The average international visitor attending the 2026 soccer tournament in DFW stays 9.7 days. That is enough time to attend a match at AT&T Stadium, catch a Texas Rangers game at Globe Life Field and drive a loop through three of the most distinctive cities in the country. Dallas and Houston are both host cities for the tournament, and Austin and San Antonio sit between them on Interstate 35.
Here is the 10-day plan.
Dallas hosts multiple matches at AT&T Stadium (renamed “Dallas Stadium” for the tournament). Houston also hosts matches at NRG Stadium (renamed “Houston Stadium”). The two cities sit 240 miles apart on I-45, connected by a straight three-and-a-half-hour drive. If your schedule includes fixtures in both cities, the road trip between them is one of the easiest multi-city trips in the tournament.
Fly into DFW Airport and head to the Arlington Entertainment District or downtown Dallas. Walk the district to get your bearings. Globe Life Field, AT&T Stadium and Texas Live! are all within a five to 13-minute walk of each other.
The official fan festival at Fair Park in Dallas is expected to accommodate tens of thousands of visitors with covered seating and free entry. Take the DART Green Line from downtown. A DART Day Pass costs $6.
Attend your match at AT&T Stadium. If the Rangers have an evening home game the same day or the next, get tickets to see the Rangers in 2026 and walk between the two stadiums. Globe Life Field has a retractable roof and air conditioning.
Austin is about 195 miles south of Arlington on I-35, roughly three hours of driving. Leave in the morning, check into your hotel by early afternoon and spend the evening on South Congress Avenue or the Rainey Street Historic District.
Walk the Hike and Bike Trail along Lady Bird Lake in the morning. Tour the Texas State Capitol (free). Eat barbecue at Franklin Barbecue or La Barbecue (expect lines at both). Explore the 2nd Street District downtown.
Note for drivers: SH 130 near Austin has the highest speed limit in the United States at 85 miles per hour. It is a toll road, and most Texas toll roads are cashless. Rental cars typically have a daily toll-plan administration fee.
Drive from Austin to San Antonio, about 80 miles south on I-35. The drive takes roughly an hour and 20 minutes. Visit the Alamo (free admission, center of downtown) and walk the River Walk, a network of pedestrian pathways along the San Antonio River lined with restaurants, shops and hotels.
The Pearl District, a redeveloped brewery complex, has restaurants and a farmers market. Southtown is the neighborhood for art galleries and evening dining.
San Antonio to Houston covers about 200 miles on I-10 and takes roughly three hours. Houston’s Museum District, Hermann Park and Space Center Houston are the top stops. Truth BBQ is a strong pick for barbecue.
If the tournament schedule includes a Houston match during your visit, NRG Stadium is the venue. If not, Discovery Green in downtown Houston hosts fan programming. Houston’s food scene is one of the most diverse in the country and worth exploring on its own.
Houston to Arlington covers about 265 miles on I-45 and takes three and a half to four hours. Stop at Buc-ee’s in Madisonville or Corsicana for the full Texas road trip experience. Arrive in time for dinner at Texas Live! or an evening activity in the Entertainment District.
Use the morning for anything you missed. The Grand Slam Team Store at Globe Life Field is open on non-game days. Leave time for the 20 to 35-minute drive to DFW Airport.
A rental car gives you the most flexibility for this loop and is the recommended option. The total driving distance is roughly 785 miles. Gas for the full loop runs about $60 to $90 depending on the vehicle.
Domestic flights connect DFW to Austin, San Antonio and Houston on Southwest and American Airlines. Flight times are under an hour, but once you factor in airport time on both ends, driving is often comparable and more convenient for a road trip with stops.
Most Texas toll roads are cashless. The three Texas toll-tag systems (NTTA TollTag, TxTag and HCTRA EZ TAG) are interoperable on most roads. Rental cars typically auto-bill tolls through pay-by-plate plus an administration fee. Ask at the rental counter about the daily toll fee, or use Google Maps with “avoid tolls” enabled to skip them entirely.
An international driving permit is recommended but not always required for short-term visits. Carry your passport and home country license together.
Driving is typically cheaper and more flexible, especially if you are making stops. The drive takes three and a half to four hours on I-45. Flights take under an hour in the air but require airport time on both ends.
Yes. Both Dallas and Houston host matches during the tournament. Check the fixture list for overlapping dates and plan the drive between them.
Most rental companies accept a valid foreign driver’s license. An international driving permit is recommended. Carry your passport and home license together.
Most Texas tolls are cashless. Rental cars auto-bill through pay-by-plate with an administration fee. Ask at the counter about the daily toll charge, or use Google Maps to avoid toll roads entirely.
The Texas Triangle refers to the loop connecting Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin via I-35 and I-45. This itinerary follows that loop with stops in all four cities.
Yes. The Rangers play home games throughout June and July at Globe Life Field. Check the schedule and build a game into your first few days in DFW.
