As more teams secure their spots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, like Colombia this week, FIFA fever is getting real in North Texas, with new job postings and ticket presale registration.
“Oh my God, I’m so excited,” said Alhely Hernandes. “Since I was a child, it’s been my dream to go to one of those games, and now, it’s here, it’s going to be here! I’m super excited.”
As a host, her team, Mexico, already qualifies for the Cup.
She’s among many hoping her team will end up playing one of the nine matches scheduled for DFW.
“I’m hopeful that Mexico, maybe, is going to play here. So, excited about that,” Daniel Portal said.
Adrian Franco’s team, Argentina, qualified back in March.
The team is in the DNA of the Euless restaurant he co-owns with his son, starting with its name.
“Argentina 613 is from Argentina [winning]16 Copa Americas and three World Cups,” Franco explained.
Plastered in his restaurant are jerseys, posters, and a life-sized legend, Lionel Messi, kissing the last World Cup trophy.
“Argentina people are crazy for soccer,” he said.
He said on match nights, his restaurant becomes a crowded, loud atmosphere. He imagines that, magnified, during the World Cup.
“It’s not possible for me to explain the World Cup is coming to the USA,” said Franco, who has been to a World Cup before, but never where he lives.
Adding to the hype: More opportunities to work at the World Cup
In the past week, several new jobs have been posted, including positions such as commercial operations specialist, host city director, and venue technology manager.
In just a few days, the first phase of ticketing will also open up. Starting Wednesday at 10 a.m. CT, the Visa Presale Draw begins.
Fans can register now and should receive updates on ticket sales and processes.
The presale entry period closes at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 19.
According to FIFA, fans who entered the draw will be chosen at random and notified by email starting September 30 about their date and time slot to actually purchase tickets.
Those ticket sales will begin in October, with prices ranging from $60 to $6,730, according to FIFA.
Phase 2 of ticket sales will start at the end of October, with the registration window expected to open between October 27 and 31.
Purchasing time slots for those registrations will be from mid-November to early December, subject to availability.
“I signed up, I want to buy the tickets, and I even signed up to be a volunteer so I can get more close to, you know, the games, the players, engage as much as I can,” said Bhaskar Thota, another North Texas soccer fan.
Thota played soccer in high school and college, and is now coaching his son’s first soccer team.
“This is my giving back to the game and teaching kids,” said Thota, who can’t wait to experience the World Cup atmosphere. “It’s just really exciting, because the whole world is coming to our hometown, we don’t need to go anywhere.”
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