Houston, we have a special Soccer City
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José de Jesus Ortiz, Founder & Editor in Chief
- July 4, 2026
Houston scores Golazo as FIFA World Cup host
HOUSTON – Years from now, Houstonians will talk about their favorite memories of the 2026 World Cup, especially the seven-game schedule at Houston Stadium. From the time Germany kicked off against Curaçao on June 14 through to Morocco’s Azzedine Ounahi’s brace on the Fourth of July, the Bayou City was treated to the best of the Beautiful Game.
Equally important, Houston showed the world that the Bayou City indeed is one of North America’s most passionate, knowledgeable and appreciative soccer cities. Few who danced and chanted their way from Rice University to NRG Park behind the Netherlands’ Oranje Bus two weeks ago will ever forget that fan walk.
The roar of Cristiano Ronaldo’s “Siuuuuuuuu” will echo in the minds of the fans who saw the Portugal legend play twice at Houston Stadium. It seems so long ago that Germany and tiny Curaçao played the first World Cup match ever held in Houston on June 14, but indeed lots of soccer greatness has been seen in the Bayou City since that game.
Azzedine Ounahi lights Morocco’s fireworks
Mighty Brazil advanced to the Round of 16 with a victory over Japan here. And on a glorious Fourth of July, Ounahi delivered a brace to help Morocco beat Canada 3-0 before a sellout crowd of 68,777 to advance to the Last 8 of the World Cup.
Morocco’s victory marked the end of Houston Stadium’s seven-game World Cup schedule, which included appearances by World Cup heavyweights Brazil, Germany and the Netherlands and minnows such as Cape Verde and Curaçao.
Cape Verde, the feel-good story of the 2026 World Cup, made history in Houston by becoming the smallest nation to ever qualify to the knockout stage when the Blue Sharks tied Saudi Arabia to earn their shot at defending champion Argentina.
The Blue Sharks won the soccer world’s hearts in Miami during a thrilling 3-2 loss to Argentina on July 3, validating what Houston fans saw a week earlier. Houston extended warm welcomes from June 14 to July 4 to regular fans or influencers such as Freddy of Germany or Ronaldo superfan IShowSpeed. Even international and national soccer media got a treat at Houston Stadium.
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Houston Stadium was one of only two of the World Cup’s 16 match venues in Canada, Mexico and the United States to provide complimentary meals to the media. Atlanta Stadium was the other.
After finding out that FIFA wasn’t providing complimentary pregame meals to the media, Houston First Corporation president Michael Heckman worked with FIFA to provide the meals, garnering Houston positive media from Dallas to Japan, Brazil and around the world over the final five matches at Houston Stadium.
Houston is accustomed to playing host to major sporting events, including the World Series, Super Bowl, MLB All-Star Game, NCAA Final Four and international soccer matches. Since Mexico played the United States at Reliant Stadium in 2003, the home of the Houston Texans and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has played host to sellout or near sellout crowds for major international soccer matches.
Sellouts gallore
All but one of the seven World Cup matches at Houston Stadium were declared sellouts. A short drive away in Houston’s East End, the official FIFA World Cup Fan Festival has constantly filled to capacity.
Shell Energy Stadium, the home of the Houston Dynamo FC and Houston Dash, also has drawn crowds in excess of 20,000 fans for watch parties for Mexican national team World Cup games. Sunday night should be no different.
It took a while Saturday afternoon, but Morocco delivered beautiful soccer in the second half to awaken the crowd and prompt, “Ole, ole, ole! Ole! Ole!” chants after Ounahi’s second goal of the match in the 82nd match.
With a beautiful Cruyff Turn inside the right side of the 18-yard box, Brahim Diaz created the space he needed to deliver the ball to Ounahi. It was the perfect play to capture Houston’s portion of the 2026 World Cup, beautiful soccer worthy of one of America’s great soccer cities.
José de Jesus Ortiz
Founder & Editor in Chief
Award-winning writer Jose de Jesus Ortiz, a former lead sports columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has covered Major League Baseball since 1997 in Los Angeles, St. Petersburg, New York and Houston. He was the first Latino to serve as president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
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