Congressman Al Green
Democratic Congressman Al Green speaks at a forum on May 5, 2026.
Houston area Congressman Al Green said the city is well prepared to host its seven matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup during a panel discussion on Tuesday, but officials noted that some questions still remain.
Green, who sits on the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee, visited NRG Stadium, where the matches will be played, alongside Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, ranking member of the committee. They heard from several local officials who stated that Houston, Harris County and surrounding cities have spent years preparing for the summer tournament.
“Houston, while it is not a hotspot today, the potential exists, given that we’re having this great World Cup event take place in Houston,” Green said. “We’re concerned about a good number of things that could happen and whether we’re prepared to deal with these things that may happen.”
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Though the “fact-finding forum,” as Green called it, was mostly laudatory, officials did note some topics that could use more attention. Among them were human trafficking, facility security, and ensuring that, while much of the city and county resources are devoted to the World Cup, they are not entirely devoted to the tournament.
Congressman Al Green
Mark Sloan, Harris County’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management coordinator, speaking at a forum on May 5, 2026.
“The rest of Harris County still needs to operate on a day-to-day basis and be prepared for other emergencies and crises that can occur while the event is ongoing,” Mark Sloan, Harris County Homeland Security and Emergency Management coordinator, said. “And we continue to plan for those activities and not solely focus on the FIFA activities.”
Green made note of the roughly $65 million being allocated to Houston by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for security and public safety initiatives, though Thompson noted the “lateness” of its allocation earlier this year.
Another concern, which Green said there was not a “definitive answer” to, was what role, if any, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will play in the World Cup. The Trump Administration and FIFA have allegedly discussed the question but have not given any definitive answers pertaining to ICE agents’ presence at World Cup matches.
“We were assured that those actions would not be encouraged,” Thompson said. “From our vantage point, the rumors are the rumors, but we’ve talked to the people who are talking to ICE.”
Beyond the immigration pressure of hosting several thousand foreign tourists, officials also noted those tourists may face a bit of a Houston culture shock.
“We’re not a city known for mass transit, as an example,” Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis said. “People are going to enjoy the heat and humidity.”