Where to Eat, Play, and Stay in Houston During the FIFA World Cup

In 2026, the World Cup will come to North America, and Houston will see several matches bring the global sport to Space City.

Yes, Houston is home to the NFL’s Texans, along with the Houston Roughnecks (in the UFL, or United Football League). And yes, Texas can conjure up images of Friday night lights and pigskin-armed quarterbacks. However, to think that this sprawling metropolis is only interested in one version of football would be foolish.

Houston has been the proud home of Dynamo FC for twenty years, and has grown into a loud and proud soccer town, with multiple official supporters groups rallying locals to cheer on their two-time MLS Cup-winning team. The area around Shell Energy Stadium, the Dynamo’s downtown stadium, has grown into a bustling district with soccer-centric bars. And you can bet a full-fledged community of soccer fans and players is eagerly awaiting hosting the seven scheduled matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With a robust soccer-centric bar scene, league-worthy pitches, and a larger-than-life sense of style, Houston will show World Cup visitors why everything is bigger and better in Texas.

While the Houston World Cup matches are happening at NRG Stadium, plans are underway to transform East Downtown into a full-on fiesta for locals and visitors alike, with summer 2026 activities across the well-loved locales that have helped make “Space City” into “Soccer City.”

Sporty things to do around the Houston World Cup Matches

Houston is no stranger to tourism, with sights like the Space Center Houston and the Museum District that draw visitors from around the world. But there’s far more to do and uncover, especially for fans with an inclination toward all-things-sporty.

Play at the FIFA Fan Festival

Hosted by the FIFA World Cup 26 Houston Host Committee with various bars, restaurants, and other venues in the neighborhood, locals and visitors alike will be invited to a 34-day-long watch party next to Shell Energy Stadium in EaDo/ With an indoor food court, interactive activities, and sponsored activities along with mini soccer fields, expect endless entertainment while watching not just the Houston World Cup games, but all 104 matches. Located in the heart of the unofficial soccer district of the city, this full-fledged fiesta will bring lively energy to an already exciting time for Houston.

Get in on a pickup game

After visiting Toros HTX, every coffee shop will feel lacking to soccer fans. With two complete soccer fields, Toros offers fans of the sport a space to play pick-up games or join their leagues for weekly meet-ups, accompanied by an excellent coffee program on the sidelines. It keeps the stadium lights on until 11 PM, and opens the fields at 7 or 8 AM, making it easy to avoid the peak Houston heat even if you want to play in the middle of summer. And there’s great coffee, too.

Tour one of the US’s busiest ports

The M/V Sam Houston Boat Tour is a glimpse into one of the busiest ports in the United States. It’s a 90-minute tour operated by the Port of Houston Authority, taking guests aboard a small vessel from 1958. You’ll learn about Houston’s economic engine, with up-close views of massive cargo ships, petrochemical tankers, and industrial terminals. There’s no guide providing interpretive commentary — just an automated audio recording with basic port facts — so it’s more about observing the scale and logistics of global trade than learning in depth. Security is tight, and reservations are required, opening on the first day of every month. It’s an excellent offbeat side trip for travelers curious about maritime infrastructure.

Beat the heat indoors

Houston and intense heat are a practically inseparable pair, and if you get glistening just standing around, playing a pick-up match outside might sound like a nightmare. Memorial Indoor Soccer offers adults open play every Monday and Friday from 8-11PM, offering the chance to spend a perfectly cool night kicking around the ball for only $10. Leave the cleats at home and reserve a spot, or gamble with a walk-in for a casual pick-up game without having to cook under the Texan sun.

Where to eat and drink during the Houston World Cup

Houston’s bar scene reflects the city’s identity as one of the most diverse in the country—soccer fans can find a place to cheer whether they’re backing Mexico, Nigeria, Brazil, or the US. The city’s culinary landscape is just as global, with standout Vietnamese, West African, and Mexican food alongside classic Texas barbecue. You don’t want to miss these dining experiences.

