AT&T Stadium in Arlington is about to get a literal lift. To host 2026 World Cup matches, crews will raise the playing surface by nearly four feet so the building can fit a full-size FIFA pitch. That means cutting into the lower bowl, pulling out some suites and seats, and building a layered platform sturdy enough to hold soil and natural grass.
According to WFAA, the playing surface needs to be raised nearly four feet to meet FIFA specifications. Axios Dallas reports that crews will pull up the stadium’s artificial turf, construct a raised platform, then add drain mats, sand and a growing medium before installing natural grass. It is a different approach from the temporary grass mats used for one-off events and is meant to create a more consistent, tournament-grade pitch for visiting teams.
How crews will lift the pitch
The engineering plan starts with installing columns to support a new elevated platform, then stacking drainage layers, irrigation and USGA-grade sand and soil before the sod field goes down, as outlined by Sports Business Journal. To keep real grass alive inside the closed-roof venue, the stadium has purchased large LED grow lights and a rigging system so turf can be grown and maintained indoors, the Houston Chronicle reports. Organizers say a backup pitch will be staged in case anything goes wrong during installation. Grass for the main field is being grown on farms in Colorado and will be shipped in refrigerated trucks for a tightly timed transplant.
Timeline, seats and costs
Organizers plan to start the heavy work after the 2025 NFL season so the stadium is ready for the June tournament schedule. Dan Hunt told The Dallas Morning News that columns will have to be installed to support and elevate the surface, and said the reconfiguration will cost well in the millions, with final numbers still tied to FIFA’s specifications. The Cowboys’ recent $300 million stadium refresh did not include the additional tens of millions expected to prepare the floor for a World Cup-sized pitch.
What fans and suite holders will notice
Several field-level suites will be taken offline for a stretch so crews have room to build the platform, and workers will be on a tight schedule to rebuild and return those leased spaces before Cowboys preseason games, according to Sports Business Journal and local reporting. Sightlines in the corners will change while the project is underway, but organizers say the tradeoff is a regulation-size soccer pitch suitable for World Cup play. Backup fields and redundant systems are being prepared so matches can continue even if one transplant has issues, the Houston Chronicle reports.
The World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, and AT&T Stadium is scheduled to host nine matches, including a semifinal, which leaves a narrow window for conversion and restoration, The Dallas Morning News notes. Organizers say the goal is a world-class, tournament-grade field that will last through the event and then be returned to NFL configuration before Cowboys preseason obligations begin.
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