How Houston Secured Hosting Rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The Long Road to Hosting

• 🏆 Houston's journey to hosting seven matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup began over 20 years ago, not just since the 2018 bid.
• 🗓️ City leaders, business partners, and the host committee have dedicated thousands of hours, weeks, months, and years to this collective effort.

Houston's Major Event Experience

• 🏟️ The city has a proven track record of hosting major sporting events, including two Super Bowls and three Final Fours in the last 25 years.
• ⚽ Houston has also hosted the College Football Championship and numerous significant soccer events at NRG Stadium.
• 🤝 This extensive experience, coupled with community support, was crucial in securing the World Cup bid.

Preparing for the Tournament

• 📈 Organizers are ready for an acceleration of planning as the tournament approaches, with significant workload ramping up.
• 🌍 The event is anticipated to draw potentially half a million visitors to the city.

Ticket Information

• 🎟️ Purchasing tickets through FIFA is the safest option to avoid scams, as third-party websites may also have tickets available.
• 📝 To get a chance to buy tickets, fans must register for a random selection, with applications opening on Thursday and closing January 13th.