James Rodriguez catches World Cup fever from wife Marbella

HOUSTON – Attorney James Rodriguez didn’t grow up watching soccer. He was into basketball and American football instead. His wife Marbella Rodriguez was the one who pulled him into the world of fútbol.

Marbella, a native of El Progreso in the Yoro municipality of Honduras, introduced him to the sport. The longtime Texas A&M football season-ticket holder introduced his wife to American football. 

That exchange became the start of a journey neither of them could have predicted as they prepare to attend Portugal’s World Cup march against DR Congo at Houston Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Over time, they learned each other’s games. What started as curiosity became part of their routine. Marbella began to understand American football, and now the two of them go to all the Aggie games together, just as James slowly learned the rhythm and rules of soccer through her.

When Honduras found itself on the brink of qualifying for its first World Cup since 1982, Rodriguez made a promise to Marbella in 2010.

Cheering for Los Catrachos

“We were watching, and I told her if (Honduras) wins, we’re going to go to the World Cup,” James Rodriguez said. “I didn’t know it was in South Africa. If I’d have known that, I wouldn’t have said that.”

Honduras’ path to the tournament had been anything but easy. Los Catrachos cruised through the early round. Then they entered the CONCACAF Hexagonal final group, where only the top three teams earned a spot at the 2010 World Cup.

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Honduras needed to beat El Salvador and then get help from the United States. The team would qualify as long as the United States didn’t lose. Honduras got the 1-0 victory over El Salvador, but Costa Rica was leading the U.S. Men’s National Team 2–1 deep into stoppage time.

A 95th‑minute U.S. equalizer changed everything for Los Catrachos. Honduras qualified for the World Cup for the first time in nearly three decades.

‘Beer everywhere’

“They were crying and throwing beer everywhere,” Rodriguez said. “It was crazy! And so I had to put my money where my mouth was. So we went to the World Cup in South Africa.”

Mexico’s game against Uruguay at the 2010 World Cup stands out to the Rodriguez family. The intensity of the match, but mostly because of the crowd in the stands.

“I remember everything from Day 1,” Marbella Rodriguez said. “It was amazing, the Mexico game, the culture of the Mexican crowd, they’re crazy!

“They were asking for beer, not one, but a whole 24-pack! They were passing the tequila bottle around, and everyone was drinking out of it. They didn’t want to miss any minute of it!”

The moment James treasures most is the image of the two of them in the stands holding a replica World Cup trophy. In the picture, James was wearing a Mexican sombrero, and Marbella was in full Mexican gear.

He thought he understood passion from American football, but the World Cup was something else entirely. Fans camped outside stadiums all night, chanting, singing and celebrating.

Special passion

“It just felt like the United Nations,” he said. “You’re looking around at everybody’s jerseys – Argentina, Brazil, Sweden. And even if you didn’t speak the same language, somehow you got along.”

Now, as the World Cup unfolds in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Rodriguez hopes others experience what he did in South Africa.

“I think what the World Cup is doing here is uniting people,” he said. “With everything going on in our country, this is good for us. All these nations coming here, having a good time, and realizing the people are great, the food is great, the hospitality’s great.”

The Rodriguez family created lasting soccer memories. James credits Marbella with introducing him to the beautiful game and helping him become a fan. Today, he is a longtime Houston Dynamo season‑ticket holder. He hopes to share similar experiences with his twin children.

Now, they’re headed back to the World Cup in their adopted hometown.