A Goal-Worthy Data Surge at AT&T Stadium
AT&T Stadium has always been a stage for unforgettable moments, and during this tournament, the world had a front-row seat. When ~4 million spectators from around the world traveled to North Texas, AT&T Stadium, the country’s busiest stage, was ready for the spotlight and AT&T’s network once again delivered. As the only U.S. venue to host nine matches, more than any other stadium in the tournament, AT&T Stadium became a centerpiece of the action welcoming hundreds of thousands of fans. Behind it all was America’s largest network ready for the demands of modern fandom, supporting all the sharing, streaming, and real-time connections.
Australia vs. Egypt drove the highest data usage at AT&T Stadium, totaling 28.7 terabytes. To put that into perspective, that’s equivalent to sharing more than 5.7 million social media posts. And during Jordan vs. Argentina, fans generated significant data as Argentina’s captain broke the record for individual goals, becoming the all-time leading scorer in history. The historic moment came to life at AT&T Stadium and was shared instantly with fans across the globe.
“As if hosting a record nine matches of the largest sporting event in the world wasn’t special enough, we experienced one of the all-time legends of the game making history with a record-breaking goal that took the world by storm. All captured and shared from within our stadium and AT&T delivered with 25.9 terabytes of data sent all over the globe only possible with the strong backbone and infrastructure that AT&T provided. That kind of capacity and capability is critical for creating everlasting fan memories at AT&T Stadium,” said Dallas Cowboys Co-Owner and Chief Brand Officer Charlotte Jones.
A Connected Experience Nationwide
From arrival to final whistle, fans relied on their devices for live updates, posting highlights, and staying in touch with family and friends. Nationwide, AT&T prepared all 11 U.S. host cities for an expected 2–3 times normal network traffic, with support for 146 venues nationwide, including stadiums, airports, fan festivals, and team basecamps. AT&T used real-time monitoring through a single command center, with on-site teams supporting venues and major transportation systems across host markets.
“AT&T’s strong performance reflects years of focused investment, preparation, and execution,” said Robert Walters, SVP Network, AT&T. “With more than $430 million invested since 2023, 1,500+ network enhancement projects, and 1 billion+ connections established across the event, our teams are helping deliver the reliable experience fans expect. Across the host cities, AT&T carried ~1 petabyte of traffic, achieving more than 99% voice and data reliability – a reflection of the strength of our network and the teams behind it.”
FirstNet: Putting Public Safety First
And as the nation welcomed fans from around the world, first responders needed reliable connectivity that extended far beyond the fan experience. As public safety’s true network partner, FirstNet®, Built with AT&T gave more than 300 public safety agencies across the 11 U.S. host cities unparalleled support, including:
- The FirstNet Response Operations Group™— led by former first responders — was embedded with public safety before and during matches to address immediate needs, coordinate resources, and help maintain readiness.
- FirstNet ROG placed more than 20 portable cell sites on hot standby at stadiums, Emergency Operations Centers, and other high-traffic areas for added redundancy, backed by FirstNet’s dedicated fleet of 190+ portable assets reserved solely for public safety and 750+ AT&T assets available to support public safety communications.
- Established the FirstNet Operations Center (FNOC) at AT&T’s headquarters in Dallas to help coordinate communications nationwide and 24×7 U.S.-based FirstNet customer support throughout the event and during every match.
This work helped ensure public safety had a superior connectivity experience. For example, during France vs. Spain, a first responder on FirstNet uploaded more than 4x as much data as the average fan, reinforcing the critical role connectivity plays in supporting modern public safety operations during large-scale events. Even with heavy fan traffic, public safety’s Band 14 spectrum – plusalways-on priority and preemption across all AT&T 5G and commercial spectrum – protected America’s first responders’ critical communications.
Beyond the Final Whistle
Backed by years of preparation, planning, and network investments, AT&T delivered strong performance when it mattered most – helping fans share, stream, and stay connected as the action unfolded. These investments will continue to deliver lasting benefits, strengthening connectivity across the country for customers, public safety, and communities long after the final whistle.
Frequently Asked Questions
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