Dallas officials are weighing a plan that would temporarily push cars off a central stretch of downtown during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, turning Main Street into a walkable fan zone stocked with vendors, programming and extra foot traffic. The idea on the table would close Main Street between Ervay and Akard, from Elm to Commerce, either on several Sundays during the tournament or for a single full weekend. Leaders are pitching it as a way to showcase downtown to international visitors headed to nearby Arlington for matches, but it is still only a proposal that needs permits, a budget and final City Council approval.
Council Floats Car-Free Main Street Plan
During a City Hall briefing, staff outlined a pilot that would build on past open-street activations and carve out room for themed programming and vendor booths. The concept, which could mean four Sunday closures or one full weekend, and the report that a Halloween test run drew roughly 71,000 attendees were detailed by FOX 4. City leaders did not land on a final cost estimate during the discussion.
Regional Logistics Tie Into Arlington Matches
City staff told council members they are working with regional partners and Dallas Area Rapid Transit on pedestrian routes and alternative mobility options that would connect Arlington matches with Dallas activations such as the Fair Park Fan Fest, according to The Dallas Morning News. That coordination is key because Arlington’s AT&T Stadium, which will host nine World Cup matches and be renamed for the tournament, is expected to draw large crowds into North Texas, per the official schedule on DFW World Cup.
Council Members Pitch Themed Events And Crowd Controls
Council members framed the street closures as a way to make downtown more walkable and to set up history- and culture-themed stops, with park activations and vendor space clustered along Main Street. Councilmember Cara Mendelsohn suggested partnering with Downtown Dallas Inc. so that different blocks carry distinct programming and said the effort could "change that narrative" about downtown, as reported by FOX 4. Other council comments focused on parking incentives and transit promotions aimed at keeping traffic from snarling around the event area.
Permits, Safety And Who Pays
The concept would trigger the city's special-events process. Under Chapter 42A, any closure or restriction of a public street requires a permit, and the applicant must meet public-safety, barricade, insurance and notification rules. City staff told the committee that in most cases event organizers cover costs for barricades, staffing and other logistics, although the city can serve as the permit applicant for a city-run activation, according to a City of Dallas briefing.
Transit And Staffing Questions Remain
Transportation planners cautioned that decisions by suburbs about DART membership, along with existing transit capacity, could complicate how fans move around during the 39-day tournament, a risk highlighted by the Houston Chronicle. City staff have said a regional transportation plan that covers pedestrian routing, shuttles and alternative mobility will be submitted to FIFA by the end of March, according to The Dallas Morning News. That timeline leaves limited room to lock in costs, staffing and permits before the first June match dates.
Next steps include tightening the proposed footprint, finalizing vendor and permit rules and returning to council with detailed cost and staffing plans. City staff said they will keep working with merchants and nearby neighborhoods as details are worked out. For now, the effort remains at the briefing stage, and any future closures would be run through the city's special-events office, according to a City of Dallas briefing. Fans and residents can expect formal street-closure notices and transit advisories if and when the plan moves ahead.
