As the 2026 FIFA World Cup brings global attention to North Texas, UTA Libraries is offering a unique way to celebrate the tournament while supporting future library programs.

 

Inspired by “Atlas of Champions: Historic Maps of the 2026 World Cup Nations,” UTA Libraries has created a limited-edition commemorative jersey that reflects both the global spirit of the World Cup and the distinctive collections preserved in Special Collections.

We invite UTA Libraries staff, alumni, supporters, and members of the community to help share this opportunity with friends, family, colleagues, and fellow soccer fans. Every shared conversation, post, and recommendation helps introduce new audiences to UTA Libraries while supporting programs that strengthen scholarship, creativity, and community engagement.

Individuals who make a donation of $75 or more to UTA Libraries will receive one of the collectible jerseys as a thank-you for their support. Contributions directly benefit future library programs, and all gifts are tax-deductible.

To make a gift and reserve a commemorative jersey, visit https://give.uta.edu/libraries.

 

The jersey is celebrates the “Atlas of Champions,” Special Collections exhibit, which connects one of the world’s most widely watched sporting events with centuries of cartographic history. The exhibit features more than 48 maps representing each nation that qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, along with additional selections highlighting notable moments and matchups from soccer history.

The maps span more than 500 years of history, offering visitors a view of how the world has been recorded and reimagined across time. One of the oldest items 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 illustrate the evolving relationship between geography, history and cultural identity.

For Evan Spencer, outreach and instruction archivist in Special Collections, “Atlas of Champions” offered a way to highlight the depth and variety of the Libraries’ cartographic collections in a timely and engaging context.

“We wanted the exhibit to represent all the different styles of maps, as well as time periods and cartographic traditions,” Spencer said previously. “We felt it was the best way to show off the breadth of maps we have here in Special Collections.”

The exhibit also reflects a broader effort within Special Collections to connect archival materials with events and moments that resonate beyond campus.

“One of our big goals at Special Collections has been to connect our archives to all these big events happening around us,” Spencer said previously. “We do have this amazing and massive map collection that we feel can capture people’s interest in a unique way.”

 

That connection extends beyond UTA through a partnership with the Arlington Museum of Art, where a companion version of “Atlas of Champions” is featured in the “More Than a Match” exhibition series, an immersive fan experience celebrating Arlington’s role as a host city for the World Cup.

Atlas of Champions will remain on display in Special Collections through September, offering visitors an opportunity to experience the intersection of sport, history, geography and culture through centuries of mapmaking.

As excitement surrounding the World Cup continues across the region, we invite you to help spread the word. Share the commemorative jersey opportunity, share the exhibit, and help connect new audiences to the collections, programs, and experiences that make UTA Libraries an important resource for our campus and community.

To learn more about the exhibit visit the UTA Libraires website for more information.