Visitors walk through the FIFA Fan Festival Houston on June 17, 2026.
Ana Khan/Houston Chronicle
Free entry doesn’t always mean a free day. Houston’s World Cup fan festival is open to the public at no cost, but visitors can still spend plenty on parking, food, drinks and souvenirs once they arrive.
To find out what a day there actually costs, we tracked every dollar during a visit.
Parking: $32.48
Parking at FIFA Fan Festival Houston.
Ana Khan/Houston Chronicle
We paid $30 for parking, which came out to $32.48 after taxes, for a spot at Dallas Street and Emancipation Avenue, about a four-minute walk from the entrance to the FIFA Fan Festival.
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Parking prices varied throughout the area. During our weekday visit, we spotted lots charging as little as $20, though those options required a longer walk to the festival grounds.
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Entry: $0
Attendees walk through the gate of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Fan Festival as Mexico takes on South Africa in Houston, Thursday, June 11, 2026.
Jacob Lujan/Houston Chronicle
The FIFA Fan Festival is free to enter. Visitors can watch matches on giant screens, explore sponsor activations and take part in games and activities throughout the grounds.
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Food: $36.78
Chicken Tender Thunder Fries from The Waffle Bus purchased at the FIFA Fan Festival Houston.
Ana Khan/Houston Chronicle
Our first stop was The Waffle Bus, where we ordered the Chicken Tender Thunder Fries. The dish was listed at $17.99 and cost $19.47 after tax.
Chicken street tacos served at Goode Company during the FIFA Fan Festival Houston
Ana Khan/Houston Chronicle
At Goode Company’s pop-up restaurant, we ordered the chicken street tacos. The two-taco order was priced at $15.99 and cost $17.31 after tax.
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While the portion size was expected for street tacos, the price stood out compared with some of the other food options available at the festival.
Food prices varied across the festival, with most entrees falling between $14.99 and $29.99, depending on the vendor and portion size.
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Drinks: $31.36
Drinks at FIFA Fan Festival Houston.
Ana Khan/Houston Chronicle
To cool off from the heat, we purchased a 20-ounce bottle of water for $5.99 and a Powerade for $7.99 plus tax. Soft drinks throughout the festival were also priced at $7.99.
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Those looking to save money on beverages can bring one soft, plastic, factory-sealed water bottle of up to 20 ounces per person. The festival also offers free water refill stations throughout the grounds.
Classic Casamigos Margarita served at the FIFA Fan Festival Houston
Ana Khan/Houston Chronicle
Alcoholic beverages ranged from $12.99 to $17.99 before tax. We purchased a Classic Casamigos Margarita for $14.99. Domestic beers started at $12.99, while craft and imported beers were priced at $14.99. Hard seltzers and canned cocktails cost $17.99.
Snacks: $32.44
Fruit popsicles from Hot Rod Pops purchased at the FIFA Fan Festival Houston
Ana Khan/Houston Chronicle
We purchased strawberry and mango fruit popsicles from Hot Rod Pops for $8.99 each before tax.
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The size was smaller than expected for the price, though that mattered less in the Houston heat. For those looking for a larger option, the vendor also offered its Big Tex Pop for $29.99.
Chocolate-glazed mini doughnuts from Fredericksburg Mini-Donut Company at the FIFA Fan Festival Houston.
Ana Khan/Houston Chronicle
Chocolate-glazed mini doughnuts from Fredericksburg Mini-Donut Company cost $11.99 before tax.
The lowest-priced snacks we saw at the festival were Sabritas snacks for $4.99 and individual bags of chips for $5.99.
Souvenirs: $43.29
A FIFA World Cup 2026 souvenir T-shirt purchased at the FIFA Fan Festival Houston on June 17, 2026.
Ana Khan/Houston Chronicle
Official FIFA merchandise was available at the festival. We purchased a FIFA World Cup 2026 youth T-shirt for $39.99 before tax.
A customized Bank of America BofA Fan Band at the FIFA Fan Festival Houston.
Ana Khan/Houston Chronicle
Not every keepsake comes with a price tag. One of the most popular free souvenirs at the festival was Bank of America’s BofA Fan Bands. Visitors can customize the bracelets with beads inspired by World Cup teams, host cities and local landmarks, selecting up to five charms. Just be prepared to wait. During our visit, the line stretched beyond 45 minutes.
Final total: $176.35