It was supposed to be a celebration of global soccer, but for Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Tuesday's World Cup semifinal at AT&T Stadium came with an unexpected soundtrack: boos.
Jones, who has owned the Cowboys since 1989 and built the $1 billion venue known as 'Jerry World,' graciously gave up his personal suite to FIFA for the Spain vs. France match. But when his face appeared on the video board, a chorus of jeers rang out from the crowd.
Videos shared on social media captured the moment, with one user noting, 'Jerry Jones drawing some boos from the World Cup crowd in Arlington.' Another added, 'Jerry Jones is a good sport. Gave up his personal suite to FIFA and got jeered in his own stadium.'
The reaction wasn't entirely unexpected. Jones' Cowboys have struggled to find postseason success over the past quarter-century, and many fans blame his hands-on management style. 'Why wouldn’t he be jeered? He’s a terrible general manager with a god complex. Cowboys fans know he’s the reason Dallas has been mediocre at best for the past 30 years,' one fan wrote online.
Another fan remarked, 'Jerry Jones’ face goes up on the screen….and a loud ring of boos emanates across AT&T Stadium. For a man who built ‘Jerryworld,’ he isn’t exactly viewed as an icon in these parts…'
Still, it's worth noting that the crowd at Tuesday's match wasn't exclusively made up of Cowboys fans. Thousands of soccer enthusiasts from across the U.S. and around the globe descended on Texas for the semifinal, which FIFA officially calls 'Dallas Stadium.' That likely amplified the boos, as many in attendance may not share the local loyalty to Jones.
The moment has sparked broader conversation about the officiating in the semifinal and the NFL owner's place in the soccer world. Jones has cultivated close ties with FIFA leadership throughout the World Cup process, but Tuesday's reception suggests not everyone is ready to embrace him as a soccer ambassador.
One fan even took a jab at the Cowboys' lack of recent success: 'Jerry Jones should bring all the Cowboys in to watch today just to see what a Semifinal is like.'
The other semifinal, between England and Argentina, is set for Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The World Cup final will be played Sunday in New Jersey.
As for Jones, he remains a polarizing figure in Dallas sports lore, a legacy that now extends beyond football into the global stage of soccer.
