METRO X REGIONAL PREPAREDNESS EXERCISE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS
The Metro X Exercise is a full-scale regional preparedness initiative designed to assess and enhance North Central Texas’ ability to respond to a complex terrorism scenario during the 2026 World Cup— one of the largest international sporting events ever hosted in the United States.
Initiated by members of the Arlington Fire Department, this project was made possible through a grant written by Captain Eddy Saldivar, the department’ s Technical Rescue Program Coordinator. The initial grant award exceeded $ 550,000, providing the foundation for this critical and collaborative training effort.
The exercise will simulate Complex Coordinated Terrorist Attacks, involving explosives and potential hazardous materials, testing the emergency response capabilities of multiple jurisdictions across the region. With federal resources potentially deployed elsewhere during the World Cup, Metro X will focus on improving local and regional self-reliance while fostering robust interagency coordination among Metroplex-area commands.
It directly addresses gaps identified in after-action reports and builds upon previous regional training and exercises. This one-time-funded initiative aims to strengthen operational readiness, elevate regional collaboration, and enhance the overall safety and security posture of North Central Texas— not only for the 2026 World Cup, but for any future large-scale incident.
METRO X( NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS)
FOCUS: 2026 World Cup terrorism preparedness
LED BY: Arlington Fire Department
GRANT WRITTEN BY: Captain Eddy Saldivar
FUNDING: $ 550K +
SCENARIO: Coordinated attacks with explosives / hazmat
GOAL: Boost local response, coordination and readiness
ADDRESSES: Gaps from past after-action reports
One-time initiative for large-scale event prep
ARLINGTON FIRE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 17