HOUSTON, TEXAS — The FIFA World Cup 2026™ Houston Host Committee today released final attendance, transportation, public safety and operational data following the conclusion of Houston’s service as an official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Host City.

The final numbers confirm that more than one million participants attended FIFA World Cup-related matches, celebrations and community activities across the Houston region during the tournament.

 

Final Tournament Metrics

1,086,499 participants attended FIFA World Cup 2026™ events in Houston.

480,186 fans attended seven FIFA World Cup™ matches at Houston Stadium, averaging 68,598 spectators per match.

81% of ticket buyers traveled from outside the Houston area.

44% of ticket buyers were international visitors, the largest audience segment.

Ticket buyers represented all 50 states and more than 200 countries.

551,313 people attended FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston and the Houston Dynamo Soccer Celebration.

Approximately 55,000 supporters participated in official Fan Walks.

More than 10,000 media credentials were issued for Houston Stadium and FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston.

4,190 volunteers supported tournament operations.

27 goals were scored during Houston’s seven matches, tying Houston for the most goals of any Host City.

The top five countries represented among ticket buyers were:

The top five countries represented among ticket buyers were:

Mexico

Canada

Germany

Brazil

Portugal

“The FIFA World Cup 2026 was the greatest sporting event ever staged, and we are proud to have been part of this historic moment,” said Chris Canetti, President of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Houston Host Committee. “As a Host City, we were operationally sound and perfectly safe while delivering unbelievable moments, unforgettable memories and the best of times. The World Cup elevated and impacted Houston in ways unlike anything else can do.”

 

Attendance Across Official FIFA World Cup™ Events

Houston welcomed 480,186 fans across seven matches at Houston Stadium.

Match Attendance

Germany vs. Curaçao — 68,021

Portugal vs. Democratic Republic of Congo — 68,777

Netherlands vs. Sweden — 68,777

Portugal vs. Uzbekistan — 68,777

Saudi Arabia vs. Cabo Verde — 68,278

Brazil vs. Japan — 68,777

Morocco vs. Canada — 68,777

FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston consistently exceeded attendance projections throughout its 39-day run. The festival welcomed supporters from around the world with live match broadcasts, concerts, cultural programming, sponsor activations and community events.

 

The five highest-attended festival days welcomed:

24,407 attendees

23,616 attendees

21,970 attendees

21,689 attendees

20,847 attendees

Memorable Match Activity at Houston Stadium

Houston Stadium hosted seven matches that produced 27 goals and welcomed some of the tournament’s largest and most passionate crowds.

Match Results

Germany defeated Curaçao, 7-1.

Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo drew, 1-1.

The Netherlands defeated Sweden, 5-1.

Portugal defeated Uzbekistan, 5-0.

Saudi Arabia and Cabo Verde drew, 0-0.

Brazil defeated Japan, 2-1.

Morocco defeated Canada, 3-0.

Houston’s matches featured several historic tournament moments, including Curaçao scoring its first FIFA World Cup™ goal, Cristiano Ronaldo becoming the first player to score in six FIFA World Cup™ tournaments, Brazil securing a dramatic late Round of 32 victory over Japan and Morocco facing Canada in Houston’s concluding Round of 16 match.

Fan Walks Become a Houston Tradition

Official Fan Walks emerged as one of Houston’s signature FIFA World Cup™ traditions.

An estimated 55,000 supporters participated in organized marches throughout the tournament, creating colorful processions from East Downtown to Houston Stadium and showcasing the pride, passion and culture of soccer supporters from around the world.

The Netherlands supporters’ march was among the tournament’s largest. Thousands of fans representing Portugal, Uzbekistan, Sweden, Brazil, Japan, Canada and other participating nations transformed Houston streets into international celebrations of football and culture.

 

Economic and Community Impact

Nearly one million visitors traveled to East Downtown during the tournament.

Visitor traffic increased by more than 225% compared with 2025 and approximately 280% compared with 2024. Every bar, restaurant and bakery surrounding FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston experienced year-over-year visitor growth, ranging from 33% to 1,600%.

The five highest visitation days in East Downtown were:

July 5 — 78,000 visitors during the Brazil vs. Norway and Mexico vs. England matches

June 30 — 77,000 visitors during the Mexico vs. Ecuador match

June 18 — 64,000 visitors during the Mexico vs. South Korea match

June 24 — 58,500 visitors during the Mexico vs. Czechia match

June 27 — 49,000 visitors during the Colombia vs. Portugal match

 

 

Transportation Operations

Houston’s transportation network successfully connected Houston Stadium, FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston, East Downtown, downtown hotels and entertainment districts throughout the tournament.

Approximately 5.5 million METRO rides were recorded from June 12 through July 8. Across Houston’s seven matchdays, METRORail carried approximately 500,000 riders, representing nearly a 50% increase over normal daily ridership.

