Houston Airport System welcomed an estimated 4.5 million passengers during the period in which Houston hosted 2026 FIFA World Cup games, according to a July 9 news release.
The details
Officials noted nearly 1.8 million departing passengers were screened by Transportation Security Administration officials at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport during the 25-day travel period, per the release.
Additionally, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials processed more than 439,000 international passengers at IAH and Hobby from June 12-July 3, the release states.
International arrivals increased by more than 2% compared with the same period in 2025. On average, U.S. citizens were processed by CBP in 10 minutes, while foreign arrivals were processed in 30 minutes or less, meeting the airport system’s processing goal, according to the release.
Also of note
IAH handled 60 charter flights related to the FIFA World Cup, including 30 team charters serving 13 national teams, per the release. Royal Air Maroc and Corendon Airlines operated 30 additional charter flights carrying more than 5,800 passengers.
The passenger experience was supported by thousands of hours of service. Per the release, Houston Airports Volunteer Ambassadors contributed 1,745 hours of customer service. Additionally, Hobby’s Pet Therapy teams provided 104 hours of passenger support, and FIFA Host Committee volunteers contributed 7,200 hours across IAH and HOU.
What they’re saying
Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for Houston Airports, said the airport system's preparation leading into the World Cup helped everything run smoothly.
"Our preparation focused on the fundamentals of a good airport experience: safe operations, clear communication, clean facilities and moving people efficiently," Szczesniak said in a statement. "The World Cup gave us a global stage and an opportunity to demonstrate what years of planning, investment and coordination can deliver for our passengers."
Szczesniak added that he hoped travelers experience flying in and out of Houston during the World Cup would lead to additional travel in the future.
"We understood from the beginning that for many visitors, the airport would be their first and last impression of Houston," Szczesniak said. "Our employees, volunteers, airlines, federal partners, concessionaires and regional partners worked together to make sure Houston was ready. They delivered."
