The numbers behind Houston’s historic tournament and the lasting legacy it created across the region.
FIFA World Cup 2026™ is one of the biggest moments in Houston’s history. Over 39 days, seven World Cup matches, FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston, and an influx of 500,000 visitors from every corner of the globe brought an energy that will leave Houston–Harris County with countless moments and memories that will live on for decades.
The story of the tournament’s significance to our region and the United States will ultimately be told through the numbers. From attendance and visitor spending to transportation, sustainability, public safety, and community investment, the data will reveal the World Cup’s lasting impact on Houston and beyond.
While the tournament’s full impact is still being measured, here’s a closer look at some of the numbers that already help define FIFA World Cup 2026™ in Houston.
1.1 million: Nearly 1.1 million people attended World Cup-related events in Houston, including seven matches at Houston Stadium, FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston, the Houston Dynamo Soccer Celebration, and official fan marches. Houston Stadium alone welcomed more than 480,000 spectators.
200: Ticket purchasers for Houston’s matches came from more than 200 countries and territories and represented all 50 U.S. states, highlighting Houston’s global appeal during the tournament.
24,407: FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston recorded its highest single-day attendance on June 27, welcoming 24,407 visitors throughout the day—more than three times its 7,500-person operating capacity—as supporters gathered to watch England, Croatia, Ghana, Colombia, Portugal, and Argentina.
66.4 million: The World Cup Final drew a combined U.S. television audience of 66.4 million viewers, making it the largest non-Super Bowl sports audience since the 1994 Winter Olympics.
$20 billion: FIFA World Cup 26™ generated approximately $40 billion in economic activity across North America, with $20 billion of that occurring in the United States, according to Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan. Houston alone brought an estimated $1.5 billion in economic impact.
17.4%: During the Group Stage, non-local consumer spending increased 17.4% across FIFA World Cup 26™ host cities, according to Bank of America’s internal data on total credit and debit card point-of-sale spending. By July 5, every U.S. host city continued to see an increase in year-over-year spending, with Houston recording an increase of nearly 3% compared to the same period in 2025.
225%: The World Cup events in East Downtown (EaDo) drew more than one million visitors to the area, a 225% increase over the same period in 2025. The July 5 matches alone, including Mexico vs. England in the Round of 16, attracted 78,000 fans to EaDo that day.
933,000: From June 11–June 30, Downtown Houston welcomed 933,000 visitors and averaged 113,000 visits per day, 6.2% above the daily average compared to the previous 12 months.
5.5 million: METRO provided approximately 5.5 million rides from June 12–July 8. The 500,000 METRORail boardings on matchdays were a 50% increase over typical daily boardings.
71: Public safety and security operations brought together 71 agencies and organizations across the city, county, regional, state, federal and international partners. This unprecedented level of coordination included personnel, resources, expertise, intelligence, operational support, and emergency response capabilities.
10,000+: More than 10,000 media credentials were issued across Houston Stadium and FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston, highlighting unprecedented international media interest in Houston throughout the tournament.
$1.5 million: Five Houston-area youth soccer clubs – Albion Hurricanes F.C., Baytown Saints Youth Soccer Club, GFI Academy, HTX Soccer, and SG1 – collectively committed an initial $1.5 million investment in the FREEKICKS program through Impact Houston 26, providing more than 1,200 annual scholarships for boys and girls in underserved communities.
23: In partnership with Mayor John Whitmire and Harris County Commissioners Rodney Ellis, Adrian Garcia, Lesley Briones, and Tom Ramsey, 23 soccer fields are being developed or upgraded across the Houston region to support the FREEKICKS program, expanding access to the game for generations to come.
4,300+: During 108 hours of play on FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston’s Aramco Arena pitch, more than 4,300 youth and adults participated in soccer activities, including more than 1,000 boys and girls who competed in the Reliant Road to the Cup 7v7 tournament.
7,468: Through Impact Houston 26, 7,468 K-12 students earned the Sustainable School Badge, recognizing students’ sustainability and civic engagement efforts impacting Southeast Texas.
100+: More than 100 organizations and stakeholders helped develop the Houston Host Committee’s Human Rights Action Plan, creating a framework that reflected Houston’s commitment to inclusion and responsibility on a global stage. The plan led to initiatives including human trafficking awareness training, an interfaith prayer room utilized by more than 400 visitors at FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston, and other measures designed to create a welcoming and inclusive tournament experience.
4.8 tons: An estimated 4.8 tons of surplus food from FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston were donated to local community partners, helping reduce waste and supporting those in need.
138,429: In support of the Sports Authority Foundation’s sustainability and legacy goals, 138,429 square feet of turf from FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston will be donated to and repurposed by community partners.
200+: More than 200 live performances by Houston-area musicians and entertainers took place on the main stage at FIFA Fan Festival™ Houston, showcasing the region’s culture throughout the tournament.
These numbers represent far more than attendance and economic impact. Together, they tell the story of a historic tournament that elevated Houston’s global profile, strengthened local communities, and created a legacy that will endure long after the final whistle.
