The biggest star in Houston during the World Cup undoubtedly will be Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal.
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Nine countries will head to Houston for the opening round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer, featuring multiple tournament favorites and notable superstars.
There are five group-stage matches scheduled to take place at Houston Stadium, the temporary name of the Houston Texans’ venue. After the tournament, it will revert to its original name, Reliant Stadium. This summer, teams from Cabo Verde, Curaçao, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Sweden and Uzbekistan will compete on the field.
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Here are seven games that Houstonians can look forward to this summer, with the Netherlands vs. Sweden match standing out as a marquee matchup featuring stars on both sides.
Houston World Cup Schedule
Group Stage
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Sunday, June 14: Germany vs. Curaçao
Wednesday, June 17: Portugal vs. Congo DR
Saturday, June 20: Netherlands vs. Sweden
Tuesday, June 23: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan
Friday, June 26: Cabo Verde vs. Saudi Arabia
Knockout Stage
Monday, June 29: Round of 32 (Group C Winner vs. Group F Runner-Up)
Saturday, July 4: Round of 16
Below are the nine teams scheduled to play in Houston, highlighting their key players, managers, title odds and interesting details about each squad. Which team are you most excited to see play in H-Town?
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Cape Verde
Roberto Lopes, left, and Deroy Duarte of Cape Verde celebrate their side’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Top Players: Ryan Mendes, Garry Rodrigues, Steven Moreira
Manager: Pedro Leitão Brito
Tournament odds: +100000
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Cape Verde, with a population similar to that of Arlington, is preparing for its historic first voyage to the FIFA World Cup this summer. It is the second-least-populated country, after Curaçao, to qualify for the tournament. However, Cape Verde enters the competition with confidence, having won seven out of ten matches during their qualifiers. The Blue Sharks are likely to feature goalkeeper Vozinha, who will turn 40 just days before the team’s first World Cup match.
Curaçao
Juninho Bacuna of Curacao and Leandro Bacuna of Curacao celebrate the victory during the World Cup qualifying match versus Aruba.
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Top Players: Jürgen Locadia, Riechedly Bazoer, Tahith Chong
Manager: Dick Advocaat
Tournament odds: +250000
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The Blue Wave will also make its first appearance at the FIFA World Cup in 2026, becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for the tournament in terms of both population and area. Curacao’s history is noteworthy not only for its size but also for having employed the oldest manager in tournament history. Longtime coach Dick Advocaat, 78, will lead the squad this summer.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Yoane Wissa of DR Congo will look to lead the attack for the Leopards at the World Cup.
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Top Players: Yoane Wissa, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Noah Sadiki
Manager: Sebastien Desabre
Tournament odds: +100000
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The Congolese national team will not only compete in Houston but will also make Sabercats Stadium, a former rugby venue, their base for training and meetings during the World Cup. The team will include Yoane Wissa from Newcastle United, known for being one of the tournament’s most dynamic goal scorers, as well as standout defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka from West Ham United. This will mark the Congolese side’s first return to the World Cup since 1974.
Germany
Jamal Musiala of Germany will be one to watch in the midfield during the World Cup in Houston
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Top Players: Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz
Manager: Julian Nagelsmann
Tournament odds: +1400 (seventh-best odds)
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The four-time World Cup champions have a roster worthy of a run at a fifth title, with stars easily found throughout. Add to that the fact that Houston has a large German community—with over 110,000 residents claiming German ancestry, according to the Texas State Historical Association—and the fanbase should be large inside the stadium. The biggest question is, who will score the goals for Germany? Nick Woltemade, of Newcastle United fame, could be the next striker to emerge for Germany, but he’s largely unproven on the international stage.
Portugal
Nuno Mendes, Bernardo Silva and Rafael Leao of Portugal will look to support the goal scoring efforts alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
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Top Players: Vitinha, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes
Manager: Roberto Martinez
Tournament odds: +1000 (sixth-best odds)
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Come for the spectacle of Cristiano Ronaldo, the ultra-superstar who has propelled Portugal to significant achievements over two decades. However, stay for one of the most well-rounded teams in the World Cup. Playmakers Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes will have plenty of opportunities to shine, while dynamic performances are expected from Rafael Leão and Nuno Mendes. While relying too much on Ronaldo could hinder Portugal, finding the right balance might lead to them lifting the trophy this summer.
The Netherlands
Virgil van Dijk will captain the Netherlands during the 2026 World Cup.
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Top Players: Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong, Cody Gakpo
Manager: Ronald Koeman
Tournament odds: +2000 (eighth-best odds)
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Few countries consistently make their mark both on and off the pitch at the World Cup quite like the Netherlands. The Dutch will once again field a strong all-around squad, and their fan base is sure to show up in large numbers, proudly wearing the iconic orange kits and traveling in a double-decker bus across Houston. One key aspect to watch will be who emerges as the top scoring threat for the Netherlands. While Memphis Depay has been the go-to player for years, Cody Gakpo, Donyell Malen, and Brian Brobbey will all be vying for opportunities under Ronald Koeman’s leadership.
Saudi Arabia
Salem Al-Dawsari of Saudi Arabia celebrates with teammates after scoring their team’s second goal during the 2022 FIFA World Cup match versus Argentina.
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Top Players: Salem Al-Dawsari, Musab Al-Juwayr, Saud Abdulhamid
Manager: Georgios Donis
Tournament odds: +100000
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Four years ago, Saudi Arabia stunned the world by defeating eventual World Cup champions Argentina 2-1 in the group stage. One of the goal scorers in that match, Salem Al-Dawsari, remains a key player for the Arabian Falcons. However, the team will have a new manager this time. Georgios Donis, the first Greek player to participate in the English Premier League in 1996, will be leading Saudi Arabia in 2026.
Sweden
Alexander Isak of Sweden celebrates with Viktor Gyokeres after scoring a goal during the UEFA Nations League tournament.
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Top Players: Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, Anthony Elanga
Manager: Graham Potter
Tournament odds: +10000
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Few countries in the World Cup will have a better duo of strikers than Sweden, as Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres are two of the best No. 9s in the world. Former Chelsea manager Graham Potter will lead the team. Sweden is one of the select few nations that will play in Arlington and Houston during the tournament.
Uzbekistan
Eldor Shomurodov will captain Uzbekistan during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Top Players: Abdukodir Khusanov, Eldor Shomurodov, Husniddin Aliqulov
Manager: Fabio Cannavaro
Tournament odds: +150000
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The expanded tournament has greatly benefited Uzbekistan, as 2026 marks their first qualification for the World Cup after numerous attempts during the Asian Football Confederation qualifiers since the 1990s. The team, known as the White Wolves, is captained by Eldor Shomurodov, with their standout player being Abdukodir Khusanov, who plays for Manchester City in the Premier League. However, the most prominent figure on the squad is their manager, Fabio Cannavaro, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Italian football history. He will lead Uzbekistan during the World Cup.