Renowned artist Wyland has filed a $25 million lawsuit against FIFA and other parties, alleging that his iconic whale mural in downtown Dallas was illegally painted over to make way for World Cup-related artwork ahead of the 2026 tournament.
The lawsuit, filed in a US District Court in Dallas, claims that the sprawling 17,000-square-foot mural, titled “Whaling Wall 82”, was partially destroyed without the artist’s consent or prior notification. The mural, completed in 1999, had become a city landmark and stood for nearly three decades.
Wyland alleges that FIFA, along with the building’s owner and management company, violated the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990, a federal law that protects works of recognised stature from destruction. He accused the defendants of “hastily and irrevocably” damaging a civic landmark in the name of World Cup promotion.
FIFA denied involvement in the matter and referred enquiries to local organisers. The North Texas World Cup Organising Committee declined comment.
Slate Asset Management, which manages the building, said local organisers had requested the wall space for a new public art installation and had indicated that Wyland had been informed.
Dallas is set to host nine matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. An online petition opposing the mural’s destruction has attracted more than 2,600 signatures.
