The Arlington Museum of Art is hosting a soccer-themed interactive fan experience, “More Than a Match,” through August 2. Here’s what to know.
Before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11, Texans have the chance to learn more about the history and culture of soccer at the Arlington Museum of Art’s “More Than a Match” fan experience. Consisting of four separate but interconnected exhibits, the display will feature memorabilia from previous World Cups, as well as contemporary art, player jerseys, maps, scarves, and more.
The collection was sourced from Manchester, England’s National Football Museum, Frisco’s National Soccer Hall of Fame, and the University of Texas at Arlington’s Special Collections. The president of the Arlington Museum of Art, Chris Hightower, said they’re looking forward to welcoming visitors who will already be in town for local World Cup matches.
“For people to see something else while they’re here is going to be amazing and I think these four (exhibitions) wrap all the great things about the World Cup,” Hightower said. The museum is located roughly one mile from AT&T Stadium—set to be called Dallas Stadium for the duration of the tournament—which will be hosting nine World Cup games.
Tickets to the “More Than a Match” exhibit cost between $18 and $25 and can be purchased at this link. The Arlington Museum of Art, located at 1200 Ballpark Way, is closed on Mondays, but is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The experience is included in the general cost of museum entry.
What’s on display in the exhibit?
According to the museum’s website, “More Than a Match” consists of four “engaging, immersive installations that blend art and history, inviting fans to delve into the passion, rivalry, and camaraderie that define” soccer. A highlight of the display are the historic maps showcasing all of the countries participating in this year’s FIFA World Cup.
“More Than a Match” is the name of the first exhibit, which is essentially a historic overview of how soccer progressed as a sport and of how the World Cup was initially created in 1930. From there, visitors enter a room filled with banners and display cases showing off memorabilia like one of soccer legend Pelé’s jerseys.
Another exhibit is called “Art of the Game,” and includes sculptures, photographs, and paintings from notable artists Darío Escobar, Kehinde Wiley, Andy Warhol, along with several others from around the world. Colton Canava, who is an artist based out of Dallas, has a massive mural displayed in the room depicting Dutch soccer player Virgil van Dijk, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, and England’s Jude Bellingham.
From “Art of the Game,” visitors are led into “Atlas of Champions,” an exhibit displaying those historical maps we mentioned of all the teams representing their home countries during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Rounding out the experience is the “Fabrics of Fanatics” installation that houses soccer scarves collected from Arlington residents. The exhibit explains howthese scarves became an international way of showcasing team pride and the unique designs each one possesses.
