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Dallas-area native Weston\u00a0McKennie has been a standout for the United States during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n
Jane Gershovich\/ISI Photos\/ISI Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Houston experienced FIFA World Cup<\/a> excitement for weeks as the city welcomed supporters from almost every continent, including Brazil, Japan, Morocco and Germany, all in celebration of the global game’s biggest event. Bars and watch parties have been filled to the brim, water cooler talk has fervently debated the prowess of Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 and Erling Haaland, and locals have searched zealously for the rules of offside\u00a0and penalty shootouts.\u00a0<\/p>\n But after Morocco’s 3-0 win over Canada at Houston Stadium, the World Cup bid adieu to H-Town<\/a> as the tournament begins its quarter-turn toward determining a winner.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n However, waiting another four years to tap into soccer\u00a0fandom\u00a0for the World Cup to return is a waste of newfound love and appreciation. This sport has plenty to offer year-round, including plenty of Texas connections to draw on. Here are a few ideas to tap into beyond the crowning of a World Cup champion.\u00a0<\/p>\n Early mornings for European glory<\/p>\n If you’re a sports fan, you’re already accustomed to getting up on Saturday and Sunday mornings to watch college football and the NFL. Now it’s time to add European football to your weekend agenda.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n If you enjoyed watching games at Fan\u00a0Fest in EaDo, I would highly encourage you find watch parties at various local bars in Houston when England’s Premier League or Spain’s La\u00a0Liga begins play following the World Cup. Supporters of clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea (Premier League), Bayern Munich (Bundesliga) and Barcelona (La Liga) all watch games every Saturday or Sunday at Velvet Oak Tavern in Upper Kirby.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI love coming here. I just love the atmosphere and the community,\u201d Houston Gooners member Wayne\u00a0Spiegel said to\u00a0Houstonia Magazine’s Erica Cheng<\/a>. \u201cThe feeling of being surrounded by other people, other supporters, and when everything goes right, and we score\u2014the adrenaline you get from it is so exciting and just adds a lot to the match day experience.\u201d<\/p>\n While global soccer stars like Haaland (Manchester City), Mbappe (Real Madrid), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid),\u00a0Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)\u00a0and Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) play for major club teams that are easy to find, there are American stars with Texas ties worth finding on your favorite streaming platform or at a local community group.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Weston McKennie\u2014a native of Little Elm\u2014is\u00a0starring for the United States<\/a> as a midfielder while also playing for Juventus, a legendary club widely considered the best in Italian football history. McKennie spent 7 years in FC Dallas’s youth system, starting at age 11, before transitioning to Europe to pursue a professional career.<\/p>\n United States defender Chris Richards spent multiple years in Texas as an academy product of Texans SC Houston and FC Dallas before playing professionally in Europe.\u00a0<\/p>\n Soccrates Images\/Getty Images<\/p>\n United\u00a0<\/a>States’ top defender<\/a> Chris Richards is an Alabama native but moved to Texas at 16 to play for Texans SC in Houston\u00a0and FC Dallas, where he became a top prospect in\u00a0Europe. Richards now stars for Crystal Palace in the Premier League.\u00a0<\/p>\n And\u00a0you happen to be a fan of American football’s Houston Texans, you might consider supporting\u00a0J.J. Watt and his minority ownership of two clubs<\/a>\u2014Espanyol, which plays in Spain’s La Liga, and Burnley, which plays in England’s second-division league after being relegated earlier this year.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n In other words, pick a team and lean in. Find your community, learn some chants, make new friends and get comfortable. This soccer season is long but best enjoyed with friends and a cold beer at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n Don’t forget Houston<\/p>\n Let’s be clear, professional soccer has always been in Houston, and now is the best time to tap in with the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash following the World Cup.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n While the fan experience at Reliant Stadium, home of the Texans, is difficult to match, the energy at Shell Energy Stadium during a rocking game with Houston’s local teams is a worthy experience. Supporter groups like El Batall\u00f3n, Texian Army and The Surge keep things rocking with fun chants, tifos and a lively experience during games, while both teams offer much more affordable tickets than the sky-high prices from the World Cup<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n That affordability helps in making exposure to the game easier for the next generation.\u00a0<\/p>\n Houston Dash star\u00a0Kiki Van Zanten represented Jamaica during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.<\/p>\n Ryan Sun\/NWSL via Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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