Dallas will be a major arrival point when FIFA World Cup 2026 comes to North America. Local officials, airport leaders, and residents are already signaling the same thing to incoming fans: landing in Dallas is only the first step.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area has two major commercial airports, a vast freeway network, and host-city operations spread across one of the largest metro regions in the country. For travelers coming in for matches, fan events, and connecting flights, knowing how the region works before wheels touch down could save hours.
Dallas has two major airports, and they are not close to each other
The first thing locals want visitors to understand is that “Dallas” air travel usually means a choice between Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field. DFW is the larger of the two by a wide margin. It sits between Dallas and Fort Worth and handled more than 81 million passengers in 2024, according to airport figures, making it one of the busiest airports in the world.
Love Field is smaller, closer to central Dallas, and dominated by domestic service, especially Southwest Airlines. For some travelers, it is the easier airport because of its simpler layout and shorter curb-to-gate times. But locals warn that choosing Love Field only because it says “Dallas” can create problems if your hotel, event, or onward trip is actually closer to Arlington, Fort Worth, or DFW Airport itself…