A Symbol of Unity on the Plaza
Brenda Melgoza Ciardiello, a Fort Worth‑based artist, unveiled a soccer ball titled “One Planet, One People, One America” in Sundance Square Plaza, just weeks before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The piece, commissioned for the plaza, merges visual art with a message of global togetherness.
The ball’s surface features an outline of North and South America rendered in shades of green, yellow and coral. Around the continents, handprints from Ciardiello’s two sons, their soccer teammates and several neighborhood children create a mosaic of personal connections, each print left unnamed to keep the design open to every visitor.
Originally installed on the plaza, the artwork will remain on display through June 7. After that date it will be relocated across the downtown district for the summer, allowing more residents to encounter the piece in different settings.
Sundance Square will amplify the ball’s symbolism by broadcasting all 104 matches of the tournament on massive screens throughout the plaza. Each broadcast day will be accompanied by watch parties that include food trucks, bars and DJs, turning the space into a communal celebration of the sport.
The installation is part of a broader “Summer of Soccer” initiative that invites North Texas artists to contribute their own painted soccer balls. Among them is Austin‑based Hailey Gearo‑Chang, whose work pays homage to “SpongeBob SquarePants,” illustrating the diverse ways creators are engaging with the World Cup theme.
City officials and cultural organizers see the project as more than a visual spectacle; they view it as a catalyst for community interaction, economic activity and cross‑cultural dialogue. By weaving local artistry into a global event, Fort Worth aims to showcase how sport can serve as a unifying language.