FIFA Fan Fest Houston: A preview of the biggest watch party in H-Town for the 2026 World Cup

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- We are just days away from the opening of the FIFA World Cup, and crews are working to put together the ultimate destination for fans.

The FIFA Fan Festival is being built just east of downtown, next to Shell Energy Stadium.

ABC13 has gotten a first look at some of the featured experiences, including the festival's centerpiece: the "Esphera." The festival teamed up with Space Center Houston to deliver a 360-degree immersive experience, showcasing the sport next to the recent Artemis II launch.

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Old NRG Stadium signs went down in April, and on Friday, SkyEye13 captured temporary FIFA signage and new (but familiar) Reliant Park signs going up.

Also unveiled was the Aramco Arena, a soccer field for fans to play on. The pitch will also serve as a viewing area for matches.

"This pitch that Aramco is putting in is the only one in all 16 cities for the World Cup," FIFA Fan Festival Director Patti Smith said. "We'll have open play so fans that come to the fan festival can sign up and come out, kick it, play on it, be a part of it."

The festival is free to fans and operates on a first-come, first-served basis.

It opens on June 11 and will remain open for all 34 match days of the FIFA World Cup.

Since all this will be taking place in the middle of summer, organizers say there will be misting zones, water stations, and shaded areas, including a 126-foot-wide canopy called Magic Sky.

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Just a few blocks away from the future FIFA Fan Festival grounds, what elected officials are calling a superhub for the homeless is going up.