UTA Libraries Launches Community Collection to Preserve World Cup Fan Experiences

As Arlington and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex welcome the world's largest sporting event, UTA Libraries is inviting soccer fans, residents, and visitors from around the globe to help preserve history by contributing their personal experiences to a new World Cup digital collection.

The UTA Libraries Special Collections and Archives has launched the World Cup Fan Experience Collection, a community-driven archive designed to document how people experience the tournament throughout North Texas. The collection seeks digital photographs, videos, artwork, and other materials that capture the excitement and energy of the World Cup and related events.

From matches at Arlington's stadium to fan festivals, watch parties, restaurants, parks, and gatherings at home, UTA Libraries wants to preserve the stories and memories that define this historic moment.

"This is a really important occasion for the city of Arlington and the greater DFW Metroplex," Evan Spencer, Outreach and Instruction Archivist, said. "We want to make sure we document the community's experience at these events. Every person attending a game, gathering with friends to watch a match, or participating in a fan event has a unique perspective that deserves to be preserved."

The collection is open to submissions from residents and international visitors alike. Contributors are encouraged to share photos and videos that showcase their experiences during the tournament, whether they are cheering inside the stadium, attending official fan events, or celebrating with family and friends.

"We're interested in capturing the fan experience in all its forms," Spencer said. "Whether you're in the first or last row of the stadium, at a watch party with friends, or watching from your favorite restaurant, we want to document what the World Cup looked like through your eyes."

The initiative follows the success of UTA Libraries' community-driven collection documenting the Texas Rangers' 2023 World Series championship. That project received numerous submissions from fans who shared personal stories and photographs connected to the historic season.

"We saw how meaningful those contributions were for the Rangers collection," Spencer said. "People shared stories that went far beyond the game itself. Those personal experiences helped tell a richer story about what that moment meant to the community. We hope to capture that same sense of connection with the World Cup."

While professional photographers and media organizations will extensively document the tournament, UTA Libraries believes community contributions offer an equally valuable perspective.

"Traditional media captures the event itself, but this collection gives everyday people the opportunity to tell their own stories," Spencer said. "We want to see the celebrations after a goal, the traditions shared among families, and the moments of excitement and joy that make the World Cup memorable."

The collection also serves an important preservation role. Although digital photographs and videos may seem permanent, they can be lost over time due to damaged devices, forgotten accounts, changing technologies, or corrupted files.

"People often think digital files will last forever, but that's not always the case," Spencer said. "Part of our mission is to ensure these materials are preserved and remain accessible for future generations. By contributing to the collection, community members are helping create a lasting record of how this region experienced one of the most significant sporting events in the world."

Submitted materials will be preserved as part of the UTA Libraries' permanent archival collections and made accessible through the UTA Libraries Digital Archive. 

An initial version of the collection is expected to be available online in August, allowing contributors and visitors to explore the stories and experiences captured throughout the tournament.

Fans interested in participating can submit photographs, videos, digital artwork, and other digital materials through the World Cup Fan Experience Collection submission portal.