- Jerry World is one of three finalists in the running to host the centerpiece
- The Arlington location, along with NJ’s MetLife and LA’s SoFi, are all in the fray
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Cowboys owner and master businessman Jerry Jones is doing his best to ensure the 2026 World Cup Finals come to Arlington, Texas. after FIFA President Gianni Infantino personally witnessed the Cowboys’ 30-10 loss to the Jets.
The controversial head of global football sat in a luxury suite as Jones’ Cowboys rebelled against the Zach Wilson-led Gang Green.
AT&T Stadium in Dallas is a crown jewel in the American game – and Jones hopes to expand that to global status, if it hasn’t already reached that threshold.
Based on Infantino’s comments, there’s a good chance Big D will host the biggest event in sports.
‘The stadium is absolutely fantastic’ said Infantinovia Noah Bullard of NBC5 Sports.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino drew some boos when he was shown on the big screen
AT&T Stadium in Arlington is one of the crown jewels in the landscape of American sports venues
“I have to say that in America you are light years ahead of the rest of the world.” FIFA President Gianni Infantino at AT&T Stadium with Jerry Jones before today’s Jets-Cowboys match. @NBCDFW pic.twitter.com/5GfKexoEFK
— Noah Bullard (@noah_bullard) September 18, 2023
‘It’s incredible to be here… it’s important to see all the stadiums, it’s important to see what’s being done for the fans.
‘I have to say that in America you are light years ahead of the rest of the world.
“So we are here to learn, we are here to control and we are here to create and organize the biggest, greatest World Cup ever.”
There’s no guarantee it will come to Arlington, however, as New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium and Southern California’s SoFi Stadium provide stiff competition.
So, what did good old Jerry do in an attempt to stack the Dallas deck?
Have Star Pass Rusher Micah Parsons greet Infantino before returning to pregame in the locker room, via Dallas Morning News.
“I think we’re doing everything we can to play the last game here,” Jones said.
“We’re going to have games here, but I want to try every way I can to make it happen and I have to send Micah.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones tried to woo Infantino by introducing him to Micah Parsons (C)
In addition to interacting with the league’s best player, Infantino experienced 93,689 NFL fans – most of them of the Cowboy variety, of course – at their rawest.
The polarizing president also faced some boos when his face was shown on the huge screen in the stadium.
One would hope this doesn’t factor into the final equation, with an official announcement from FIFA expected in the next month or so.
The World Cup will be the biggest in terms of competing teams. For the first time in history, 48 countries will participate in 12 groups consisting of four squadrons.