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How hosting 2026 FIFA World Cup will be different from recent soccer matches in Houston

By Chandler France – Reporter, Houston Business Journal
Jul 28, 2023

Houston has hosted seven international soccer matches over the span of a month this summer, which will help the city as it prepares for the 2026 World Cup and shows just how far the sport has come locally.

Houston was the only city with two venues selected to host matches for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. NRG Stadium hosted a June 25 doubleheader, which had 66,255 attendees, while Shell Energy Stadium hosted two doubleheaders on July 1 and July 4, which saw 19,766 and 20,002 attendees, respectively. The matches generated an estimated economic impact of $18.6 million.

On July 26, NRG Stadium hosted a matchup between Manchester United and Real Madrid FC, two of the most well-known soccer clubs in the world, and 67,801 fans packed the venue to catch their first-ever matchup in Houston.

“We've hosted wonderful events like this in our city in the past, and it seems like these last two events stood up to the high standards that have been set in previous years,” said Chris Canetti, president of Houston's 2026 World Cup Bid Committee.

From a logistical standpoint, Canetti said hosting these recent matches prepares the city to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, though there are some key differences. In the past, matches like these have been promoted and managed by local entities like the Houston Dynamo Football Club and Lone Star Sports and Entertainment. However, when the World Cup comes, FIFA will have the ultimate authority.

There are many differences between running local events and running the World Cup because of the sway that FIFA has in setting the standards for the tournament, Canetti said. For example, the safety perimeters set around stadiums and protocols regarding teams and the media will be different during the World Cup than they were for the recent matches.

“The challenge going forward is that a World Cup is run quite differently than how (the Manchester United and Real Madrid match) was run,” Canetti said. “While we're very experienced in putting on major soccer matches here in Houston, the difference of what's to come in 2026 is going to be significant.”