Messi in Dallas? Dallas Gets First Look at FIFA World Cup Teams at Billy Bob’s Party

Scarves and flags representing Brazil, the United States, Mexico, Scotland and Argentina were draped across the shoulders of audience members Friday morning as hundreds of North Texas soccer fans gathered at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth to watch the selection ceremony for the 2026 World Cup. 

Dubbed the “draw” party, the ceremony — broadcast from Washington, D.C. — was the first step in sorting 48 world teams into the 12 groups that will face off next summer, and offers Dallas its first look at which teams could call North Texas home when the World Cup kicks off. AT&T Stadium, which will be renamed Dallas Stadium for the tournament, will host two matches in Groups F and J, and one in Group L. 

The teams in Group F are the Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia and the winner of a soon-to-be-decided playoff between Ukraine, Sweden, Poland and Albania. Group J comprises Argentina, Algeria, Austria and Jordan. The Fort Worth crowd erupted into cheers as Argentina was announced in the group’s first position, enthusiastic about the possibility of Lionel Messi playing in North Texas. Argentina is the defending World Cup champion.

A match between some combination of England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama will also be played in Dallas next summer. The full match schedule will be announced Saturday, and North Texas will host nine games total, including a semifinal match. 

Friday’s draw party is an early glimpse at the hype heading for North Texas next summer, as fans clad in jerseys, hats, flags and scarves cheered along with the televised ceremony. (Or, in cases when President Donald Trump was shown on screen, booed loudly.) 

Gregg Wilson, a North Texas sports fan who has gained attention for his outrageous headwear, attended the draw ceremony wearing an oversized, soccer-printed helmet. 

“People don’t even know what’s about to happen here next summer,” Wilson remarked while brandishing an LED sign reading USA. 

The United States will face Paraguay, Australia, and the winner of a playoff between Turkey, Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo in the group stage of the tournament. The first opportunity North Texas will have to host the U.S. team will be in the round of 32 stage. 

Jimmy Smith from the North Texas World Cup Organizing Committee was happy with how the draw worked out.

“So many big teams with big names are going to be playing here,” he said immediately after the groups were announced. “We felt really confident that any of the top-tier teams would be great to have here, but for us to get the defending World Cup champion in Argentina and England both play here, you couldn’t ask for anything more.”