“The transportation performance throughout the tournament reflects years of planning and exceptional coordination among METRO, FIFA, Houston Stadium operators, law enforcement and numerous public partners,” said John Coppins, Vice President of Operations for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Houston Host Committee. “Successfully moving hundreds of thousands of visitors across multiple venues while maintaining safe and efficient operations is one of Houston’s greatest accomplishments from this tournament.”

Airport Operations

George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport welcomed approximately 4.5 million passengers from June 12 through July 6.

From June 12 through July 3, U.S. Customs and Border Protection processed more than 439,000 international passengers arriving through Houston’s two major airports. International arrivals increased by more than 2% year over year.

Bush Intercontinental Airport handled 60 World Cup-related charter flights. Those flights included 30 team charters serving 13 national teams and 30 additional charter flights carrying more than 5,800 passengers.

The heightened travel period concluded without any major security incidents, underscoring the effectiveness of coordinated planning among airport officials, federal partners and local agencies.

The successful execution of airport operations complemented Houston’s broader FIFA World Cup 2026™ strategy, which prioritized public safety, efficient mobility and seamless coordination across official venues.

Downtown Houston Impact and Legacy

Downtown Houston served as the heart of the city’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ experience, connecting supporters with public transportation, hotels, restaurants, businesses, cultural attractions and entertainment destinations.

Several major infrastructure improvements were completed in advance of the tournament, including the $17 million Main Street Promenade, Cool & Connected Corridor enhancements along Texas Avenue and the “Underpassage” public-art lighting installations connecting Downtown and East Downtown at Rusk Street and Texas Avenue.

Although these projects were part of Downtown Houston’s long-term development vision, the FIFA World Cup 2026™ provided added momentum to complete the improvements before hundreds of thousands of visitors and a global audience arrived.

Businesses along Main Street and the METRORail corridors linking FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston and Houston Stadium benefited from enhanced streetscapes, widened pedestrian areas, new trees, landscaping and shade structures. These investments will continue serving Houston residents and visitors for years to come.

From the beginning of the tournament through the end of June, Downtown Houston recorded 1.47 million visits from more than 933,000 unique visitors. The district averaged approximately 113,000 visits per day, 6.2% above its daily average during the previous 12 months.

Street-level activity increased even more significantly. Pedestrian counts rose 48.1% during the tournament and 53.7% on matchdays compared with pre-tournament levels.

The tournament showcased Downtown Houston as a premier destination for major international events and reinforced the value of continued investment in public spaces, mobility, hospitality and cultural amenities.

Public Safety and Medical Operations

More than one million attendees participated in official FIFA World Cup 2026™ events in Houston with minimal public safety and medical incidents.

Law enforcement agencies reported very few arrests across official venues, resulting in an arrest rate of less than 0.002%.

Heat-mitigation plans also performed successfully. Emergency-room transports represented less than 0.007% of total attendance.

“The success of the FIFA World Cup 2026 reflects what is possible when our region unites behind a common purpose,” said Ryan Walsh, Chief Executive Officer of the Harris County–Houston Sports Authority and Sports Authority Foundation. “Houston and Harris County once again demonstrated our ability to host the world’s biggest events at the highest level.

“Thanks to our world-class sports venues, transportation and public safety operations, regional partnerships and extraordinary volunteers, this tournament delivered lasting benefits to our community. The investments and legacy created through this event will continue creating opportunities and reinforcing our region as a premier destination for global sporting events.”

“FIFA World Cup 2026 gave Houston a unique opportunity to showcase our city to the world, and Houston exceeded every expectation,” said Houston Mayor John Whitmire. “The success belongs to the thousands of public servants, volunteers, businesses and community partners who came together to welcome visitors with the hospitality and determination that define Houston.

“While the tournament has come to an end, the improvements will continue benefiting Houstonians and visitors for years to come.”

About the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Houston Host Committee

The FIFA World Cup 2026™ Houston Host Committee, operating under the Sports Authority Foundation, collaborates with FIFA, the City of Houston, Harris County and community stakeholders to ensure a world-class experience for players, fans and visitors.

Alongside its stakeholders, the Host Committee oversees operations, safety, transportation and logistics surrounding Houston’s seven FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches and FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston in East Downtown.

A central commitment of the Host Committee is creating a legacy beyond the tournament through initiatives that advance human rights, sustainability and the growth of soccer.

Learn more at https://www.fwc26houston.com/

 

 

About the Harris County–Houston Sports Authority and Sports Authority Foundation

The Harris County–Houston Sports Authority was founded in 1997 and is responsible for servicing the debt associated with the world-class sports facilities it was created to build and ensuring their long-term sustainability.

In support of its core mission, the Sports Authority works to attract major sporting events to Houston and promote the region as a destination for sports-related activities. These efforts contribute to economic development, improve residents’ quality of life and reinforce Houston and Harris County as a premier destination for marquee sporting events.

The Sports Authority Foundation, the organization’s 501(c)(3) arm, manages community-engagement and legacy programs associated with major events, including FIFA World Cup 2026™ activities in Houston through Impact Houston 26.

Learn more at:

https://www.houstonsports.org/

https://www.sportsauthorityfoundation.org/

https://www.fwc26houston.com/