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FIFA World Cup 2026 Travel Guide

Houston’s sports culture is a reflection of the city: diverse, passionate, and deeply rooted in community spirit. Whether it’s the thumping atmosphere at a Rockets or Astros game, or the sea of fans tailgating outside stadiums on game days, sports in Houston are a big deal. The nation’s fourth-most populous city is home to five professional major league teams: Houston Astros (MLB), Houston Texans (NFL), Houston Rockets (NBA), Houston Dynamo FC (MLS), and Houston Dash (NWSL). As a FIFA World Cup 26 host city, Houston expects to welcome 500,000 fans. It also doesn’t hurt that Houston is close to some of the best beaches in the US along the Gulf of Mexico, making it an excellent city to visit if you want to combine watching World Cup matches with a quick beach getaway.

“Be there when Houston launches into soccer history,” is the call to action for the ticket draw. Hosting seven FIFA World Cup 26 matches at NRG Stadium, the crowds will swell to capacity at 72,220 under the retractable roof on these match dates, including one of two quarter-finals on the Fourth of July, alongside the other in Philadelphia.

• Sunday, June 14, 2026: Group Stage, Match 11
• Wednesday, June 17, 2026: Group Stage, Match 24
• Saturday, June 20, 2026: Group Stage, Match 36
• Tuesday, June 23, 2026: Group Stage, Match 48
• Friday, June 26, 2026: Group Stage, Match 62
• Tuesday, June 30, 2026: Round of 32, Match 78
• Saturday, July 4, 2026: Quarter-final, Match 89

There’s a giant party in the works. Houston’s East Downtown, known as EaDo, is the place to be to watch every World Cup tournament match over the duration of the tournament. In addition to a special viewing experience, fans will find an array of global flavors, curated entertainment, VIP hospitality, and youth soccer activations aimed at growing the game.

Vibrant and walkable, this multicultural neighborhood will host Football Fiesta Houston. Stretching out beyond the fan festival grounds, neighborhood restaurants, bars, and attractions will also participate in FIFA Fan Festival Houston programming.

Houston Dynamo Football Club is the American men’s professional soccer club competing in the Major League Soccer in the Western Conference. Founded in 2005, the team won two back-to-back MLS Cup titles in the following years. Referring to themselves as “Dynamo Nation,” local fan pride is strong. “The passion is deep here,” according to majority owner Ted Segal, whose 2021 investment includes Houston Dash, the professional team competing in the National Women’s Soccer League since 2014.

A record-breaking 54 million visitors came to Houston in 2024, solidifying the city’s reputation as a premier national and global destination, according to Houston First Corporation, the destination marketing organization. Mayor John Whitmire acknowledged the success in “promoting Houston’s brand around the world, making certain that people feel welcomed and safe, and that they want to come back.”

In Houston, two major airports serve domestic and international passengers. The larger George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is 20 miles from downtown and smaller William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) with only one terminal is 10 miles from downtown. Both airports have a wide range of ground transportation options such as rental cars, taxis, ride shares, shuttles, and METRO bus service.

For those with plenty of time for a scenic train ride, the Sunset Limited is an Amtrak route connecting New Orleans and Los Angeles to Houston three times per week.

Planning a drive to Houston without an overnight stay? Texas cities nearest to Houston are Austin (162 miles), San Antonio (197 miles), Corpus Christi (208 miles), and Dallas (239 miles). Louisiana cities are Lafayette (217 miles), Shreveport (239 miles), Baton Rouge (269 miles), and New Orleans (350 miles).

Airport Transfers into Houston

Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) offers cost-effective public bus transportation with easy ticketing via a free app, METRO Q. At Bush Airport, passengers can catch the 500 IAH Downtown Direct bus at Door C-104, Terminal C. The route to George R. Brown Convention Center is $4.50 one way, operating seven days a week every 30 minutes from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. At Hobby Airport, Bus 40 is located at Curb Zone 3 outside Baggage Claim at Arrivals Level for one-hour trips to downtown and the George R. Brown Convention Center.

Rideshare pickups are located at Terminals A and C at Bush Airport and at Curb Zone 5 outside Baggage Claim/Arrivals Level at Hobby Airport. At both airports, personnel are available 24/7 at taxi stands to offer assistance with hailing a cab.

At Bush Airport, free shuttles to the Rental Car Center operate around all terminals every five minutes. At Hobby Airport, the courtesy shuttle to rental car facilities departs from Curb Zone 1.

Getting Around Houston

Due to Houston’s urban growth as a sprawling city of 665 square miles, driving — and traffic — is a way of life for most residents. However, alternatives do exist.

METRORail has red, green, and purple routes that connect major destinations like Texas Medical Center, Museum District, Theater District, several university campuses, and NRG Stadium along its 39 light rail stations. Use the Red Line that travels along Main Street through downtown Houston, exiting at Stadium Park / Astrodome station for NRG Stadium.

During special events, car pooling to the NRG Stadium park & ride area is encouraged. For a flat fee, every passenger in a vehicle receives a round-trip wristband to ride the METRORail Red Line to and from the stadium. From Fannin South, it’s just one stop to the Stadium Park / Astrodome station.

Photo: Paparacy/Shutterstock

NRG Stadium is in the south-central part of Houston, about a 20-minute drive from downtown. The most efficient way to reach it without a car is the METRORail Red Line, which runs from downtown to the Stadium Park/Astrodome Station. From there, it’s a short walk to the venue’s main entrances. If you’re staying near Main Street or in the Museum District, the train is a particularly convenient option.

For drivers, NRG Park has multiple parking lots, but heavy traffic and congestion are likely on game days, so pre-booking through the venue’s official parking system is recommended. Rideshare zones are set along Fannin Street and Kirby Drive, though delays during peak arrival and departure times should be expected.

Plans are underway to transform East Downtown into a full-on fiesta for locals and visitors alike, with summer 2026 activities across the well-loved locales that have helped make “Space City” into “Soccer City.”

Accommodation options range from walkable stadium-adjacent hotels to downtown stays with easy light rail access, and some may even offer shuttle service to guests on match days.

The city will transition from “Space City” to “Soccer City” for the 2026 World Cup — and these are the best spots to take part in the action.