FIFA Fan Festival Houston closed on Monday due to expected weather, organizers say: Live updates
ByABC13 Digital Team
Last updated: Monday, June 15, 2026 3:35AM GMT
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The FIFA World Cup is here, and Houstonians are expected to swarm fan events and local businesses as the soccer event seizes the summer.
H-Town is hosting seven matches, but fans will have plenty of other things to enjoy in the Bayou City.
ABC13 has live updates to keep all Houstonians, from soccer aficionados to commuters looking to dodge traffic, informed throughout the multi-country event.
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What FIFA World Cup matches will take place in Houston?
H-Town will host seven of the World Cup games. Five of them will take place during the group stage, one of them during the round of 32, and the last during the round of 16. See below for the matches.
The festival is located just east of downtown Houston, next to Shell Energy Stadium. It will be open every day of the World Cup and is a first-come, first-served venue where fans can watch all the matches for free.
FIFA said there are several experiences fans can partake in at the festival, and since it's taking place in the Houston heat, organizers say there will be misting zones, water stations, and shaded areas.
According to NRG spokesperson Nina Jackson, the stadium attendance reached 68,021 on the first match of the FIFA World Cup in Houston. According to NRG Park's website, the stadium's capacity is anywhere from 72,000 to 80,000, depending on the seating configuration.
The announcement comes after viewers noticed empty seats at FIFA matches in the Bay Area and Guadalajara.
Germany defeats underdog Curacao 7-1 in first FIFA game at Houston Stadium
Kai Havertz scored two goals as Germany pulled away from World Cup first-timer Curaao late in the opening half and piled on after that in a 7-1 win Sunday in a group match.
Livano Comenencia tied it at 1-1 with his left-footed shot through traffic from the center of the box in the 21st minute to give Curaao its first goal in the tournament and send fans of the tiny Caribbean nation into a frenzy.
It was all Germany after that, with the four-time champions regaining the lead on Nico Schlotterbeck's header off Nathaniel Brown's corner kick in the 38th minute.
Germany's Schlotterbeck (15) scores a goal against Curacao's Room (1) during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Germany and Curacao in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
The margin of victory comes well short of the World Cup record of nine goals, which has happened three times, with the last one coming when Hungary beat El Salvador 10-1 in 1982.
Havertz connected on a penalty shot into the left goal in first-half stoppage time to make it 3-1. Germany was awarded the penalty shot after Felix Nmecha was tripped in the box by Riechedly Bazoer.
Germany wasted no time after halftime to extend the lead with Jamal Musiala scoring on a right-footed shot across the goalkeeper's area in the 47th minute.
Brown scored in the 68th minute to push the advantage to 5-1 and Deniz Undav added a goal in the 78th.
Havertz's second goal came in the 88th minute.
It was a strong start for Germany against underdog Curaao as the team seeks redemption after failing to get out of the group stage in Russia and Qatar following its 2014 title.
Nmecha one timed it with his right foot into the near post just inside the upper box with an assist from Florian Wirtz in the sixth minute to make it 1-0.
The crowd of 68,021 was overwhelming rooting for Germany but there was a spirited contingent of people cheering on Curaao as it became the smallest country to ever appear in the tournament.
It was the first match of the tournament at Houston Stadium, normally called NRG Stadium where the NFL's Houston Texans play.
Manuel Neuer, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who came out of international retirement for the tournament, had one save in his first appearance for Germany in almost two years.
The match featured the largest age gap between coaches in World Cup history with Curaao's 78-year-old coach Dick Advocaat becoming the oldest ever in the tournament against 38-year-old Julian Nagelsmann, who is the youngest coach in this year's tournament.
Germany faces Ivory Coast in its next match in Toronto on Saturday and Curaao meets Ecuador Saturday in Kansas City.
Jun 14, 2026, 5:46 PM GMT
Houston's FIFA Fan Festival entry temporarily suspended due to weather conditions, organizers say
Due to weather conditions in the area, the FIFA Fan Festival in Houston's East Downtown has temporarily halted entry on Sunday afternoon.
This announcement comes as the city's first World Cup match is underway inside Houston Stadium.
Event organizers said the gates will be reopened as weather conditions permit.
Flood Watch issued, scattered showers across Houston area ahead of city's first World Cup match
As scattered showers and storms continue to pour across the Houston area, the rain may impact your plans to attend World Cup events around the city on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service also issued a Flood Watch for much of Southeast Texas until 7 a.m. on Wednesday.
Some of these showers could produce locally heavy rain, thunder, and lightning, especially around the city during its first World Cup match at Houston Stadium at 12 p.m.
Lightning is a big concern with many outdoor events happening around town, so remember when thunder roars, go indoors!
