Houston FIFA Fan Festival will reopen on July 9 for final matches in international tournament

ByABC13 Digital Team KTRK logo
Last updated: Wednesday, July 8, 2026 1:37PM GMT
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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 hosted seven matches, but fans will have plenty more to enjoy around 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.

KTRK logo
Jun 11, 2026, 9:56 PM

FIFA Fan Festival Houston: What you need to know

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

AP logo
1:22 PM GMT

Two U.S. soccer staff members suspended by FIFA after team's 4-1 loss to Belgium

Two staff members of the U.S. soccer team were suspended by FIFA from Monday's round of 16 game against Belgium.

FIFA did not explain why it imposed the discipline on team manager Sam Zapatka and U.S. Soccer Federation vice president of security Frank Pannell.

The USSF did not give a reason on Tuesday other than to say it was not related to the successful effort to have forward Folarin Balogun's one-game red-card suspension lifted.

Zapatka has been the team's administrative manager since 2020 and has worked for the USSF since 2015.

The U.S. was eliminated from the World Cup with a 4-1 loss to Belgium.

KTRK logo
1:27 PM GMT

Houston's FIFA Fan Festival closes early due to weather

Fans hoping to watch Tuesday's World Cup matches at Houston's FIFA Fan Festival will be unable to do so due to weather.

According to FIFA World Cup 26 Houston, the festival closed early Tuesday "due to continued weather conditions."

The festival will reopen Thursday, July 9, at 1:30 p.m.

ByJAMES ROBSON AP logo
Jul 07, 2026, 6:34 PM GMT

Argentina completes comeback, beats Egypt 3-2 to reach World Cup quarterfinals

Enzo Fernández scored in stoppage time to give Argentina an incredible 3-2 win over Egypt and a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday.

The defending champions had trailed 2-0 after goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. But Argentina got two late goals in four minutes from Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi to get back in the game.

Messi also missed a chance in the first half when his penalty was saved by Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir. He also hit the post when the score was 1-0.

ByJOHN MARSHALL AP logo
Jul 07, 2026, 10:59 AM GMT

World Cup schedule, what to know for July 7 as Argentina faces Egypt for spot in quarters

Kylian Mbappé pushed France through to the World Cup quarterfinals. Erling Haaland and Norway will be there, too.

So will Harry Kane after England's epic 3-2 win over Mexico.

The stars are shining in this World Cup and it's about to get brighter, even after Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo bowed out for the last time.

The last two round of 16 games are Tuesday, including Switzerland against Colombia in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Topping the marquee is a showdown between Argentina's Lionel Messi and Egypt's Mohamed Salah in Atlanta.

One star will move on and add to his legacy. The other will head home from the World Cup, maybe for the final time.

Messi added the one thing missing from his resume by leading Argentina to the World Cup title four years ago and has shown he's still one of the world's best players at age 39.

Messi has scored seven goals in four matches, matching Mbappé and Haaland in a star-studded Golden Boot race. Messi has scored in a record eight straight World Cup matches, dating to the 2022 title run, and keeps adding to his record career total of 20 goals.

Salah has been the face of Egyptian soccer, a four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner and the league's all-time leading foreign-born scorer.

The 34-year-old "Egyptian King" has an Egypt-record three World Cup goals and is one behind national team coach Hossam Hassan's record of 69 international goals.

Perhaps Salah's biggest accomplishment is pushing Egypt deeper into the World Cup than it's ever been.

The Pharaohs earned their first World Cup victory by beating New Zealand 3-1 in the group stage and earned their first knockout stage win by outlasting Australia in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.

Neither star has decided on his national team plans after the World Cup.

One will be a step closer to a decision after Tuesday's match.

Colombia's long World Cup road takes it to Canada to face Switzerland

Colombia's North American World Cup tour is headed to Canada.

With stops already in Mexico and the United States, Los Cafeteros will become the only team to play in all three host nations when they play Switzerland in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Tuesday.

Colombia opened with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan in Mexico City, beat Congo 1-0 in Guadalajara, Mexico, and played Portugal to a scoreless draw in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Colombians opened the knockout stage with a 1-0 win over Ghana in Kansas City, Missouri, and now have the chance to clinch their first quarterfinal berth since 2014.

Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0 for its first knockout-round win since 1938 to earn the trip to Vancouver.

The Swiss could be short-handed for the match.

Breakout star Johan Manzambi, Rubén Vargas and Djibril Sow all cut training short on Monday, leaving their availability in doubt.

"If they might not play tomorrow, it can be a huge issue for us," coach Murat Yakin said.

Reigning champion Argentina will not underestimate Egypt

In a World Cup that has seen powers like Germany and Brazil eliminated by underdogs, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said there was danger of his team underestimating Egypt. After all, the defending champion was given a scare by Cape Verde in the last round, needing extra time to come through with a 3-2 win.

"I think this World Cup has been, is very tricky for everyone. It seems there is no clear favorite," Scaloni said Monday. "I am convinced that if we didn't resort to our character in the last match we would be out as Cape Verde was giving us a very hard day."

Egypt is confident it can test Argentina as well and produce the tournament's latest upset - especially because it has Salah.

"My dreams have no limits. My ambitions have no limits. I promise that we will do everything to live up to the expectations (of fans)," Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said. "We're no underdogs. We're big in every respect. We are a civilization that is 7,000 years old, even more than 7,000 years."

Round of 16 schedule

Tuesday, July 7:

- Argentina vs. Egypt, noon EDT in Atlanta (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)

- Switzerland vs. Colombia, 4 p.m. EDT in Vancouver, British Columbia (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)

Quarterfinals schedule

Thursday, July 9:

- Morocco vs. France, 4 p.m. EDT in Foxborough, Massachusetts (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)

Friday, July 10:

- Spain vs. Belgium, 3 p.m. EDT in Inglewood, California (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)

Saturday, July 11:

- Norway vs. England, 5 p.m. EDT in Miami Gardens, Florida (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)

- Argentina-Egypt winner vs. Switzerland-Colombia winner, 9 p.m. EDT in Kansas City, Missouri (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)