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.
For the latest breaking news, weather, and traffic, ABC13 is now live on Disney+. Always on, always under the live tab on Disney+ and everywhere you stream.
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.
All the matches will be held at Houston Stadium.
Visit FIFA's website for more information.
FIFA described its fan experience as the ultimate destination for World Cup fans in Houston, and ABC13 got a first look at some of the featured experiences before it opened to the public.
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.
SEE ALSO: Questions about security ahead of FIFA World Cup in Houston
With a few hours before kickoff for Wednesday's World Cup game of Portugal against DR Congo, TranStar cameras show a heavy inflow of traffic.
Cameras off I-610 South Loop at Kirby show the traffic backing up along the service road as fans try to make their way into the stadium's parking lot.
Both teams arrived in Space City on a rainy Tuesday, with many fans in attendance to greet them.
Lionel Messi used the front of his white-and-blue, sweat-soaked jersey to wipe the tears from his eyes, a flood of emotions cracking his usually calm, confident demeanor after he gave Argentina an early lead in its World Cup opener against Algeria.
Then he scored again. And again.
Suddenly, any questions about Messi's hamstring injury, or whether he could help Argentina become the third team to win consecutive World Cups - even as his 39th birthday approaches next week - had been answered. With a brilliant hat trick in a 3-0 win over Les Fennecs, Messi moved into a tie with Germany's Miroslav Klose for the career scoring record at the men's World Cup.
"My tears after the first goal? I've had some tough days. It wasn't related to football. And those feelings were because of that," Messi said afterward, without elaborating. "I thank my teammates, the coaching staff and the delegation for helping me."
Messi scored that emotional first goal in the opening minutes on a nifty feed from Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, the second off an opportunistic rebound early in the second half, and the third on a crisp strike moments before subbing out to a standing ovation from a crowd of 69,045 tilted heavily toward the three-time World Cup champions.
"At a loss for words about Leo. What can I say?" Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. "He's incredible."
Bush International Airport shared on social media that Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal National Team arrived in Houston ahead of their World Cup match.
The Portuguese team is scheduled to play against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday at Houston Stadium.
Two of soccer's all-time greats will likely make their final bows on the sport's biggest stage at the 2026 World Cup.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo can finally pass the baton on to a new generation, including Spain's Lamine Yamal.
Kylian Mbappé - who was only 19 when he won the World Cup with France in 2018 - is still waiting to confirm his place as the heir-apparent to Messi and Ronaldo.
But there are others, too, aiming to make their mark in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, from Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland to Team USA's Christian Pulisic.
Here are 10 players to watch this year's World Cup.
The magnificent Messi finally achieved his career ambition in Qatar four years ago by leading Argentina to World Cup glory and emulating national icon Diego Maradona.
With it, Messi effectively completed soccer, winning the top titles for club, country and individually.
Since Qatar, he has moved to the United States to make Inter Miami the dominant force in MLS, winning the MLS Cup last year.
His status as the greatest player of all time is still debated, with Maradona and Pelé generally considered his main rivals for that title. But back-to-back World Cups - which Pelé achieved in 1958 and '62 -would further strengthen his case.
Messi, however, has given Argentina a scare just two weeks ahead of the World Cup. The 38-year-old was substituted in an Inter Miami game on Sunday and diagnosed with "an overload associated with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring." No timeline was given for his recovery.
Ronaldo is still waiting for the one trophy that has eluded him in his glittering, record-breaking career.
The Portugal star heads to the World Cup after leading Saudi club Al Nassr to the domestic league title this season. That trophy adds to league titles with Manchester United in England, Real Madrid in Spain, and Juventus in Italy, along with five Champions League trophies (four with Madrid, one with United).
He has also won the European Championship with Portugal and two UEFA Nations League titles. His 143 goals are a record in men's international soccer, and nobody has scored more than his 41 in World Cup qualifiers.
Even at the age of 41, his hunger for trophies and records shows no sign of relenting.
Mbappé has long been considered the player to take over the title as the best player on the planet after Messi and Ronaldo.
Some would say the Real Madrid striker has already done that as a World Cup and multiple title-winner, but the fact that he has yet to win the Champions League or Ballon d'Or leaves a big question hanging over his career.
He should have a good shot at this year's Ballon d'Or - awarded annually to the best player in the world - if he can lead France to another World Cup title after topping the scoring charts in Spain and leading the way in the Champions League.
Mbappé is often judged on what he hasn't won, rather than what he has. In two years at Madrid, he is still waiting for major titles in Spain.
The current Ballon d'Or holder could be a two-time Champions League winner by the time the World Cup kicks off.
The France forward has reignited his career since joining Paris Saint-Germain three years ago, helping it secure its first Champions League title last season and reach back-to-back finals this year.
Having been touted as one of the brightest prospects in Europe earlier in his career, Barcelona bought Dembélé for $173 million in 2017. An underwhelming time in Spain led many to think he would never realize his potential.
No one is saying that now.
The Manchester City striker is playing in his first major international tournament after smashing records at club level.
Haaland, 25, is well on his way to breaking scoring records in the Champions League and Premier League and has already surpassed benchmarks set by Messi in terms of the speed with which he's amassing goals.
Norway is an outsider at this year's World Cup, but in Haaland, it has arguably the most lethal forward at the tournament.
Spain's teenage sensation was the star of its triumph at the European Championship in 2024 despite not turning 17 until the eve of the final. With mesmerizing speed and footwork, he became the youngest-ever scorer at a men's Euros.
Yamal is earning comparisons to Messi, who was once photographed with the Argentina star when he was still a baby.
Yamal has arguably overtaken Mbappé as the man most likely to fill the void when Messi and Ronaldo retire, and an impressive World Cup could strengthen that argument.
He's the midfielder virtually every top team wanted when Real Madrid sealed his signature in 2023. He went on to lead the club to its 15th Champions League title and the Spanish title in his first season at the club before driving England to the final of the Euros with one of the goals of the tournament on the way.
Bellingham is a matchwinner capable of unforgettable moments on the biggest stage, and despite an underwhelming season at Madrid, he will be one of England's biggest hopes as it aims to win a major title for the first time since 1966.
Brazil's all-time record goal-scorer has carried the weight of a nation on his shoulders throughout his career.
Despite winning the biggest honors as a player, he has yet to lead Brazil to a record-extending sixth World Cup title.
Neymar, now 34, has been called up by Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti for his fourth World Cup after enduring injuries and an underwhelming move to Saudi Arabia since the last edition in Qatar four years ago.
The Egyptian icon is leaving Liverpool after a disappointing campaign, but remains his country's talisman.
Egypt will just have to hope the 33-year-old striker has saved his best for the World Cup.
Salah scored 257 goals in 442 games and won a full set of trophies with Liverpool - including the Champions League and two Premier League titles.
With Egypt, he has been runner-up in two African Cup of Nations.
From an early age, Pulisic was seen as capable of becoming American soccer's biggest overseas star.
He has gone on to play for some of Europe's biggest clubs in Germany, England, and Italy, winning top honors along the way, and none bigger than the Champions League with Chelsea.
Now at AC Milan, the forward has discovered some of his most consistent form and will be an important part of Mauricio Pochettino's hopes to go far with the U.S. Men's National Team at a home World Cup.
