Fort Worth Stockyards Draws International World Cup Crowds Seeking Texas Experience

FORT WORTH, Texas — Between FIFA World Cup matches in Arlington, thousands of international soccer fans are making their way to the Fort Worth Stockyards, drawn by the twice-daily longhorn cattle drive and the promise of an authentic Texas experience.

"I love it here," said Clauvio Varela, an Argentina fan visiting from South America. "It really brings you back down to the country life of what cowboys are all about."

The historic district has become a melting pot of cultures as fans from across the globe explore Cowtown's Western heritage. Daniel Scharbel, an Austria fan visiting Texas for the first time, was struck by the iconic longhorn cattle.

> "Impressive. We don't have such type of cows in Austria — the longhorns," Scharbel said. "The information you get from movies."

Case, a Japan native who lives in Chicago and was visiting Texas for the first time, summed up the experience simply: "It's very Texas. I feel very Texan here." He also praised another Lone Star State institution, adding, "Buc-ee's I love."

For local businesses, the international influx has been a welcome boost. Lindsey Perales, who works at Will Leather Goods just steps from the cattle drive route, has been creating custom leather tags as keepsakes for visiting families. "Being able to come here and interact with them as customers — they have so many questions, and they're all just in shock of everything. I find it very entertaining," Perales said.

The North Texas region is hosting nine World Cup matches, with an estimated millions of visitors expected throughout the tournament. The Stockyards, a National Historic District, has long been one of the region's top attractions, but the World Cup has brought a new level of international attention to Fort Worth's Western heritage.

Sources

Spectrum News (Lauren Rangel), June 30, 2026