A striking new piece of World Cup-inspired public art is shining like a soccer beacon in Arlington: Texan Golden Boot, an 18-foot-long sculpture designed to commemorate North Texas as a host for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has been unveiled by the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee.

The sculpture stands in Arlington’s Entertainment District near AT&T Stadium (dubbed "Dallas Stadium" for the tournament), where nine World Cup matches will be played this summer — more than any other host city.

Created from locally sourced reclaimed metal by internationally known sculptor Steve Ekpenisi, the piece is neither golden nor a boot, but it does blend two recognizable symbols of the sport in DFW: soccer’s famed Golden Boot award and a Texas-style spur. (Is it weird to see a cowboy-boot spur on a soccer cleat? Yeah, a little.)

According to the release, the sculpture measures 18 feet long, 11 feet high, and weighs more than 2,200 pounds.

“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,” says Dan Hunt, president of FC Dallas and co-chair of the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee, in the release. “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,” he says.

The sculpture was unveiled May 28 during a dedication ceremony with civic leaders and organizers tied to the World Cup effort in DFW.

“Arlington is proud to be the permanent home of the Texan Golden Boot, which embodies the spirit of our North Texas region,” says Arlington Mayor Jim Ross in the release. “This sculpture will serve as a lasting reminder of what a monumental moment of hosting the World Cup meant for our city and our region, while also investing in the future of our youth through the power of sports.”

The project was produced in partnership with the North Texas Sports Foundation and nonprofit Street Art for Mankind.

It is also part of a larger fundraising campaign benefiting youth sports access, public art, health initiatives, and community programs across North Texas. Donors contributing between $500 and $5,000 can purchase engraved bricks surrounding the installation through the project's “Buy a Brick” campaign, the committee says.

“The Texan Golden Boot stands for the legacy and stewardship it will provide during the World Cup and beyond,” says Jaime Cabrera, director of donor relations for the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee. “This sculpture serves as an impactful symbol whose true impact is the opportunities provided with youth access to sport, healthier public spaces, community art and education grounded in values.”