Living in Arlington, I sometimes find myself in situations that are hard to explain. When someone asks, "Where do you live?" I say, "Arlington, Texas," and the next response is always, "Oh, that's where the Cowboys are?" or "That's where the Rangers are?" It's not incorrect, but living in this city makes you realize that it's not all there is to Arlington.

AT&T Stadium is not just a sports facility. When Taylor Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour was filmed there in 2019 and released worldwide on Netflix, the name Arlington appeared on screens around the globe. Even when it's not football season, this venue hosts concerts, boxing events, and professional wrestling shows. It's interesting that teams without the city's name—Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers—are actually based in Arlington. Although Arlington isn't in their names, this city is at the center of it all.

The TV drama Dallas (2012-2014) helped shape the image of the entire DFW area for global audiences through the story of a Texas oil dynasty.

The glamorous, ambitious, and sometimes gritty Texas style is showcased in works like The Rookie (2002) and The Gifted (2017 pilot), which were filmed on the streets of Arlington, bringing the everyday scenery of this city to the screen. As these scenes accumulate, Arlington has formed an image as a space that represents the energy of Texas, rather than just a suburban city.

If you ask Arlington residents to name a place they take the most pride in, it would undoubtedly be AT&T Stadium.

Famous as the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, it has established itself as a venue for world-class events beyond just football games.

Especially since AT&T Stadium has been selected as a venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it is once again in the global spotlight. A total of nine matches are scheduled during the World Cup, including five group stage matches and tournament games, culminating in the semifinals on July 14. It is one of the venues in the U.S. assigned the most World Cup matches.

This venue has already successfully hosted numerous Super Bowls, college football championships, major concerts, and international soccer matches. Depending on the event, its capacity can exceed 80,000, and thanks to its massive video screens and state-of-the-art facilities, it is often cited as a place that exemplifies the saying, "Everything is bigger in Texas."

In fact, when Arlington kids introduce their city at school, the first thing they mention is this stadium.

Thus, AT&T Stadium has become more than just a building; it has become a symbol of the city. It embodies the large, vibrant, and confident image of Texas. When the 2026 World Cup begins, millions of eyes from around the world will once again turn to Arlington.