WSR acquires Texas center adjacent to a World Cup team base camp
World Cup Plaza, a restaurant-packed center that sits next to what will serve as an official World Cup Team Base Camp, has a new owner.
Whitestone REIT [WSR] has acquired the suitably well-named center, which serves as a prime dining destination for residents and workers at Frisco Square, a 147-acre mixed-use development with 1.5 million sq. ft. of office space and 1,400 apartments.
Also adjacent to the 90,391-square-foot center in Frisco, Texas, (about 15 miles north of Plano off the North Dallas Tollway) is Toyota Stadium — a 21,000-seat arena that will be one of 65 stadiums in the United States, Mexico, and Canada to serve as World Cup base camps.
The 2026 championship series will be the first World Cup to include 48 teams, up from 32.
“The strategic addition of World Cup Plaza allows us to further strengthen our presence in thriving Frisco, which is home to several headquarters — including the PGA of America and the Dallas Cowboys,” stated Christine Mastandrea, president and COO of WSR.
Developed in 2007, World Cup Plaza’s tenant list stars strong food and beverage brands such as Blue Goose Cantina, The Green Gator, Hikari Sushi & Grill, Lemma Coffee Roasters, and Rotate Bar & Kitchen.
Wells Fargo, Frisco Soccer Association, and The NOW Massage headline the center’s non-food component.
World Cup Plaza serves some 294,000 residents within a 5-mile radius. Average household incomes in the area are close to $150,000. Whitestone plans to leverage its strong leasing relationships and market knowledge to drive further rent growth and improve the customer experience.
“Frisco continues to outpace many markets across the country in both population and economic growth, and we are pleased to add scale here by opportunistically acquiring World Cup Plaza,” commented WSR CEO Dave Holeman. “We are expecting a surge in visitors in 2026 because of the World Cup and the center’s proximity to Toyota Stadium.”
American Dream mall will headline as the primary piece of retail real estate involved in the 2026 World Cup. The final round of the international championship will be played at MetLife Stadium, which sits across the parking lot from Triple Five’s mega-mall in the New Jersey Meadowlands.
Just last week, American Dream hosted a soccer exhibition match featuring soccer legends that included Sergio Goycochea, Mario Kempes, Carlos Valderrama, Juan Pablo Sorin, René Higuita and Óscar Córdoba. A special appearance was made by Diego “Fernando” Maradona, son of Argentine superstar Diego Maradona.
Last year, Walmart entered into a multi-year collaboration that makes it an official partner of Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Leagues Cup North American soccer tournament. The partnership kicked off with the Leagues Cup tournament, an international club competition matching Major League Soccer and Liga MX clubs in North America.
