Sweden's national football team encountered an unexpected sight at their World Cup base camp in Frisco, Texas: mangled metal and demolition debris at Toyota Stadium, home of MLS club FC Dallas. The demolition work, part of a planned renovation, was visible during Sweden's training session on Wednesday night, startling some players.
Player Reaction to Demolition Debris
Sweden midfielder Besfort Zeneli expressed surprise, telling Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet: "I just thought, 'what happened?' As far as I knew there hadn't been any storm." The demolition was conducted earlier that day, before Sweden's session, as part of a long-term stadium renovation project.
Renovation Details and Impact on Training
The construction area has been blocked off since Sweden arrived in early June and has not affected the pitch or any facilities used by the team. FC Dallas issued a statement on Thursday confirming the work was "part of a planned and controlled demolition within an active construction zone. The work was conducted using a pull-down demolition method and did not involve explosives." No injuries were reported.
The renovation project, being completed in phases, started in early 2025 and is expected to finish before the 2028 MLS season. FC Dallas continues to play regular-season games at the stadium during the renovation. Sweden's final Group F match against Japan was scheduled for June 24, 2026, at the same venue.
