Houston World Cup 2026
Space City hosts 7 matches at NRG Stadium — Germany, Portugal & Netherlands
🏟️ Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston TX • 👥 Capacity: 72,220 • 🎫 Matches: 7 games • ✈️ Airport: HOU Hobby (20 min) or IAH Bush (50 min)
🚀 Space City, Football City
Houston is the 4th largest city in the US, with the most ethnically diverse population of any major American city. NRG Stadium (home of the Houston Texans NFL team) features a retractable roof — essential in Houston's brutal summer heat — and the World Cup brings some of Europe's biggest teams here.
7
WC Matches
72,220
Capacity
38°C
Average June high
⚽ World Cup 2026 Matches at NRG Stadium
| Date | Match | Time (UTC) | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-14 | Germany vs Curaçao | 18:00 UTC | Group E |
| 2026-06-17 | Portugal vs Inter-Conf. Playoff Winner | 21:00 UTC | Group K |
| 2026-06-20 | Netherlands vs UEFA Playoff Winner | 18:00 UTC | Group F |
| 2026-06-23 | Portugal vs Uzbekistan | 21:00 UTC | Group K |
| 2026-06-26 | Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia | TBD | Group H |
| 2026-06-29 | TBD vs TBD | TBD | Round of 32 |
| 2026-07-04 | TBD vs TBD | TBD | Round of 16 |
⭐ Germany, Portugal, and Netherlands — three of the world's biggest football nations all playing in Houston!
🏨 Hotels & Accommodation
💡 Best strategy: Stay in the Museum District or Medical Center — you get METRORail access to the stadium AND walkable museums, restaurants, and local culture.
The Post Oak Hotel
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Forbes 5-Star • Galleria / Uptown
📍 6 km from NRG
✨ Houston's only Forbes Five-Star hotel and spa. Closest luxury option to NRG Park.
Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Boutique • Museum District
📍 4 km from NRG
✨ Vibrant boutique hotel, walking distance to NRG via METRORail
Blossom Hotel Houston
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Upscale • Medical Center / Museum District
📍 3 km from NRG
✨ On-site restaurants, med-spa, easy METRORail access to stadium
Holiday Inn Express Medical Center
⭐⭐⭐ Budget-Friendly • Medical Center
📍 3 km from NRG
✨ Free breakfast, 15-min walk to NRG, best value in the area
Marriott Houston Medical Center
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reliable • Medical Center
📍 3 km from NRG
✨ Near METRORail Red Line for easy stadium access
Hilton Americas Houston
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Downtown • Downtown
📍 8 km from NRG
✨ Convention center connected, great downtown base with easy Metro
🚀 Top Attractions in Houston
Space Center Houston
NASA / Science 📍 40 km from downtown
Official NASA visitor center. Space shuttles, Mission Control, astronaut training simulators. Plan a half-day.
Houston Museum District
Culture 📍 4 km from NRG
19 museums within 1.5 miles. Museum of Fine Arts, Natural Science Museum, Children's Museum, Holocaust Museum. Free Thursdays!
Buffalo Bayou Park
Urban Park 📍 6 km from NRG
Beautiful 160-acre park along Buffalo Bayou with walking trails, kayaking, art installations, and city skyline views.
Kemah Boardwalk
Entertainment 📍 50 km from downtown
Waterfront boardwalk with amusement rides, seafood restaurants, and Galveston Bay views. Perfect family day trip.
Galveston Island
Beach Day Trip 📍 75 km
Gulf of Mexico beach town with historic Victorian architecture, seafood, Moody Gardens, and Pleasure Pier.
East Downtown (EaDo) Fan Fest
World Cup Fan Zone 📍 5 km from NRG
Free 39-day World Cup Fan Fest in East Downtown (EaDo). June 11–July 19. Live music, food, giant screens.
The Heights / Montrose
Neighborhood 📍 7 km from NRG
Hip neighborhoods with great restaurants, craft breweries, eclectic bars, and local Houston culture.
Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (legacy events)
Texas Culture 📍 NRG Park area
NRG Park complex has heritage as Texas's biggest event venue. Area has great Tex-Mex restaurants and culture.
🚇 Getting to NRG Stadium
1. METRORail Red Line
⏱️ 10-15 mins from Museum District/Medical Center • 💰 $1.25 (METRO Q app)
BEST option. Red Line runs directly to NRG Park station every 6 mins during World Cup. Ultra cheap!
2. Uber/Lyft Rideshare
⏱️ 15-30 mins from downtown • 💰 $20-45
Good for hotel pickup. Expect surge pricing on match days — use rideshare drop-off zones near Medical Center
3. Pre-booked Parking
⏱️ Varies • 💰 $25-50
Limited parking at NRG Park. Pre-book via ParkWhiz or SpotHero. Fill up fast on match days
4. From George Bush Airport (IAH)
⏱️ 35-50 mins by car • 💰 $45-65 Uber
IAH is 35 miles from NRG. Uber/Lyft recommended. No direct rail link yet
5. From Hobby Airport (HOU)
⏱️ 20-30 mins by car • 💰 $25-40 Uber
Hobby Airport is only 12 miles from NRG — much more convenient than IAH for this event
💡 Budget win: METRORail Red Line to NRG Park costs only $1.25 using the METRO Q mobile app — runs every 6 minutes during the World Cup. Cheapest stadium transport in the tournament!
💰 Daily Budget (Houston)
Budget Trip
Mid-Range
Luxury
💡 Houston is one of the most affordable US host cities — great value with world-class facilities!
📋 Pro Tips for Houston
- EXTREME HEAT: Houston in June-July = 38-40°C with 80%+ humidity. This is serious — hydrate constantly, wear light breathable clothing
- Take METRORail: $1.25 every 6 minutes to NRG Stadium. Best value transit of any host city
- Fly into HOU Hobby: Much closer to NRG than IAH. Check flight availability to HOU first
- Museum District: Best base — walkable, cultured, close to METRORail, and excellent restaurant options
- Arrive 2-3 days early: Tourist traffic will be extreme. Settle in before the crowds hit
- Space Center Houston: Only 35 miles away — worthwhile day trip for any science/space enthusiast
- Food scene: Houston has exceptional Tex-Mex, Vietnamese (Midtown Saigon), and global cuisine — one of America's best food cities
- Fan Fest EaDo: East Downtown fan zone runs all 39 days — free entry, great atmosphere near downtown