Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is set to install blackout curtains at AT&T Stadium to block out the sun during World Cup games—a move that has sparked fury among his team's fans. The 80,000-seat stadium in Arlington, Texas, will host five group-stage and four knockout matches at this summer's international soccer tournament, including a semi-final fixture in July.
Extreme Heat Concerns
Temperatures in the city could reach sweltering average highs of 90 degrees Fahrenheit or more during the tournament, with officials warning that extreme heat could threaten fans, workers, officials, and players alike. According to Margaret Fleming of Front Office Sports, Jones, 83, has agreed to have blackout curtains installed at the stadium to combat the searing conditions.
Sunlight Issue
A FIFA spokesperson reportedly confirmed that the sun will be blocked at AT&T for one of the nine World Cup games played there this summer—an early-evening kickoff. Sunlight notoriously shines through the west-facing windows of the stadium in the early evening, meaning curtains will be required to block it out when Japan face Sweden at 6pm CT on June 25.
The sunlight issue has become a controversial subject after affecting several Cowboys games over the years. Wide receiver George Pickens said after a Thanksgiving win over the Kansas City Chiefs that he missed a crucial catch because he couldn't see the ball. Another Dallas receiver, CeeDee Lamb, said the same when he missed a wide-open touchdown grab in a 2024 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Fan Frustration
Jones signing off on curtains for the World Cup has frustrated Cowboys players and fans, given his defiant refusal to install them in the past. When asked about putting curtains up after Lamb's drop in 2024, the billionaire said: "By the way, we know where the sun is going to be when we flip the coin, so we do know where the damn sun is going to be in our own stadium. Let's just tear the damn stadium down and build another one. Are you kidding me?"
He added: "Everybody has got the same thing. Every team that comes in here has the same issues. They know where the sun is going to be. I'm saying, the world knows where the sun is. You get to know that almost a year in advance. Someone asked me about the sun. What about the sun? Where's the moon?"
Jones has also agreed to install a temporary grass field over the artificial turf at AT&T Stadium for the World Cup, despite refusing to do the same for the Cowboys. Lamb recently pleaded for grass to be used at the arena going forward in a message on Instagram. However, FIFA requires natural grass at all of its soccer stadiums—a rule not in effect in the NFL.
Social Media Backlash
These decisions have not stopped Cowboys fans from taking aim at Jones on social media. One wrote: "So Jerry will install grass and use curtains for the World Cup, but will NOT do the same for his own players and Cowboys fans. What a stubborn a-hole." Another said: "He can do that for the World Cup, but not for the team he owns."
Sky Sports NFL presenter Neil Reynolds also weighed in: "I've been asking for a giant pair of curtains in Dallas for years. Let's hope they keep the sun blocked for the NFL season as well." A Cowboys fan responded: "Curtains have been there for ages, Jerry just likes to be weird and in the lime light."
AT&T Stadium has used curtains for non-football events in the past, including for the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson boxing match in November 2024.
World Cup Schedule
The first World Cup game at AT&T Stadium will see Japan take on Holland at 3pm CT on June 14, before England face Croatia there at the same time three days later. Argentina vs Austria is scheduled for 12pm on June 22, with the early-evening Japan vs Sweden game on June 25. The final group game at AT&T Stadium sees Argentina lock horns with Jordan at the later time of 9pm.
