The Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center is preparing for a summer-long celebration of global soccer, unveiling a multi-week series of hands-on programs designed to engage families as Houston readies itself for one of the world’s largest international soccer competitions.

Developed in partnership with Visit Sugar Land, the Global Soccer Celebration Series blends sports, science, culture, and creative play, offering children opportunities to explore teamwork, global traditions, and the excitement surrounding international soccer. Programming will roll out from late April through early July 2026, aligning with the growing anticipation around Houston’s role on the global soccer stage.

The series kicks off with Kickoff Countdown: 50 Days Out on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The launch event marks the official start of the celebration with soccer-themed story times, geometry-based art projects inspired by the shapes of a soccer ball, DIY tabletop games, and team jersey design workshops.

On Saturday, May 9, 2026, the Discovery Center will host Passport to Play in recognition of National Travel and Tourism Week. Activities will spotlight Houston and Sugar Land as international destinations through passport scavenger hunts, postcard design stations, transportation science experiments, and a cardboard landmark-building challenge featuring local icons.

The focus then shifts to health and movement during the Let’s Play Party on Saturday, June 13, 2026. The event highlights the physical side of soccer with agility-training courses, reaction-time experiments, heart-rate explorations using pulse oximeters, and UV bracelet demonstrations that teach sun safety during outdoor play.

Cultural exploration takes center stage at the Global Goal Party on Saturday, June 20, 2026. Families will celebrate the nations competing in Houston with international dance performances, flag and pennant-making for a “Parade of Nations,” global trivia challenges, and musical instrument workshops inspired by sounds from around the world.

The series concludes with the Final Kickoff Party on Friday, July 3, 2026, on the eve of Houston’s final match. The closing celebration will feature DJ-led dance activities, team-themed face painting, shrinky-dink soccer bracelets, and an engineering challenge where participants design and play their own arcade-style foosball tables.

Through the Global Soccer Celebration Series, the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center aims to create an inclusive, educational environment where children can connect sports, science, and culture—bringing the spirit of the world’s game to life for families across the region.