Fury among Dallas citizens as World Cup art replaces beloved whale mural

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FT Desk

Citizens of Dallas, Texas are furious that a beloved piece of street art has been covered with a World Cup graphic with zero notice.

The piece of art, known as 'Whaling Wall 82' has graced the side of a parking garage for almost 30 years and its creator, Wyland, is concerned about what kind of message is being sent that it can be covered with no consultation to people living in the city.

"When a piece that has carried meaning for generations can be erased without dialogue, it raises serious questions about how we value public art, artists, and the communities these works were created to serve," Wyland said.

The image depicts swimming whales but it has already been covered with a sky blue paint, with World Cup art set to follow in its place.

"I see that mural almost every day on my way to school and then one day they were painting it over," Dallas native Katy Rose Cusick said.

"And it was just so incredibly shocking to me that that could happen so quickly."

Cusick and Joshua Hurston, both seniors at a local performing and visual arts high school, launched a Change.org petition to raise awareness about preserving history and art. The campaign has already attracted hundreds of signatures, including support from people who remember seeing the mural as children.

"If we couldn't save necessarily the mural, making sure that something like this doesn't happen again," Hurston said.

According to a statement from the local World Cup organising committee, a new artwork will be unveiled to capture the energy, unity, and global spirit of the 2026 tournament. While this new piece will mark the current historical moment, the committee confirmed that a portion of Wyland's original mural will be preserved as a tribute to its lasting impact on the city.

Dedicated in 1999, 'Whaling Wall 82' is part of a global effort by the artist Wyland, who has painted over 100 similar Whaling Walls worldwide to promote ocean conservation.

Emphasising the deeper meaning behind the artwork, Wyland noted, "This was more than paint on a wall -- it was part of my work, alongside the Wyland Foundation, to bring people together to protect our oceans and clean water."

Dallas and AT&T Stadium will host more World Cup matches than any other venue in the United States this summer, with nine matches set to take place in the venue which will be known as Dallas Stadium.