Visitors from Chile, Kazakhstan, Vanuatu and more than 20 other countries poured into Grapevine over the past month, turning what local businesses call a typically slow summer stretch into one of the busiest on record.
The Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau documented international guests from more than 25 countries during the 39-day FIFA World Cup, which wrapped up July 19, with Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina. Dallas Stadium, roughly 15 minutes from Grapevine, hosted nine matches, the most of any U.S. venue.
Amber O'Sheal, general manager of Messina Hof Winery's Grapevine tasting room, said Japanese soccer supporters made up the winery's largest international group during the tournament.
Many arrived already familiar with wine culture, she said, noting Japan has a wine brotherhood called the Knights of the Vine. O'Sheal said the tasting room made only a few small marketing pushes for the event and found most visitors were happy to engage with normal operations.
"I would say the tournament helped us immensely because it made the summer months, which are usually a little slow, much more exciting at Messina Hof," O'Sheal told the CVB. "We had a strong second quarter this year, and I'm already excited to see how we did in Q3!"
The Belgium-United States elimination match, played on a Monday night, packed local bars and restaurants. Monday nights are usually dead.
Hotel Vin screened every World Cup game across its bars and restaurants, Hoppin' Grapevine hosted watch parties throughout the tournament, Weinberger's Deli ran an international sandwich tour, and Bohemian Bull offered matchday specials. The Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center served as an official FIFA accommodation partner.
DFW Airport, the nation's second-busiest, projected 1.75 million passengers between Thursday, July 2, and Tuesday, July 7, as Fourth of July travel collided with World Cup traffic.
Grapevine sits minutes from the airport, and the CVB says international visitors can clear customs and reach a hotel room within 10 minutes. A complimentary visitor shuttle connects hotels and attractions across the city.
Two years of preparation
Heather Egan, director of leisure and international sales at the Grapevine CVB, said the bureau began positioning Grapevine as an ideal World Cup home base more than two years before kickoff, citing the city's access to more than 70 nonstop international flights daily through DFW.
Egan said the CVB's goal is that World Cup visitors will return home as ambassadors for Grapevine, inspiring future trips from family, friends and colleagues.
A full economic impact analysis for Grapevine will take several months, according to the CVB. Pre-tournament expert projections estimated a $2 billion impact across North Texas. Separately, data firm AirDNA found Dallas-Fort Worth short-term rentals generated $26 million in revenue during the tournament. FIFA estimated the event produced $40.9 billion in global economic activity, with a record 6.8 million fans attending matches worldwide.
Grapevine's travel industry already generates more than $2.3 billion in annual economic impact, with 84% of all city sales tax coming from visitors, according to the CVB.
What's next
GrapeFest 2026 runs Thursday, September 17, through Sunday, September 20, at 636 S. Main St. in downtown Grapevine.
