Soccer passion carries Eddie Mendoza around the globe
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Carlos Leon-Trejo, Contributor
- June 7, 2026
Eddie Mendoza set to attend 17 matches at 2026 World Cup
Long before Eddie Mendoza committed to a 17‑match World Cup sprint across the United States, his parents laid the foundation for his love of the beautiful game. Mendoza has vivid memories of watching France ‘98 with his father Serafín Mendoza.
His mother Maria Mendoza also fueled his passion for futbol by providing support. She always made sure he was at his soccer practices as a child and teen. That early support now guides him through his 17‑match summer journey.
“Ever since (the 1998 World Cup) I just thought it was amazing that the world pretty much stops and we celebrate different countries every four years,” he says. “My mom Maria Mendoza is the one who kept the game growing.
“She’s the one who would take me to my soccer practices, my soccer games when I was 4. So she was always there, helping out as a soccer mom, keeping me active, making sure that I was having fun and improving.”
Real Madrid fan in Houston
After seeing almost 500 Real Madrid fans at a watch party in Houston for the 2014 Champions League Final, Mendoza realized his hometown lacked an official supporters’ group for “Los Blancos.” He helped create the Real Madrid Houston Peña. That local supporters group was officially recognized by Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez.
Mendoza, 37, continued to shape Houston’s soccer culture through supporter engagement and his support of the Houston Dynamo FC and the Dash. He eventually vowed to attend a World Cup. Mendoza accomplished that goal in the summer of 2014, when he traveled to Brazil for his first World Cup.
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“It was very special,” he says of Brazil 2014. “So my first match that I got to see was Portugal versus Germany. I’m a big Cristiano Ronaldo fan. Unfortunately, they lost, and I got to see Germany.”
Brazil was only the beginning. Mendoza kept the tradition alive in Russia in 2018 and in Qatar in 2022. He’s set to attend his fourth World Cup, this time on home soil. The U.S. is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada.
‘Had to do it big’
“This time it’s going to be in the U.S, so I had to do it big,” he said. “I’m not going to Mexico. I’m not going to Canada. I’m just focusing on Dallas, Houston, Kansas, Atlanta and New York. So just making a USA tour.”
The Mexican American from Houston will attend all seven matches at Houston Stadium. He also has tickets for seven matches in Dallas, one in Kansas, one in Atlanta, and the World Cup Final in New Jersey.
“I’m a project manager, so I’m pretty good at scheduling and budgeting,” said the University of Houston graduate.
His connection to the 2026 FIFA World Cup extends beyond fandom. Through his construction company Remodel HTX, Mendoza is directly involved in shaping the FIFA Fan Festival Houston in the Latino enclave of the East End, the legendary Segundo Barrio.
“He is not only a good soccer player and fanatic,” John Hernandez, the senior vice president of Amegy Bank and vice chairman of the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation board, said of Mendoza. “He uses soccer to bring diverse people and communities together around the beautiful game.”
Helping build Fan Festival
Remodel HTX has handled everything from building custom decks to removing more than 30 trees to create room for fan zones. His crew has become an essential part of the city’s preparation efforts.
“It’s a full circle moment,” Mendoza said. “I’m really proud of it. I didn’t think that I’d be part of the World Cup. I’m glad we were selected to be one of the vendors. It has been amazing.”
Before Mexico and South Africa even kick off the 2026 World Cup at Azteca Stadium on June 11, Mendoza is already looking ahead to the next chapter. Just as his parents introduced him to the sport, he hopes to bring his children once they’re ready. The recent newlywed hopes to introduce his future children to the cultures, colors and unity that shaped his childhood. It’s a tradition he wants to build, just as his parents built it for him.
“Hopefully in four years,” he says, “I could take my son or my daughter to their first World Cup and kind of build a tradition where they learn about different cultures, different parts of the world, and they can just see how one soccer ball could bring everybody together.”
Carlos Leon-Trejo
Contributor
Carlos Leon-Trejo is a co-host on the Bring on the Blitz! podcast on the Our Esquina network. A graduate of the Texas A&M-Victoria, his reporting credits include major stages such as the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the Big 12 Championship.
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