • Driving: 25-40 min depending on traffic. Stadium has 12,000+ parking spaces, expect $50-$100 on game day. Arrive 1.5-2 hours early.
  • Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): Expect surge pricing. Drop-off at designated areas. Post-game waits can be 30-60+ min.
  • No rail connection: Arlington has no DART rail. This is the biggest logistical wrinkle.
  • FIFA shuttles: Watch for official shuttle bus announcements from Fair Park / downtown closer to the tournament.
  • Recommendation: Drive and park early, OR use official FIFA shuttles once announced.

7. Getting Around DFW

  • Rent a car – strongly recommended. DFW is sprawling; public transit won’t cover Arlington at all.
  • DART rail – covers downtown Dallas, Fair Park, DFW Airport. Useful but doesn’t reach Arlington.
  • Rideshare – fine for one-offs but adds up with a family of 4.

8. Weather: Mid-June Dallas

MetricExpectation
Average high93°F (34°C)
Peak highs95-100°F+ possible
Average low73-75°F (23-24°C)
Humidity60-70% – muggy mornings, drier afternoons
RainOccasional afternoon thunderstorms
Daylight~14.7 hours

What to pack: Sunscreen, hats, light breathable clothing, water bottles, umbrella. The heat is the biggest challenge – plan water parks or indoor museums during peak afternoon hours. AT&T Stadium is air-conditioned, so the game itself will be comfortable.

Itinerary: 3 Nights (Jun 15-18)

Day 1 (Mon Jun 15) – Arrive

  • Fly BOS->DFW (arrive ~9:20 PM CT). Pick up rental car.
  • Late dinner near hotel or settle in.

Day 2 (Tue Jun 16) – Full Sightseeing Day

  • Morning: Perot Museum of Nature and Science – see the “Soccer: More Than a Game” exhibit.
  • Afternoon: Klyde Warren Park (free, food trucks, climbing tower, splash features). Or: Six Flags Hurricane Harbor (water park, beat the heat) or Dallas Zoo.
  • Evening: Dinner at Pecan Lodge (BBQ, Deep Ellum) or Nico’s Cocina (Tex-Mex, playground). Optional: FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park (free, big screens, food, entertainment).

Day 3 (Wed Jun 17) – GAME DAY

  • Morning: Whatever you missed – Reunion Tower observation deck, Universal Kids Resort in Frisco (if open), or relaxed morning at the hotel pool.
  • Lunch: Early, before heading to Arlington.
  • Afternoon: Drive to Arlington. Arrive by 1:30 PM CT for the 3 PM CT kickoff.
  • Evening: Post-game dinner at Texas Live! or Lockhart Smokehouse in Arlington.

Day 4 (Thu Jun 18) – Depart to Toronto

  • Morning: Drop off rental car, fly DFW->YYZ (9:51 AM CT -> 1:57 PM ET).
  • Arrive Toronto early afternoon.

If You Had an Extra Day

With a 4th full day (e.g., arriving a day earlier), add Six Flags Hurricane Harbor or Dallas Zoo + Dallas World Aquarium as a dedicated theme park / zoo day.

Sources