Share your World Cup story with UT Arlington Libraries

Following Arlington’s hosting of nine World Cup matches, The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries is inviting soccer fans, residents and visitors from around the globe to help preserve this historic moment by contributing their personal experiences to a new World Cup digital collection.

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

"This is a really important occasion for the city of Arlington and the greater DFW Metroplex," said Evan Spencer, UTA Libraries outreach and instruction archivist. "We want to make sure we document the community's experience at these events. Every person who attended a game, gathered with friends to watch a match or participated 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 cheered inside the stadium, attended official fan events or celebrated with family and friends.

"We're interested in capturing the fan experience in all its forms," Spencer said.

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 extensively documented 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.

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

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