FIFA World Cup group-stage games in Houston

HTX @ 10: Gearing up for World Cup draw

The FOX 26 morning crew had pre-coverage of the 2026 World Cup final draw.

HOUSTON - Houston is one of the U.S. host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and fans across the region are waiting to learn which national teams will take the field there during the group stage.

The official draw, which assigns teams to groups and venues, takes place today, setting the stage for one of the largest and most anticipated tournaments in World Cup history.

The match assignments will reveal which nations get scheduled to play in Houston during the opening round.

Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Schedule Reveal live at 11 a.m. here.

Houston's World Cup stadium will have a temporary name

During the tournament, NRG Stadium will not be referred to by its NFL name. Like every other host venue, the stadium will receive a temporary FIFA tournament name, listed as "Houston Stadium" for all official World Cup broadcasts, signage, and schedules.

This is part of FIFA’s uniform branding policy, which removes all sponsorship-based stadium names during World Cup competitions.

When is the first FIFA World Cup 26 game in Houston?

The first 2026 FIFA World Cup game to be hosted in Houston will be played on June 14.

Houston's full match schedule is as follows:

Group Stage: Sunday, June 14: Germany vs Curacao
Group Stage: Wednesday, June 17: Portugal vs DOC / JAM / NCL
Group Stage: Saturday, June 20: Netherlands vs UKR / SWE / POL / ALB
Group Stage: Tuesday, June 23: Portugal vs Uzbekistan
Group Stage: Friday, June 26: Cabo Verde vs Saudia Arabia

Houston will also feature one Round of 32 match on June 29, and one Round of 16 match on July 4.

What time is the draw?

The official FIFA World Cup Final Draw begins at 11 a.m., and it will be streamed live for fans around the world.

Once the draw is complete, FIFA will confirm which teams will play in Houston.

What to expect after the draw

Following the reveal:

Fans will know which teams are scheduled for Houston group-stage dates.
FIFA will publish the full match calendar, including kickoff times.
Houston's local organizing committee will begin mapping out transportation, fan events, and stadium operations.

With 48 teams and 104 matches across three countries, this will be the largest World Cup ever staged.

Houston a Major Hub for FIFA World Cup 2026

Local perspective:

Houston Stadium’s inclusion in the schedule highlights Houston’s role as a major hub in this expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup format. The venue, known for its retractable roof and strong track record hosting international soccer, is poised to deliver one of the most vibrant atmospheres of the competition.

The Source: Information in this article comes from FIFA.

FIFA World Cup Houston Texas Sports