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The 2026 FIFA World Cup will bring a 38-day Fan Fest near East Downtown Houston. The economic impact is estimated to be the equivalent of seven super bowls to the city.
East Downtown will be the destination for locals and internationals participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority.
Two years from Tuesday, the first 2026 FIFA World Cup match will be in Mexico City. Chris Canetti is the President of the Houston 2026 World Cup Host Committee at the authority and said more than 85,000 people will be in Mexico City for the first match.
“And while that’s going on in Mexico, thousands will be gathered here in Houston at our FIFA Fan Fest to start the celebration,” he said.
Three days later, Houston will have its first FIFA World Cup match. The city will host seven matches that will take place at NRG Stadium. The 38-day Fan Fest will likely take place in East Downtown. Canetti added they chose this part of town because of its bars, restaurants, and culture.
“It’s part of the culture of the tradition of soccer to watch matches as a group,” he said. “… That work is underway to be finalized, hopefully also by the end of this year.”
The sports authority is also working with the Houston Dash and Houston Dynamo football clubs to secure the Shell Energy Stadium as a practice facility for players. Canetti said there will need to be at least four practice facilities to be used as team bases.
Earlier this year, Canetti said NFL standards require NRG stadium to be a 55-yard-wide field. The World Cup will be closer to 73.
“We also have to make some suite modifications to accommodate some of the hospitality regulations and requirements that FIFA has,” he said.
Soccer pitch renovations are estimated to take place during the summer of 2025. Suite modifications are expected to take place after the Rodeo in 2026. Canetti said there will also eventually be a volunteer program that will support airports, hotels, stadiums, and training facilities.
According to the Authority, the World Cup will have an economic impact equivalent to seven Super Bowls for Houston. Canetti said FIFA has already contracted with 37 local hotels for players, staff, and press arriving from out of town, and officials estimate that over $5,000 a night will go to the hotels during the World Cup.
Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum was at the press conference on Tuesday. She said the city wants to make sure they put their best foot forward.
“We have so many soccer fans in the city of Houston that of course the residents will enjoy it,” she said. “I hope that they will participate in the fan experience, I hope that they will go to the games, and I hope that they will make our visitors feel welcome and show our Houston hospitality to everyone that comes to see us in 2026.”
Houston is also hosting multiple Copa America matches this summer. Chron reported more than 85,000 people attended a warm-up match between Brazil and Mexico last weekend.
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