As the world prepares for the return of the FIFA World Cup to North America on June 11th, UTA Libraries is inviting the Arlington community to experience the tournament differently, through historic maps.   
 

A new exhibit in Special Collections, Atlas of Champions, connects the global reach of the World Cup with the Libraries’ cartographic collections. The exhibit brings together more than 48 maps, one representing each country that qualified for the tournament, along with additional selections that highlight key matchups and memorable moments in soccer history.  
 

For Evan Spencer, Outreach and Instruction Archivist, the idea came from a simple place: a love of maps and sports.   

 
“With matches happening here in Arlington, it felt like a natural way to bring people into Special Collections,” Spencer said. “We’re always thinking about how our collections can connect to what’s happening in the world around us.”  

That connection is made especially clear this summer. According to KERA News, Arlington is set to host nine 2026 World Cup matches at AT&T Stadium, known as Dallas Stadium for the tournament, with the region expected to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors. The stadium itself can accommodate more than 100,000 fans per match, contributing to what is expected to be millions of visitors from around the world.  

 
Atlas of Champions was designed with that global audience in mind, as well as students, faculty, and local residents.  

 
The maps themselves span centuries. One of the oldest on display is a 1513 map by Martin Waldseemüller representing Spain. At the other end of the timeline is a map of Qatar created for the 2022 World Cup. Together, they show how we see the world has changed over time.  

 
Building the exhibit came with its challenges. Rather than relying on regional maps, Spencer worked to find maps that represented each country individually. In some cases, that meant searching for maps that reflect countries with more recent histories. This search led to new additions to the Libraries’ collection, supported by endowment funds.  

The result is an exhibit that reflects both the scale of the World Cup and the depth of UTA Libraries’ holdings.  
 

Visitors will also find materials tied to the 1994 World Cup, when matches were held in North Texas. Items from that tournament, including programs, maps, and pins, connect this year’s event to a moment many in the community still remember.  

Extending the Exhibit Beyond Campus  

While the exhibit is rooted in Special Collections, its reach extends beyond campus through a partnership with the Arlington Museum of Art. A companion version of the Atlas of Champions is currently on display there as part of a larger series of exhibitions focused on the Arlington matches.  
 

“Working with the Arlington Museum of Art has been a great experience,” Spencer said. “It’s allowed us to think about how we present our materials to different audiences and how we can be part of something larger happening in the community.”  

That collaboration is part of the museum’s broader programming tied to the upcoming World Cup. The Atlas of Champions companion exhibit is included within the Arlington Museum of Art’s More Than a Match series, an immersive fan experience, open now to the public through Aug. 2.  

 
Atlas of Champions will be on display in Special Collections through September.  

Whether you are a soccer fan, a student, or someone simply curious about the world, the exhibit offers a reason to stop by. And for those visiting Arlington during the World Cup, it provides a place to slow down and see how global events and local collections can come together in one space.