T.E.A.M. BLOG

Houston Builds the Game. The FIFA World Cup Accelerates It. Three soccer economies, one growing Houston ecosystem. If you’re an SMB in Houston, the biggest misconception is that “soccer business” only starts when the FIFA World CupTM arrives in 2026. Reality: Houston soccer is already a year-round economy with three distinct lanes - and the best time to build your plan is now, while attention, habits, and partnerships are forming.

There is a quiet belief circulating across Houston’s small and medium-sized business community that planning fro FIFA World CupTM can’t begin until the Final Draw reveals which teams will play here. It sounds logical, but it is the most limiting mindset in the market. The Final Draw only determines the team names. It doesn’t determine the fan flows, the travel patterns, or the economic waves that will come through Houston. Those parts are already known.

In 2026, Houston will welcome the world. Seven FIFA World Cup matches at NRG Stadium, a month-long Fan Festival in EaDo, and more than half a million international visitors will turn the city into one of the global capitals of soccer.

The FIFA World Cup 26™ will make Houston a global soccer metropole. But the real story can be how Hispanic entrepreneurs and small businesses will lead the way. Their bilingual communication, cultural authenticity, and community-first mindset are the exact ingredients international fans crave.

Walmart didn’t just sponsor a league - it invested in the future of American culture. Its MLS partnership is more than a marketing move; it’s a statement of alignment with the most dynamic and diverse consumer movement in U.S. sports today.