With just 23 days until Houston hosts its first FIFA World Cup match, Harris County leaders say they are preparing not only for massive crowds at the city’s Fan Fest, but also for worst-case scenarios ranging from hurricanes to the Ebola virus.
Following a high-level planning meeting on Thursday, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said officials are confident Houston is ready for the global event, even as some host cities scale back festivities over security concerns.
Several 2026 World Cup host cities, including New York/New Jersey, Seattle, and Boston, are scaling back their Fan Fest plans due to high costs and security burdens, shifting from large centralized events to smaller or shortened events.
“We are prepared. Harris County is prepared,” Hidalgo said in a YouTube update.
The county’s sprawling Fan Fest in Houston’s East End is expected to operate throughout the duration of the World Cup, featuring giant viewing screens, a soccer field for children, NASA exhibits and cooling centers designed to help visitors cope with Houston’s summer heat.
Hidalgo acknowledged that some cities around the country have shut down or reduced Fan Fest operations because of safety concerns, but said Houston plans to move forward with extensive security measures already in place.
“The security at the Fan Fest will be just as thorough as the security at the stadium,” Hidalgo said, adding that local law enforcement agencies, private security teams and emergency management officials will all be embedded into operations surrounding the event.
Officials said preparations extend far beyond the stadium itself. Harris County’s Office of Emergency Management will remain activated throughout the World Cup, operating similarly to how it would during a major hurricane response.
This aerial view shows NRG Stadium, which will be called “Houston Stadium” during the duration of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Houston, Texas on May 19, 2026. (Photo by Mark Felix / AFP via Getty Images) (MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images)
In fact, while Thursday’s FIFA meeting was underway, emergency officials were simultaneously conducting a tabletop exercise simulating the possibility of a hurricane or severe weather event striking during the tournament.
“We’re planning for how we’ll continue to keep county operations up and running and provide services to residents,” Hidalgo said.
That includes preparing for road closures, downtown disruptions, parking challenges tied to jury duty and the strain large crowds could place on infrastructure and public services.
Officials also said they are monitoring hotels, restaurants, neighborhoods and spontaneous gatherings beyond official FIFA venues.
Cybersecurity and emergency communications are another major focus, according to county leaders, who said radio systems, emergency alerts and notification infrastructure are already fully operational ahead of the tournament.
The meeting also touched on recent Ebola concerns that have surfaced internationally ahead of increased global travel for the tournament.
Hidalgo said she recently consulted with Dallas County officials about lessons learned from previous Ebola cases in Texas and confirmed Harris County Public Health officials are actively coordinating with medical experts, including Dr. Peter Hotez.
Still, Hidalgo emphasized that county leaders are not currently alarmed.
“I’m not alarmed,” she said. “I look forward to welcoming the Democratic Republic of Congo team to their base camp here in Houston.”
Officials said the county will continue meeting regularly with health experts in the weeks leading up to the World Cup to monitor any changes.
Houston’s first World Cup match is scheduled for June 14, with county leaders saying preparations are now entering their final stretch.
“The excitement is absolutely in the air,” Hidalgo said. “It’s going to be beautiful. It’s going to be fun.”
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This article originally published at Houston prepares for FIFA nightmare scenario: Hurricanes, Ebola and crowds.