Plan World Cup 2026 in Houston with NRG Stadium details, indoor-roof comfort, transit options, neighborhoods, and match-day advice.
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Japan's 2026 World Cup games kick off at 5am vs Netherlands, 1pm vs Tunisia and 8am vs Sweden. Where to watch them across Japan — every DAZN AEON Cinema, Toei cinema, free AEON Mall venue and HUB branch, in region-by-region tables with names, stations and prices.
Shinjuku sports bars for the 2026 World Cup — HUB, Fiori and the dedicated football pub 2nd Half one stop away — plus Kabukichō, Golden Gai and the free Tocho view.
Every Matchday 1 result from the 2026 World Cup group stage, group by group. Messi's hat-trick, Haaland and Mbappé doubles, Germany's seven-goal rout, and Japan's 2-2 with the Netherlands — plus what each result sets up for Matchday 2.
Paris Saint-Germain beat Arsenal on penalties (1-1 aet, 4-3) in the 2026 Champions League final to go back-to-back. The goals, the shootout, Vitinha's MOTM, Arteta's reaction, what it means, and how Japan watched it.
View the World Cup 2026 schedule across all 104 matches, with timezone-aware kickoff times and calendar options for every fixture.
Akihabara sports bars for the 2026 World Cup — STADIUM BAR Akiba League and HUB — plus Electric Town, anime and retro-gaming for the ultimate otaku matchday.
Arsenal are 2025-26 Premier League champions — their first title in 22 years. How Mikel Arteta's side clinched it, the players behind it, and what comes next, including the Champions League final.
Houston hosts 7 World Cup 2026 matches at NRG Stadium — the home of the NFL's Houston Texans, featuring one of the largest retractable roofs in American sports. With its climate-controlled interior, NRG is one of the only host venues where the weather is never a factor.
| Stadium | NRG Stadium |
| Capacity | ~72,000 |
| Opened | 2002 (renovated 2024) |
| Surface | Natural grass (laid for football, transplanted) |
| Roof | Retractable (key advantage) |
| Total matches | 7 (5 group + 1 R32 + 1 R16) |
| Area | Distance to NRG | Rates (W Cup pricing) | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Downtown | 8 miles | $300-700/night | Walkable, business hotels |
| Midtown / Galleria | 5-7 miles | $250-500 | Hip district |
| Medical Center | 1 mile | $200-400 | Close to NRG, business-focused |
| The Heights | 10 miles | $250-450 | Residential, charming |
| Sugar Land (suburb) | 25 miles | $150-300 | Quieter, family-friendly |
| Food | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Tex-Mex | Pappasitos, Chuy's | $15-35 |
| BBQ (Texas-style) | Killen's, Truth BBQ | $20-50 |
| Vietnamese (large community) | Pho Saigon, Crawfish & Noodles | $12-25 |
| Seafood (Gulf Coast) | Goode Company Seafood | $25-60 |
| Coffee (third-wave) | Greenway Coffee, Antidote | $4-8 |
| Site | Time |
|---|---|
| NASA Johnson Space Center | 4-5 hrs (1 hour drive) |
| Houston Museum District (12 museums) | full day |
| Houston Zoo | 4-5 hrs |
| The Galleria (shopping) | half-day |
| Discovery Green | 1-2 hrs |
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Avg high | 33°C (91°F) |
| Avg low | 23°C (73°F) |
| Rain | 12-15 days |
| Humidity | 80%+ (extreme) |
| UV | Extreme |
This is why the retractable roof matters. Houston in June is genuinely brutal outside. Indoor venues, AC, hydration — essential.
NRG Stadium has a massive retractable roof that opens / closes depending on conditions. For 2026 World Cup, FIFA has stated:
This makes Houston the most weather-protected of all U.S. host cities.
| Channel | Coverage |
|---|---|
| NHK | Live (terrestrial + BS) |
| NHK BS4K | 4K simulcast |
| DAZN | Live + highlights |
Houston kickoffs in JST: 11am CDT → 01:00 JST same day (late evening watching).
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hydrate constantly | Even indoors, the heat outside drains you |
| Sunscreen mandatory | Even short walks in June |
| Indoor activities preferred | Museum District, NASA, malls |
| Match-day traffic | 2-3 hours to leave the stadium area |
| Texas drinking laws | 21+ ID checking at most venues |
| Team | Detail |
|---|---|
| Houston Dynamo | MLS, plays at Shell Energy Stadium (separate venue) |
| 2025 MLS Cup hosted in Houston | Trial run for World Cup hosting |
Q. Why is NRG Stadium so important for the WC? A. Retractable roof + AC — the only major American host with full weather control. Critical for June Texas heat.
Q. Will the roof always be closed? A. Decided per match by FIFA + the home club. Likely closed for midday matches in heat.
Q. Is NASA worth the visit? A. Yes — 4-5 hour family trip. Mission Control tours are educational and impressive.
Q. Is Houston safe to visit? A. Yes for tourist areas. Downtown, Galleria, Museum District are visibly tourist-friendly. Avoid wandering at night in unfamiliar neighborhoods.
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