Houston has always been an international city. More than 145 languages are spoken here, and our neighborhoods, restaurants and festivals reflect cultures from every corner of the globe. During the FIFA World Cup, that global spirit has taken center stage.
With seven World Cup matches on the schedule and the Democratic Republic of the Congo calling Houston its home base during the tournament, the city has become a gathering place for fans from around the world. Some are cheering for familiar soccer powerhouses like Brazil, Germany, Japan and Canada. Others have traveled thousands of miles to support nations that might send a few of us searching for a map, from Curaçao to Uzbekistan.
The matches have delivered unforgettable moments on the pitch, but some of the best stories have unfolded long before kickoff and long after the final whistle. Streets, parks, restaurants and stadium plazas have filled with laughter, songs, flags, face paint, hugs and friendships that cross borders and languages.
Our Houston Chronicle photographers have been there to capture it all. Take a stroll through these images and meet some of the people who have transformed Houston into a celebration of the world’s game—and, for a few unforgettable weeks, the world’s hometown.