Arlington prepares for the FIFA World Cup—and the long-term legacy of the beautiful game

July 17, 1994, was one of the best days of Mauricio Galante's life. In California, during a trip around the world on a frigate to celebrate his graduation, he and his friends found seats at the Rose Bowl and watched their country's team win its fourth World Cup title. The Brazil–Italy final was a thrilling encounter – no score after extra time, with Brazil winning 3–2 on penalties. "We couldn't believe that Brazil won the World Championship for the fourth time," Galante said. "History was made here, you know? It was amazing." Galante served 15 years in the Brazilian Navy, started a business in his home country and then immigrated to the US, specifically to Arlington, where he now represents District 1 on the city council. And being on the council, almost 32 years after he saw Brazil win the World Cup, he is going to play a bigger role in planning the tournament. Arlington is hosting more games than any other city, with nine matches including one semi-final. While ticket sales and hotel bookings have lagged behind expectations, city leaders say they expect games to be sold out on match days and there will be no room in hotels. The city, which has made its mark as the sports capital of Texas for more than half a century, is in the spotlight globally. North Texas is expecting approximately 4 million visitors and an economic impact of approximately $2 billion for the largest sports tournament on Earth. Galante said visitors and locals

They will be welcomed to the Arlington Entertainment District by a sea of ​​colorful jerseys, blaring horns, enthusiastic chants and passionate fans from around the world. They will gather there to celebrate the world's most popular sport, building a community that doesn't look at where people are from but instead focuses on the energy and friendship they bring. “People are going to feel it, feel the energy of football,” he said. Arlington, and especially Deputy City Manager Jennifer Wichman, had to do a lot of planning — years. From public safety to transit to efforts to foster an unforgettable fan experience, Wichman said the city has planned for everything possible. “We've done this before, we know what we're doing,” Wichman told KERA News. "We understand this is a different event in many ways. We haven't hosted so many soccer matches. This is a more international audience than we usually get. But every time, every event we do, it lays the groundwork for additional events for the future." There have been many major events to learn from: World Series games, an MLB All-Star Game, a Super Bowl, and sold-out concerts at AT&T Stadium. Fans will be greeted with "Welcome to Arlington" banners, giant inflatable footballs and a statue of a new golden football shoe — or boot if you're British. Wichman said the "Welcome to Arlington" banners and signs are small details that can make a big difference because

The tournament has been branded as such. FIFA is advertising Dallas as the host city, even temporarily renaming AT&T Stadium Dallas Stadium. “We understand it will be called Dallas Stadium, and we understand that was part of the deal made with FIFA,” he said. "[We wished we'd gotten a change], but it didn't happen." Arlington wants visitors to remember its name so they think of the city when planning future vacations or looking for a place to set up a business. She says it will be a welcoming, exciting place and Arlington wants to take credit for the work planners have done to create that environment. “We hope it sticks in their minds,” Wichman said. "Maybe they had a great time at the Fan Fest in Dallas, and they know it was in Fair Park. And then when they come to the game, they'll have a great time here and know it was in Arlington, Texas." Galante said with so many people, great care has been taken to ensure public safety around the entertainment area. However, Arlington residents don't need to worry, Wichman said: The tournament doesn't mean fewer resources for the rest of the city. Police are not allowed to be on leave during the World Cup, allowing for additional staffing, and will work with Arlington's neighboring state and federal agencies to help commit public safety resources and personnel. Clearly, it is not only the city that

Preparing for a cord-breaking crowd. With the English team's World Cup opener taking place in Arlington, The Londoner pub is also gearing up for a big crowd. The pub, which started in Edison nearly 30 years ago, is preparing to open a location in Arlington ahead of the tournament — the pub's fourth location. Its other locations are in Dallas and Colleyville. The pub was opened by the father of Charlotte Tate, who now serves as its chief operating officer. She said the World Cup is fast approaching and the Arlington venue probably won't be 100% complete, but it will be ready to open and host fans. They have already started preparations with decorations in the pub, including World Cup posters and a countdown clock to the first match of the tournament. While it may be a particularly attractive venue for England fans, she said its regulars include fans from all around. Due to its proximity to AT&T Stadium, which has been temporarily named Dallas Stadium due to sponsor-designated venues under FIFA rules, Tate expects The Londoner to be a popular and busy venue. So much so that she's planning to expand the pub's footprint. “We've done this a long time, which means we've been managing these games for a long time, so we know what we're doing,” Tate said. Cities, counties and the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee have spent years researching and planning. The efforts began when North Texas won the bid to host the games. in Arlington and

So much work has gone into making the World Cup a success that local leaders are already thinking about the legacy it will create. The culture around football in North Texas and across the country is a consideration. Gary Packon, Arlington's director of parks, recreation and culture, said the city has already seen increased interest in soccer through its youth leagues. He also mentioned the impact of the 94 World Cup when talking about how this year's tournament could change the landscape. “We fully expect this to drive increased demand and growth in the sport, which is fantastic because football, baseball, lacrosse, hockey, our goal is to get people of all ages active,” Packon said. “We want people to stay healthy in our parks and enjoy our community.” It's something that excites Colin Emmert, too. He runs Jump Start Sports in Denton, Ulysses & Hurst, a company that offers youth sports camps and leagues. Emmert said Jump Start's goal is to teach kids about teamwork and perseverance while building character through sports, and football is a great way to do that. Due to the low cost of entry (all you really need is an open space, a ball, and a few friends), it's a great way to get kids of all ages involved in athletics. As the World Cup approaches, he said the football offerings have been the most popular. Even on the weekends, when Jump Start will host single-day, three-hour camps, the sport is most in demand.

ए। "The kids, they're involved in other things, but they want to come out for that one day and have a lot of fun," Emmert said. "I think it's more than we anticipated." Jump Start Sports' camps cost $80 or more, but Packen said Arlington will soon have a way for kids in the community to play free pickup games downtown. A mini pitch, which will be placed at George Stevens Park, will be a part of the World Cup legacy in North Texas. The pitch will provide a space for children to gather and play small games, and they will only need one ball to bring. He said its smaller size makes it easier for some kids to gather and play or practice because the field isn't too big for them. "It's a narrow space where there are walls, and the ball won't get away from you," Packon said. "You can practice your foot skills, have fun, burn off some energy." FIFA is using Spot, a robotic K-9 made by Boston Dynamics, for security for World Cup events in North Texas, including matches in Arlington. Joshua Nascimento knows a lot about football. He is the son of Pelé, the legendary Brazilian player who is considered one of the greatest in the history of the game. He is also the Head of Performance for FC Dallas, where he works with the team and its Academy which provides soccer training for children. He said he expects the popularity of sports to skyrocket, from professional football to youth leagues.

and to the frequency and size of neighborhood pickup games. Pelé, who dies in 2022, would have been amazed to see how popular the game has become over the years, Nascimento said. He said his father came to America to play football and traveled here post-retirement, always hoping to foster a love of the game. "It's a part for him, I think, to leave a legacy for what he did and in America," Nascimento said. “They must have seen it and appreciated how much it has grown.” Nascimento said Texas already has a strong culture around soccer and that will grow with the World Cup — especially in Arlington. "It's just going to keep growing," he said, noting that Major League Soccer's growth has drawn international attention, even from players. "We have players like Messi wanting to come here. Who would have thought that Messi would come to America, you know? So I think it shows how much the league has grown, how much the quality of football has grown, of the players." Arlington will likely be the site of America's growing love for the beautiful game when FIFA leaves town.