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Mexico signs long-term deal for AT&T Stadium matches

NFL American football team the Dallas Cowboys has reached a landmark agreement with the Mexican Football Federation (FMF), FC Dallas and the Dallas Sports Commission to stage a Mexican national team match at AT&T Stadium for the next four years.

The first match of the partnership will take place on June 9, 2019. Mexico will then play a match at AT&T Stadium each year until 2022 as part of its US Tour.

As part of the agreement, Major League Soccer team FC Dallas will stage watch parties for out-of-market Mexico matches ahead of the annual AT&T Stadium match. The club will also participate in youth clinics and community initiatives.

“With the Dallas Cowboys fan base in Mexico, and the Mexican national team being one of the most popular teams here in North Texas, we are excited for the opportunity to host Mexico at AT&T Stadium for years to come,” said Jerry Jones Jr., Dallas Cowboys executive vice-president/chief sales and marketing officer.

“We are thrilled to continue to engage these incredibly passionate fan bases with two premier sports brands at one the best stadiums in the world.”

The Mexican national team will also participate in local community initiatives geared towards growing the sport and promoting the North Texas region’s Hispanic population.

The Cowboys hope to use the matches to showcase AT&T Stadium ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. The 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium has been named as one of 23 proposed stadia, with this list to be eventually whittled down to 16 during a final host city evaluation and selection process.

Monica Paul, executive director of the Dallas Sports Commission, said: “We look forward to welcoming the Mexican national team to Dallas and North Texas over the next four years as their home away from home as we further expand the impact of soccer here locally. Whether it be through the fan fest, reading programs, and other community initiatives, we are excited about the opportunity to celebrate the culture and sport of soccer as we continue our quest to be a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city.”

The deal was brokered by Soccer United Marketing, which is owned by MLS. Mexico already had a an agreement with Soccer United Marketing whereby the national team would play at least five friendlies across the US, but the new deal cements AT&T Stadium as the team’s second home.

Image: Dallas Cowboys