The Phoenix on Westheimer

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Bringing a bit of Manchester to Montrose, the Phoenix on Westheimer is a classic British pub in the heart of Houston. With soccer memorabilia on wood-paneled walls, red tufted booths, and TVs playing every match on air, you’d be forgiven for forgetting you’re in Texas when you walk in. As a Houston Dynamo Pub Partner, expect to find any and all matches playing while enjoying a frosty pint and a fine plate of fish and chips that taste fresh from the British Isles.

The Phoenix on Westheimer: 1915 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77098

Pitch 25

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There are soccer bars, and then there is Pitch 25. Catty-cornered to the Houston Dynamo’s stadium, fans can come and go from Shell Energy Stadium, grab a beer, and play a pickup game all in one space. Former Major League Soccer And US Men’s National Team Player Brian Ching opened Pitch 25 as a beer garden with an indoor soccer pitch for guests and soccer fans to come together at. There are a hundred beers on tap with over 70 TVs, so no corner is without a view of any and all soccer games. Kids are welcome as fans of all ages can come to Pitch 25 and pick up a quick match, grab a bite of a burger or wings, and unite over the world’s favorite sport.

Pitch 25: 2120 Walker St, Houston, TX 77003

Social Beer Garden

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This isn’t your finance bro’s beer garden: Social has a counter-cultural vibe with weekly burlesque, steak, and comedy nights to satisfy all kinds of tastes. Also a Houston Dynamo Pub Partner, its rotating cast of food trucks provides bites between beers while the spacious patio and supersized projector screen plays all the big games. With a playful spirit, it’ll quickly become clear why Social Beer Garden is an excellent spot for soccer fans to unwind, especially those who find the fun soccer surprise inside the barrel-shaped urinals…

Social Beer Garden: 3101 San Jacinto St, Houston, TX 77004

True Anomaly Brewing Co.

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A few blocks from the Houston Dynamo’s stadium is the 2023 Texas Brewery of the Year, True Anomaly. Brewed by former rocket scientists, space suit developers, and mission managers, this is lightyears away from your buddy’s home brew, and the brilliant brewmasters use their scientific expertise to craft beers beyond the ordinary. For those looking to catch a local soccer game while experiencing FIFA, this brewery’s beers offer an out-of-this-world experience that showcases a different side of Space City.

2012 Dallas St, Houston, TX 77003: 3101 San Jacinto St, Houston, TX 77004

Where to stay during the Houston World Cup

NRG Stadium sits in Houston’s south-central corridor, but with the city’s extensive highway system and sprawling layout, where you stay depends more on what kind of experience you’re after. For walkable neighborhoods with nightlife and food, Midtown or Montrose are good bets. The Museum District offers a quieter, more cultural stay, while Downtown puts you closer to transit options. Wherever you land, give yourself extra time to get to the stadium—Houston traffic isn’t forgiving. Booking early is essential.

Read Matador Network’s guide to the best hotels near NRG Stadium.

We hope you love the spaces and stays we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

Omni Houston Hotel

Acting as a potential base for visiting teams, the Omni Houston Hotel could see star players lounging poolside before games. There’s a lush resort vibe radiating around the Omni, with two pools that hug the blue lagoon and trails that are home to the hotel’s two swans despite being squarely in the city. It’s 20 minutes to NRG Stadium and sits riverside with a spa, nightclub, and whiskey lounge on the property to cater to every style of traveler. Rooms start around $150 per night in the summer.

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Hotel ZaZa Museum District

Hotel ZaZa offers a glimpse of the larger-than-life lifestyle Texans are known for. It’s a quick drive, train ride, or walk to several landmarks, including NRG Stadium. It also has a courtyard pool oasis that feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Houston’s Museum District. The ZaZa will surely be a hotspot for pre and post-game debauchery with its poolside parties, brunches, and live music for a gaudy good time. In the summer, rooms start in the high $200s per night.

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Downtown Airbnb with a pool

There’s no denying that Houston can be wildly hot in the summer, but if you book this stylish Airbnb apartment, you don’t need to worry about it. You’ll have access to a big courtyard pool with plenty of lounge chairs, and at night, the floor-to-ceiling windows offer an unbeatable view of the illuminated Houston skyline.

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