Often called “H-Town” or “Bayou City,” Houston is known for blending Southern hospitality with a cosmopolitan spirit.
Its history is replete with pioneers in trail wagons settling down or stopping before heading farther westward and rural cowboys managing livestock herds. Today, Houston is a big city with a welcoming spirit and residents who smile and open doors for others. Its thriving arts scene, award-winning restaurants and history of hosting major events make Houston an ideal FIFA World Cup 2026™ host city for the tournament and its fans.
A replica of the space shuttle Independence at Space Center Houston (© Adobe)
This year’s tournament, from June 11 to July 19, is the largest since its inception in 1930, featuring 48 national teams playing 104 matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Houston Stadium will host seven matches, including two in the knockout stage. National teams scheduled to play in Houston are Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan.
According to local officials, the tournament is projected to draw 500,000 visitors to Houston. Guests should be prepared for hot and humid conditions with the occasional afternoon storm. Summertime highs can average 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius), and lows are around 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius).
Houston is a seasoned hub for premier sporting events. It has hosted the championship contests for American football and baseball, and its climate-controlled stadiums regularly host All-Star games of the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball.
To welcome soccer fans, the FIFA World Cup 26 Houston™ Host Committee is helping city officials transform seven blocks of Houston’s downtown area into a Main Street Promenade — a shaded, pedestrian-friendly corridor with improved lighting and gathering areas. And the city will stage a 39-day festival to celebrate FIFA World Cup 2026™ games, featuring food and entertainment plus live broadcasts of matches.
Houston skyline at sunset (© Ryan Conine/Adobe)
What to do in Houston
Houston offers endless options for exploring what GQ magazine calls “the new capital of Southern cool.”
Tourists enjoy Space Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Space Center Houston offers immersive exhibits highlighting America’s human space-flight program. See astronaut training facilities, the Mission Control room that guided the Apollo moon landings, and more.
Another must-see attraction is the Buffalo Bayou Cistern, a decommissioned water system repurposed as a space for exploring art and history. The subterranean landmark features art installations and a meditative “sound bath.” Reminiscent of Türkiye’s underground aqueducts, it is one of a kind in North America.
The city’s culinary offerings include barbecued meats, fajitas, Cajun- and Creole-style seafood, Vietnamese dishes and fusion cuisines of every description.
Texas-style barbecue meat and side dishes at Pinkerton’s Barbecue in Houston (Courtesy of Grant Pinkerton)
Traditional barbecue — providing an authentic taste of Houston — should be on every visitor’s radar, says Grant Pinkerton, owner of Pinkerton’s Barbecue. His advice? Try his Texas Trinity brisket, glazed pork ribs and sausage, accompanied by duck-and-sausage jambalaya and macaroni and cheese. Then “finish the meal with a smoked bread pudding.”
Outdoors, museums and cowboys
(© Stephanie Leal/FIFA)
America’s fourth-largest city (with a population of 2.3 million), Houston has 700 parks, including Memorial Park, which is larger than Central Park in New York; Buffalo Bayou Park, offering city skyline views; and Discovery Green, with free activities year-round.
With 21 museums, many offering free admission on select days, Houston’s Museum District caters to nearly every interest. One can explore Houston’s Museum District by hopping on the Hermann Park Railroad for a multi-stop tour.
Local artist Stephanie Leal tapped into the city’s cowboy heritage and pioneering role in space flight to design Houston’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ host-city poster. It depicts an astronaut in a cowboy hat playing soccer against the city’s skyline.
“To me, Houston is a place of resilience, hustle and creativity,” says Leal. The city, she adds, reflects the limitless potential of its people.
[Editor’s note: Teams and locations for some matches are not set at the time of publication.]