With fresh grass laid and concrete foundations set, Mansfield Stadium is sprinting toward the finish line in its bid to host a national soccer team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The question is: will any team actually show up?
The North Texas facility, slated for completion by May 2026, represents the region’s ambitious play to secure a coveted “base camp” designation where one of the world’s elite soccer nations would train and live during the early stages of the tournament. But despite the stadium’s impressive specifications — over 7,000 fixed seats within a 200,000 square foot footprint — no national teams have committed to the Mansfield location yet.
Racing Against the Clock
“The race is on. We are standing on concrete right now, brother. So you know the days of concepts are over,” a project official declared during a recent site visit, highlighting the tangible progress made after months of planning.
Construction crews have been working steadily to ensure the stadium meets FIFA’s strict deadline, incorporating four locker rooms, suites, loges, and club space into the design. The facility will permanently serve as home to North Texas Soccer Club, the MLS NEXT Pro affiliate of FC Dallas, but its immediate prize would be hosting international soccer royalty this summer. A video board is expected to be installed within the week.
Mansfield Mayor Michael Evans hasn’t been shy about his aspirations. “I’m hearing we still have some national teams who are shopping. I want to make a pitch to them that you can’t have a better venue than beautiful Mansfield, Texas,” Evans stated.
A Crowded Field of Contenders
The competition is stiff. Mansfield Stadium is just one of four potential base camp sites in North Texas, alongside Texas Christian University, University of North Texas, and Toyota Stadium in Frisco. The latter brings established credentials as home to FC Dallas and the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Tim Roberts, Tourism Manager for Mansfield, remains optimistic despite the uncertainty. “Once the draw happened, we knew who would be here locally. We had a good number of teams come through and check the stadium out. We are already seeing big rates and big interest in Mansfield in the weeks surrounding the games,” he noted.
Still, the clock is ticking. FIFA is expected to finalize all base camp selections by the end of March 2026, after the final six qualifying teams are determined. Monica Paul, Executive Director of the Dallas Sports Commission, explained the timeline: “We know our base camp locations are still in contention. We also know that there are teams yet to qualify. In certain locations, the national teams themselves maybe have made some announcements, but FIFA has not officially, and I think that’s going to take shape by the end of March.”
Big Names Looking Elsewhere
The reality check? Several powerhouse teams have already announced they’ll set up camp outside North Texas, despite having matches scheduled at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium. England, the Netherlands, and Argentina — all with games in Arlington — have opted for Kansas City as their home base. Germany will settle in North Carolina, while Saudi Arabia has chosen Austin.
Japan, Croatia, and Austria have similarly committed to locations far from Texas, choosing Nashville, Alexandria (Virginia), and Santa Barbara (California), respectively. These decisions demonstrate that proximity to match locations isn’t always the primary consideration for teams selecting their training headquarters.
Economic Stakes and Regional Impact
What’s at stake extends well beyond soccer pride. North Texas will host nine World Cup matches beginning in mid-June — more than any other host city — and officials view Mansfield as the “southern gateway” for professional soccer in the region, complementing Frisco’s established presence in the north.
The stadium anchors the broader Staybolt Street Entertainment District, which will include hotels, a conference center, a renovated sports park, and entertainment venues. Mayor Evans has championed this vision: “As a community that has grown from a small suburb to a destination community, Mansfield is the perfect home for the champion North Texas Soccer Club. The Staybolt Street Entertainment District Stadium will be the place where people come from all over to watch the highest level of MLS NEXT Pro soccer.”
Even without a national team commitment, local officials expect the new stadium to draw visitors to Arlington and surrounding areas during the tournament. The city is already experiencing increased tourism interest for the weeks surrounding the World Cup matches.
The Final Countdown
With six teams still to qualify for the tournament, Mansfield’s hopes remain alive. The North Texas organizing committee continues to court potential teams, emphasizing the region’s modern facilities and convenient location within the sprawling Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
As construction crews race to complete the stadium by May, the real prize — hosting elite international athletes and their entourages — hangs in the balance. For now, Mansfield Stadium stands as both a concrete reality and an open invitation, its fresh grass awaiting the footprints of soccer greatness that may or may not materialize.
