Dallas City Council Greenlights Investment for 2026 World Cup Broadcast Hub

The city council voted randomly to allot up to $15 million in innovation for the key Bailey Convention Center to host the International Broadcast Center in 2026. In a key move solidifying Dallas's position as a global media hub for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Dallas City Council has approved a $15 million investment to transform the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center into the International Broadcast Center.

The council voted unanimously during the meeting, following an hour of discussion, questions, and enthusiasm for the world’s most-watched sporting event.

The upcoming step is to make a contract with FIFA, which had selected Dallas for the International Broadcast Center, or IBC.

The North Texas region is getting ready to host several matches for the FIFA World CUP in 2026 after a lengthy bid against other cities across North America. Leaders from Dallas and surrounding North Texas cities, along with representatives from AT&T Stadium, the Dallas Cowboys, FC Dallas, the Dallas Sports Commission, DFW Airport, Love Field, and various local, regional, state, and national organizations, worked together for years to secure the bid. The newly approved $15 million investment will support vital upgrades to the convention center’s infrastructure, including improvements to climate control, power sourcing, and other key features needed for the efficient operation of the IBC.

FIFA intends to use the facility for eight months, beginning in January 2026, to prepare and set up the broadcast center.

The upgrades align with a broader, ongoing renovation of the convention center. While demolition of certain areas is set to begin next summer, the city will pause the work to meet FIFA’s requirements during the tournament. This overlapping timeline highlights the project's complexity and emphasizes Dallas's commitment to balancing long-term development with a short-term global opportunity.

“This is the perfect backdrop for people who will be broadcasting from literally our downtown to every corner of the globe. No event brings us together as global citizens more than the FIFA World Cup,” said Jennifer Scripps, CEO of Downtown Dallas Inc., while addressing the council on Wednesday.

City officials also highlighted the significant economic advantages of hosting the IBC. FIFA projects that Dallas’s involvement as a World Cup host city which includes nine matches at AT&T Stadium, a 39-day Fan Fest at Fair Park, and the IBC will bring a $2 billion economic boost to the region.

Prior to the vote, council members reviewed logistics, costs, and the potential return on investment with the World Cup Host Committee.

An official press conference to provide more details on the initiative was scheduled for Wednesday but has been postponed until after the New Year. City officials stated that the delay will give the planning committee more time to explore additional opportunities related to the World Cup's broader impact on Dallas.