As the 2026 FIFA World Cup rolls through North America, AT&T Stadium has gone through a number of soccer-specific upgrades to get ready for the tournament. But do not get too attached because they are not permanent.

From temporary solutions for the Dallas Cowboys' home stadium's sun glare to adjustments made for FIFA, many observers believed the upgrades highlighted ways to improve the fan and player experience. But sadly, these changes will disappear once the tournament ends.

"The overwhelming reaction to the changes made for the World Cup to AT&T Stadium is to ask, 'Why not just keep them after the tournament is over? '" wrote Mac Engel of Star-Telegram.

Following the World Cup setup, the fans believe that some of the stadium's issues can be fixed more easily than they thought. It reduced the sunlight interference whenever necessary.

Yet, according to Engel, the Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, does not want to accept those modifications as permanent. The issue was Dallas Stadium's long-term grass future.

Engel argued that many of the World Cup adjustments were made specifically to satisfy FIFA requirements rather than serve as long-term upgrades for the Cowboys. As a result, several of the temporary changes are expected to be removed once the tournament concludes.

When engineers figured out that drainage was the root cause of maintaining quality grass indoors, laying a playing surface for football, soccer, or futbol became feasible.

Though it is costly and not doable within short periods. Natural grass could be grown inside the stadium, but the stadium was ultimately built to be a multi-purpose venue that can host football, a concert, and the world's largest yoga class all in one 10-day period.

The World Cup makeover was designed for FIFA, not necessarily for the Cowboys' long-term future.

The Tint Works, But Grass Is the Real Problem

For years, Dallas Cowboys fans have complained about the late-afternoon sun that passes through the west-facing windows of AT&T Stadium, blinding the players and creating frustration.

"The Cowboys went with a more aesthetically pleasing tint on the windows, which does have a dramatic effect on the natural sun inside the stadium," wrote Engel.

During the FIFA World Cup, the problem seemingly vanished. A special tint was applied to the stadium's massive glass panels to remove the glare, shadows, and sunlight that had been disturbing.

However, despite the positive results, the change is not expected to remain after the tournament. While the World Cup gave a practical solution, the Cowboys are set to restore the stadium to its previous condition.

What are your views on the Dallas Stadium modifications? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Hetal Moleshri

Edited by

Rudra Dubey