Planned vision of FIFA Fan Festival™ in Houston’s EaDo district for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring large match screens, fan zones, food vendors, and community spaces. (Image courtesy of the official Houston FIFA World Cup 2026 website.)

Faith Choi and Mateo DeVries

FIFA Fan Fest in Houston will show off local food, art, and culture, said FIFA employee Cielo Reyes. 

The event will be hosted in Houston’s East Downtown (EaDo) neighborhood, a place with deep Hispanic roots. EaDo will support the event through its community of restaurants and shops. 

Planning for this event began after Houston was one of 16 cities selected to host games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

Each host city is responsible for running a Fan Fest event. Houston has an especially big plan to provide opportunities to watch all 104 matches.

During the tournament, about 500,000 visitors will pass through Houston and create 1.5 billion dollars in business, according to the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority (HCHSA). 

The Houston Business Journal says that the “HCHSA is focused on maximizing both economic return and long-term community benefit.” They have three main missions to build meaningful community impact: Grow the Game, Defend Human Rights, and Protect the Environment. 

To grow the game, young athletes will also be able to enter to play in a 7-on-7 soccer tournament. The championship match will be held at Fan Fest. 

Last week, FIFA released its Human Rights Action Plan. The plan is the culmination of seven years of work. 

Reyes says this is a major milestone. She highlights the importance of the human trafficking training given to every Houston Fan Fest employee. 

This training is designed specifically for the World Cup and hopes to help with both stopping any possible trafficking events.

The presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a final problem Fan Fest directors will have to face. 

Todd Lyons, ICE’s acting director, told a House committee last week that the agency will be part of the World Cup.

While ICE is not directly mentioned in the action plan, host committee Chief Legacy Officer Minal Davis says he is in direct contact with a White House Task Force.