It was on June 14 when the World Cup ball rolled for the first time in history at a Houston stadium. It was the first of seven matches for which our city qualified as the host of the FIFA World Cup 2026. After a long and arduous effort by a team of dedicated leaders, we managed to ensure that the proposal to host this tournament in our city was considered and chosen among dozens that were sent to FIFA.
After 21 days of thrilling moments, July 4th saw the seventh game at the Houston Stadium.
This marked the culmination of more than eight years of dedication by the local organizing committee, who had eagerly awaited all that occurred during these weeks.
And it wasn’t only about starting to think about the proposal; it involved a great deal more work. Looking back today at photos that many of the organizers have shared since the early days, we can see younger faces, their expressions carrying the enthusiasm they poured into this undertaking throughout all these years.
We see people who have left the earthly plane, such as Sylvester Turner, who served as the mayor of Houston during the early days of this adventure.
The city’s infrastructure is completely different; there is exponential growth, turning this host city into one of the most visited, and leaving visitors with a strong impression.
Each of the matches was an indicator that the organizing host did impeccable work, although one or two errors were corrected along the way.
We saw law enforcement agencies at all levels come together, from the Houston Police Department to the FBI, not forgetting the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, all united to safeguard those who attended the games or were here for the tournament.
The streets were painted with the colors of thousands of fans, such as the Netherlands supporters who colored the avenues orange, or Sweden fans who blended yellow and blue with every mile they traversed toward the stadium. Brazil, Uzbekistan, and other nations that played on our field also brought their most devoted followers.
We witnessed top-tier players and international stars step onto our city and score goals. Houston, showcasing its cultural diversity, embraced everyone who arrived and those who chose to head out to watch a match.
The Houston Stadium, although now gradually returning to its identity as the NRG Stadium, became a world-class stage that all Houstonians can be proud of. Everything was in order just as the organizers imagined. We have seen firsthand the work done and the emphasis placed on this event, which we hope will be repeated, though we are confident it will not return for a long time; I hope another 32 years do not pass.
We can say that Houston achieved its goal, that Houston did not disappoint us, that Houston stood on par with any World Cup host city, and that this will be etched in the memories of its residents and visitors forever. Thank you, Houston, for gifting us a piece of football history, thank you for being a tremendous host for the matches. Now let us continue to enjoy ourselves at the Fan Fest.
