The 2,200-pound Texan Golden Boot is more than public art — it’s North Texas’ newest symbol of the coming World Cup.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texan Golden Boot has been installed in Arlington’s Entertainment District just two weeks prior to the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
It will serve as a permanent public art sculpture commemorating the North Texas region and Dallas as a host city.
“The Golden Boot is one of the most recognizable symbols in soccer because it represents players who rise to the moment and leave their mark,” said Dan Hunt, President of FC Dallas and Co-Chair of the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee. “To see that symbol reimagined here, with a North Texas identity, says a lot about how this region sees the game and its future. This sculpture will become a gathering place where fans connect, stories are shared and local pride meets the global game.”
The sculpture stands 18 feet long by 11 feet high and weighs over 2,200 pounds. It was created by internationally recognized sculptor Steve Ekpenisi and curated and produced by Street Art for Mankind.
“The Texan Golden Boot represents more than a sculpture – it’s the result of collaboration between artists, engineers, and a community that believed in what art can represent,” said Thibault and Audrey Decker, Co-Founders of Street Art for Mankind. “The Texan Golden Boot was designed not just to be seen, but to tell a story – of unity, creativity, and the global language of football, and Steve Ekpenisi’s vision and craftsmanship turned reclaimed materials into something truly iconic that reflects both the strength and the beauty of the game. We’re proud to have helped bring this to North Texas and to be part of a legacy that will inspire people for years to come.”
Anyone can also “buy a brick” to take part in the World Cup legacy by purchasing engraved bricks ranging from $500 to $5,000. Each donor’s name will be featured on a brick placed around the Texan Golden Boot sculpture, ensuring their contribution remains permanently connected to a piece of history honoring the World Cup event.
“Major contributors” who donate $50,000 or more will receive permanent recognition on the base of the sculpture, celebrating the organizations, foundations and individuals who helped make the legacy project possible, WFAA previously reported.
All funds raised through the Texan Golden Boot and Buy a Brick Campaign are stewarded by the North Texas Sports Foundation and invested in initiatives focused on long-term community impact, sustainability and ethical development, officials said.
