HOUSTON — More than 1 million people participated in FIFA World Cup 2026 events in Houston, generating record crowds, increased transit use and a surge in visitors that officials said left a lasting impact on the city.
According to final figures released Tuesday, 1,086,499 people attended World Cup-related events in Houston. The total included 480,186 fans at seven matches at Houston Stadium and 551,313 visitors to the FIFA Fan Festival Houston and the Houston Dynamo Soccer Celebration. Organizers said 81% of ticket buyers traveled from outside the Houston area, with fans representing all 50 states and more than 200 countries.
Houston Stadium hosted seven matches that produced 27 goals, tying for the most among all tournament host cities. Attendance averaged 68,598 fans per match. Tournament highlights included Curaçao’s first FIFA World Cup goal and Cristiano Ronaldo becoming the first player to score in six World Cup tournaments.
The tournament also drove significant activity across the city. About 55,000 fans joined official fan walks, while more than 10,000 media credentials were issued for tournament coverage.
METRO recorded approximately 5.5 million rides between June 12 and July 8, with METRORail carrying about 500,000 passengers on matchdays, nearly 50% above normal ridership. Houston’s airports handled 4.5 million passengers during the tournament period.
Downtown Houston recorded 1.47 million visits from more than 933,000 unique visitors through the end of June. Pedestrian traffic increased 48.1% during the tournament and 53.7% on matchdays compared with pre-tournament levels, while businesses near the fan festival reported year-over-year customer traffic increases ranging from 33% to 1,600%.
Officials reported few arrests and limited medical emergencies despite the large crowds, crediting coordination among public safety agencies and the support of 4,190 volunteers.
City leaders said the tournament’s legacy will extend beyond the competition through infrastructure improvements, including the Main Street Promenade, the Cool & Connected Corridor and public art lighting installations, which they said will continue benefiting residents and visitors.
