Houston has been selected to host seven games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as officially announced on Sunday afternoon.
These seven matches are scheduled to take place on June 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 30, and July 4.
In June 2022, Houston was named as one of the 16 cities designated to host games throughout the five-week international soccer championship in 2026. Local organizers emphasized the significance of Houston’s role in hosting the World Cup, as it marks the tournament’s return to the U.S. after 32 years.
Chris Canetti, president of Houston’s World Cup committee, stated that the city is anticipated to host between five to eight matches. However, none of these matches will include the semifinals and finals, limiting local festivities to the first three weeks of the tournament.
Canetti highlighted the magnitude of hosting such a significant event, comparing it to hosting multiple Super Bowls over a condensed period. The bid for hosting the 2026 World Cup began in 2018, following the announcement at the 2018 World Cup in Russia that North America was awarded hosting rights.
Regarding the specifics of the matches, Canetti mentioned that FIFA keeps this information closely guarded, and even the host cities find out about the match allocations during the official announcements.
In addition to the matches, Houston is expected to host daily events during the first three weeks, including FIFA Fan Fest and watch parties. With the tournament expanding to 48 teams, the number of matches will increase from 64 to 104.
The official announcement for the match schedule occurred on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT, with the Harris County & Houston Sports Authority hosting a public gathering at Pitch 25 in downtown Houston.
