World Cup Fever has hit North Texas. Unfortunately, the cost of a ticket to a match has risen much higher than any thermometer can measure. As a parent with a soccer fan son, not gonna lie, it’s more irritating than an itch in the middle of my back with no backscratcher to be found. However, thanks to a couple of local museums, those who aren’t willing to sell a bodily organ and who don’t have a key to Fort Knox can still enjoy what my son and other soccer fans claim is the world’s most popular sport. Well, statistics say that also, as 3.5 billion fans across the globe can’t be wrong. If each of those fans chipped in a dollar, perhaps you could get a ticket – single ticket, mind you – to the World Cup championship match.
For the rest of us, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and the Arlington Museum of Art have perhaps the next best thing. Through exhibits, visitors can experience the phenomenon that is the World Cup. In Fort Worth, American Tifo is a summer exhibit organized by The Footy Museum in Chicago. It features one-of-a-kind artworks created by soccer supporter groups across the country, including local favorites like FC Dallas, Dallas Trinity FC, Atlético Dallas, and Austin FC.
Guests will be immersed in the vibrant world of soccer fandom and culture as they explore giant fan-made banners and learn about the history and traditions of supporter groups who bring stadiums to life. A tifo is an elaborate, visual display created by sports fans in stadium stands, typically used to show loyalty to their club, welcome players, or build pre-match atmosphere. The term derives from the Italian word tifosi, which means a group of passionate supporters.
One of the tifos featured in American Tifo was created by Lunáticos Azules, the official supporter group of Atlético Dallas. “We’re a new group, but our members built and painted this tifo by hand, and that passion speaks for itself,” said Drew Gehrts, Founder of Lunáticos Azules. “Being included in this exhibit is a tremendous honor, and getting to represent Atlético Dallas and the growing football scene in Dallas on a stage like this means everything to us. This is what supporter culture is all about.”
Both die-hard fans and newcomers will appreciate the celebration of art and community spirit that surrounds the game in the Fort Worth exhibit. “During this historic World Cup, this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to celebrate the artistry, community, and culture of supporters while connecting with soccer fans throughout the Fort Worth-Dallas area.” said Justin Witte, Co-Director and Co-Founder of The Footy Museum. Tickets can be reserved online at www.fwmuseum.org.
ARLINGTON EXHIBIT Down the road, the Arlington Museum of Art is celebrating the World Cup in its own special way with Soccer: The Passion for the World Cup, a multi-national collaborative exhibition.
Developed for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022 and expanded for the North American 2026 games, the collaboration includes unique, original items from Italy.
The exhibit takes visitors on a historical exploration, retracing the evolution of soccer from its ancient origins to the rise of the sport internationally, culminating with the World Cup. Guests can relive pivotal moments in both men’s and women’s soccer while uncovering the rich history of the World Cup.
Visitors can also learn about the evolution of soccer gear and memorabilia, including uniforms worn by legendary players, original posters, and photographs. Additionally, the exhibit will feature immersive installations and historical and modern videos that relive the most iconic moments in the history of soccer and World Cup competitions.
“As Arlington welcomes thousands of visitors to the FIFA World Cup, we hope fans of the sport will get the chance to experience the extensive history and passion poured into the sport by its players and teams through this exhibition.” said Kendall Quirk, the museum’s Director of Exhibitions. “Soccer has an innate ability to connect people across continents and that’s exactly what the AMA will showcase this summer.”
Tickets can be purchased at ArlingtonMuseum.org. Be sure and say thanks at each of the museums when you visit. Then, after, with the money you saved by not taking out a second mortgage on your home to attend one of the games, grab a beer and watch that match you can’t afford on TV. By the way, go Team USA!
