World Cup 2026 in Houston: Matches, Stadium and Travel
Houston hosts 7 World Cup 2026 matches at NRG Stadium, a 72,220-seat venue in USA. The city's tournament opens on Sun, Jun 14 and runs through Sat, Jul 4. This guide covers the fixtures, how to reach NRG Stadium, where to stay, and what to do between matches.
Table of Contents
Of the 7 games staged in Houston, 5 fall in the group stage and 2 are knockout fixtures. The first kicks off when Germany meet Curaçao at 12:00 local time on Sun, Jun 14. All kick-off times below are listed in Houston's local zone (Chicago), so convert them to your home time before you set alarms.
| Date | Match | Kick-off (local) | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Jun 14 | Germany vs Curaçao | 12:00 | Group E |
| Wed, Jun 17 | Portugal vs DR Congo | 12:00 | Group K |
| Sat, Jun 20 | Netherlands vs Sweden | 12:00 | Group F |
| Tue, Jun 23 | Portugal vs Uzbekistan | 12:00 | Group K |
| Fri, Jun 26 | Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia | 19:00 | Group H |
| Mon, Jun 29 | Brazil vs Japan | 12:00 | Round of 32 |
| Sat, Jul 4 | Canada vs Morocco | 12:00 | Round of 16 |
Every confirmed World Cup 2026 fixture at NRG Stadium.
The standout date for Houston is the round of 16 between Canada and Morocco on Sat, Jul 4. Because Houston keeps 2 knockout fixtures, demand for hotels and flights spikes sharply in the back half of the tournament, so lock in refundable bookings before the bracket is set. If you are chasing more than one game here, cluster your stay around the dates in the table above rather than committing to the full window.
Getting to Houston
Fly into George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) on the north side, or William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) on the south side. From the airport, give yourself a generous buffer on matchdays — crowds peak in the three hours before kick-off at NRG Stadium. Fly into George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) or William P. Hobby (HOU). Stay in Downtown Houston, Medical Center, or Galleria. Where you can, travel light: NRG Stadium enforces a small-bag policy and queues at screening grow quickly once gates open.
Getting to NRG Stadium on matchday
Highly recommended to use METRORail Red Line, which runs from Downtown Houston directly to NRG Park Station. Houston METRORail Red Line provides direct transit service from Downtown to Stadium/NRG Park Station. Extremely hot summer weather; the retractable roof will remain closed for climate control during matches.
Neighbourhoods, hotels and things to do in Houston
Enjoy Houston's world-famous culinary diversity, explore the Museum District, and attend fan festivals in Discovery Green. Away from the football, Visit the Space Center Houston (NASA), explore the Houston Museum of Natural Science, walk Buffalo Bayou Park, and eat authentic Tex-Mex. Houston offers reasonable value compared with the coastal host cities, especially if you stay a short transit ride from the centre.
Popular neighbourhoods to base yourself in Houston:
- Downtown
- Montrose
- Museum District
- The Heights
- Galleria
Eating and drinking around NRG Stadium
Top-tier Texas smoked brisket, Tex-Mex fajitas, and local Houston craft beers. Cashless venue. If you would rather eat in the city first, the Downtown area is an easy pre-match base before you ride out to NRG Stadium.
Houston in June: weather and staying safe
Down at roughly 29.7°N, NRG Stadium is among the hottest host venues, so afternoon kick-offs demand sun cover and plenty of water. Extremely hot and humid, temperatures frequently 32°C to 38°C (90°F to 100°F). Stay in air-conditioned areas. Pack accordingly and plan your stadium arrival around the heat of the day where relevant. Exercise caution in parking lots and downtown areas at night. Rely on METRORail or official rideshare. Stick to official fan zones and signed transit routes around NRG Stadium on matchdays.
Related Team Schedules
Featured Host Cities
New York/New Jersey
USA
Serviced by three major airports: Newark Liberty (EWR) which is closest to the stadium, John F. Kennedy (JFK), and LaGuardia (LGA). All connect to transit.
Dallas
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Fly into Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) — a massive global hub — or Dallas Love Field (DAL) for domestic connections.
Los Angeles
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Serviced by Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Ontario (ONT), John Wayne (SNA), and Hollywood Burbank (BUR).
Featured Host Stadiums
MetLife Stadium
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Cap: 82,500
AT&T Stadium
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Cap: 80,000
SoFi Stadium
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Cap: 70,240
Frequently Asked Questions
How many World Cup 2026 matches are in Houston?
Houston hosts 7 matches at NRG Stadium, including 2 knockout-stage games.
Which stadium hosts the World Cup in Houston?
All Houston fixtures are played at NRG Stadium, which holds 72,220 spectators. Located in Houston, TX, NRG Stadium was the first NFL stadium with a retractable roof, known for hosting massive sporting events.
When does Houston host its World Cup 2026 matches?
Houston's fixtures run from Sun, Jun 14 to Sat, Jul 4, with kick-offs listed in Chicago local time.
Sofia Reyes
Host Cities Correspondent
Sofia is a North America travel writer who has lived in Mexico City, Toronto and Los Angeles. She reports on neighbourhoods, fan zones and the practical realities of each host city for visiting supporters.
Focus areas: Host city guides · Neighbourhoods & fan zones · Local transport
Editorial standards: see our editorial policy and corrections policy.
Article Specs
Looking for the full match calendar?
Get the complete 104-fixture schedule with timezone conversions.