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FIFA's recently announced updates for the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament could have significant implications for Houston.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is now less than two years away, and more details are beginning to trickle in, some of which have significant implications for Houston.
FIFA released its initial list of potential hub sites on June 12, which include training facilities and paired hotels for teams traveling to the U.S., Mexico and Canada for the 2026 tournament. These “home away from home” sites will be where teams travel from and where players, staff and officials will spend the majority of their time during the group stage.
Although Houston is notably absent from the initial list, FIFA is continuing to accept expressions of interest from cities wishing to serve as hubs and will update the list throughout this year and 2025. Hubs will be selected closer to the tournament.
Houston is having ongoing conversations with FIFA to join the list, the Harris County Houston Sports Authority confirmed to the Houston Business Journal. FIFA is currently looking at Houston Sports Park, the multifield training site of the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash, and Sabercats Stadium, the home venue of Major League Rugby’s Houston Sabercats, as potential training facilities. Hotel pairings are still being considered, HCHSA said.
Houston serving as a hub site would bring additional economic impact beyond the expected windfall from the seven games the city will host at NRG Stadium, HCHSA said. It would drive a significant number of additional long-term visitors, including teams, fans, families and media.
A previous economic impact study estimated that the 2026 World Cup could generate $1.3 billion for Houston, but that was based on the city hosting five matches.
FIFA is allowing nonhost cities to serve as potential hubs for the 2026 World Cup. Nine such cities were included on the initial list, including San Antonio. Dallas was also included on the list with four total training sites and hotel pairings.
Houston didn’t make the initial cut despite the city’s hospitality market being the largest in the state. Houston has 107,200 total hotel rooms, nearly 10,000 more than Dallas (98,804) and more than double that of San Antonio (48,700), according to data provided by Houston First Corp.
The list will provide hub options for the teams in the 2026 tournament. The qualifying teams will submit their hub preferences after the final draw, which is expected to be in late 2025 and will determine which geographic zone the 48 nations competing in the tournament will play in their group-stage matches.
Only the teams from the three host countries have qualified for the 2026 World Cup so far.
Along with the potential hub sites, FIFA recently revealed knockout-round scenarios for the U.S., Mexico and Canada teams. The top two teams from each group of four qualify to move on from the group stage to the knockout rounds.
Based on the more detailed version of the schedule, there’s the possibility that Mexico or Canada will play at NRG Stadium in Houston for the round of 16 matchup on July 4, 2026. If either team comes in second in its respective group and wins its round of 32 match, that team will face its next game in the Bayou City.
“There’s no doubt it would be great to have Mexico and Canada for these big matches. We have seen the excitement the Mexican National Team brings to Houston when it plays here,” said Chris Canetti, HCHSA executive and FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host City Committee president. “Now, imagine that on a much higher level in a FIFA World Cup match.”
However, if Canada or Mexico win their respective groups, they’ll take a different path through the tournament and won’t visit Houston.
Additionally, there’s no scenario in which the U.S. Men’s National Team will play in Houston. However, if the U.S. finishes second in its group, the team will play its round of 32 match at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. AT&T Stadium will also host the semifinal, which could give the USMNT another opportunity to play in Texas.
Houston’s seven 2026 World Cup games include five group-stage matches and two knockout games. Houston’s first game will take place June 14, 2026, and the final local match will be on July 4, 2026.
“One of the great things about the World Cup is that the knockout-round matches are thrilling, regardless of who plays in them,” Canetti said. “We are fortunate to have these round of 32 and round of 16 games here in Houston.”
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