Small Texas BBQ Feeds 3 Million Soccer Fans Without Losing Its Soul Or Sanity
KEY POINTS
- •Zavala’s Barbecue in Grand Prairie, Texas, stayed open for 30 days straight during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- •The team smoked 20,000 pounds of brisket and hundreds of pounds of in-house sausage, starting grills at 4 a.m.
- •Owner Joe Zavala credited the all-hands-on-deck approach for managing six smokers and maintaining quality during the event.
Zavala's Barbecue in Grand Prairie, Texas, decided the 2026 FIFA World Cup influx of 3 million tourists was the perfect excuse for a 30-day nonstop smoke-fest—probably the only 720-hour stretch in grilling history where brisket outranked soccer. Owner Joe Zavala leads a crack team handling 20,000 pounds of brisket and hundreds of pounds of in-house made sausage, starting grills at 4 a.m. daily, and soaking sausages in ice water like they just finished a Texas marathon. Six smokers are babysat relentlessly by the whole crew, all collectively obsessing over temperature like it's the World Cup trophy. Meanwhile, carnitas take a 3+ hour coke and orange bath, presumably better pampered than many tourists.
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(1 of 3)When 3 million soccer fans descend on Texas, Zavala’s smokin’ 20,000 pounds of brisket like it’s an Olympic sport no one knew existed.
If 3 million hungry soccer fans attack your town, just make 200 briskets a week and call it a warm-up.
Zavala’s BBQ equips six smokers and fifty eyes to conquer the World Cup chaos, proving teamwork beats caffeine.
Source: Eater | Published: 7/17/2026 | Author: Emily Venezky
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