The FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee released statistics July 22 on how the city performed during the tournament and its associated events.
The breakdown
The report included specific metrics related to attendance, transportation, public safety and operational data throughout the seven match days, 39-day fan festival and other related events such as the Houston Dynamo Soccer Celebration.
- 1,086,499 participants attended FIFA World Cup 2026 events in Houston
- 480,186 fans attended matches at Houston Stadium (68,598 per match)
- 81% of all ticket buyers traveled from outside the Houston area, with 44% of buyers being international
- All 50 states and more than 200 countries were represented
- 551,313 people attended the FIFA Fan Festival and the Houston Dynamo Soccer Celebration
The report also highlighted economic and community impact metrics, including visitor traffic, transportation and airport operations. During the tournament timeline, Houston saw:
- Nearly 1 million visitors to East Downtown and 1.47 million to downtown
- Roughly 5.5 million METRO rides recorded from June 12-July 8
- Hobby and Bush airports together welcomed 4.5 million passengers
- Dining options surrounding the fan festival experienced year-over-year traffic growth between 33% and 1,600%
“FIFA World Cup 2026 gave Houston a unique opportunity to showcase our city to the world, and Houston exceeded every expectation,” Mayor John Whitmire said in the release. “The success belongs to the thousands of public servants, volunteers, businesses and community partners who came together to welcome visitors with the hospitality and determination that define Houston."
