Folarin Balogun’s presence on the field for the United States against Belgium had a seismic impact on the world of soccer, but he ultimately played a forgettable role in the Americans’ 4-1 loss in the World Cup round of 16.
The relationship between Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been long in the making and is now at the center of one of the great World Cup controversies.
President Donald Trump is taking credit for getting FIFA to review a red card issued at the World Cup against the United States’ star forward but says he did not demand an outcome.
President Donald Trump is responding to global outrage over his intervention with FIFA during the World Cup.
With the integrity of FIFA and the World Cup under attack from European soccer leaders, FIFA President Gianni Infantino acknowledged taking a call from President Donald Trump before U.S. forward Folarin Balogun was cleared to play against Belgium later Monday.
U.S. President Donald Trump intervened on behalf of American star forward Folarin Balogun, whose suspension was lifted in a decision that allows him to play in a World Cup match against Belgium on Monday.
As FIFA draws fans from around the world to Houston, many international visitors are spending America’s 250th Independence Day experiencing an American Fourth of July for the very first time at the City of Houston’s Freedom Over Texas celebration.
The Texas Attorney General is investigating StubHub after widespread reports of last-minute cancellations of purchased 2026 FIFA World Cup tickets, leaving fans without tickets or viable replacements.
Houston is hosting some of the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, and with that comes a heightened focus on human trafficking. A “No Trafficking Zone” has been established at the Houston stadium, where local law enforcement and nonprofits are working together to identify and stop human trafficking during the tournament.
Houston’s Fourth of July weekend forecast brings classic July weather: muggy mornings, hot afternoons and a few hit-or-miss storms. Rain chances stay low, but not zero, while the tropics remain quiet with no development expected over the next seven days.
Houston’s Fourth of July weekend forecast brings classic July weather: muggy mornings, hot afternoons and a few hit-or-miss storms. Rain chances stay low, but not zero, while the tropics remain quiet with no development expected over the next seven days.
World Cup players have been warned about a new rule that results in a red card for anyone covering their mouth when verbally confronting another player.
When Morocco advanced to the Round of 32 in the FIFA World Cup 2026, Madiha Bekkali knew she wanted her son to see them play in person and bought tickets to the game in Guadalajara, Mexico, against the Netherlands.
Law enforcement has seized more than 27,000 counterfeit FIFA-related items worth more than $6.1 million across the Houston area in approximately the past two weeks.
The FIFA World Cup knockout stage arrives in Houston on Monday as Brazil and Japan square off in a highly anticipated Round of 32 match at Houston Stadium, the FIFA name for NRG Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon.
Houston has just one week of FIFA action left in town, ending on Independence Day, and it all kicks off with one of the tournament’s biggest matchups: Brazil vs. Japan.
A Toronto teacher refused to give up after her World Cup tickets were canceled just days before kickoff, then she connected with 2 Helps You who delivered in the 11th hour
Four residents of the Houston area are facing federal charges, accused of flying drones within the boundaries of the Temporary Flight Restriction zone established near the FIFA World Cup Fan Zone, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
The Houston Dynamo roster has four Brazilian players on the 1st team who were really excited when they found out that Brazil would play at Houston Stadium in a Round of 32 match on Monday.
With the biggest frustration of going to a FIFA World Cup 2026 game being the prices to get in the door, one of the cheapest ways to attend a game in Houston will be Friday’s game against Saudi Arabia and Cabo Verde.
As Houston welcomes massive crowds for FIFA World Cup events, local organizations and law enforcement agencies are working to address a less visible concern: human trafficking.
A Texas family says their dream of attending a FIFA World Cup match at Houston Stadium was shattered less than 24 hours before kickoff when they learned the tickets they purchased months earlier would not be delivered.
Temperatures across the city are expected to climb into the upper 80s and mid-90s Fahrenheit, reaching 89°F to 96°F (32°C–35°C). But what fans are truly feeling outdoors tells a different story. The heat index, which factors in humidity and reflects how hot it feels to the human body, is forecast to reach a staggering 102°F to 109°F (39°C–43°C).
FIFA will consider keeping hydration breaks for future World Cups despite backlash to the extra stoppages in play at this year’s tournament.
Foreign Grill, a family-owned restaurant at POST Houston, introduces Houstonians and World Cup visitors to traditional Uzbek and Eastern European cuisine, featuring dishes like samsa and plov.
At the FIFA Fan Fest in Houston, social media star @iShowSpeed energized fans by signing and launching a soccer ball before the Mexico-South Korea World Cup match, later drawing crowds to OhMyGogi’s food truck for Korean-Mexican fusion tacos.
From Tropical Storm Arthur to a dangerous heat event — all within 24 hours — FIFA World Cup 2026 fans at the FIFA Fan Festival in Houston have seen it all, and they’re not going anywhere.
Houston is no stranger to scorching summers, but for thousands of international visitors in town for the FIFA World Cup, the city’s blistering heat and humidity are a culture shock unlike anything they have experienced before.
Mayor John Whitmire and OEM Director Brian Mason will discuss the city’s weather preparedness and response ahead of the anticipated severe weather and potential flooding this week.
The coach of Iran’s World Cup team says it was ordered to leave the U.S. and return to its training base in Mexico only a few hours after opening its politically charged tournament by playing to a 2-2 draw with New Zealand.
FIFA officials say the FIFA Fan Festival will be open for reduced hours on Tuesday due to continued inclement weather affecting the city.
A World Cup video review official says his hand gesture resembling a white supremacist sign was caused by an involuntary twitch.
FIFA Fan Festival Houston will be closed Monday, June 15, due to anticipated severe weather and guidance from public safety officials, organizers announced Sunday evening.
We're tracking rain and thunderstorms as we shift into a stormy pattern. Here's what you need to know to plan your weekend as our feels-like temps hit triple digits, again.
First responders and vendors heading to Houston Stadium for the FIFA World Cup game between Germany and Curaçao faced significant traffic delays due to congestion on the South Loop feeder road.
Fans from around the world have arrived in Houston for the World Cup, bringing excitement, national pride and a willingness to brave just about anything for a chance to be part of the tournament.
FIFA Fan Festival attendees in Houston may be required to evacuate if lightning is detected within eight miles, with re-entry allowed after 30 minutes without further strikes.
More than 30,000 fans attended the FIFA Fan Fest in Houston's East Downtown, where organizers implemented extensive heat mitigation measures including mist stations, cooling centers, and hydration points to address soaring temperatures.
Elotes Bravos, a Houston family business that began as a street cart selling Mexican street corn, has grown into a prominent vendor at major venues, culminating in a spot at the FIFA Fan Fest for the 2026 World Cup in Houston's EaDo neighborhood.
Drivers traveling along the Southwest Freeway are still navigating rough pavement, lane closures and construction zones as a major paving project continues alongside World Cup-related improvements near the Montrose area.
Houston is hosting a series of family-friendly and soccer-themed events to celebrate the FIFA World Cup, including free watch parties at Sugar Land Town Square, a Summer Soccer Celebration at Levy Park, and special activities at the Children's Museum Houston.
Parking at Houston Stadium during the FIFA World Cup is expensive and traffic is expected to be heavy, making METRO public transit the most cost-effective option for attendees, with $3 all-day passes and free Community Connection service in several neighborhoods.
Houston offers a variety of bars for watching the FIFA 2026 World Cup, featuring free admission, large screens, and themed events across multiple venues.
The countdown is on for the FIFA World Cup 2026, and Houston Stadium is nearly ready to welcome fans from around the world.
Houston-area transit riders can expect more frequent trains, expanded bus service and extended operating hours during the FIFA World Cup 2026, according to the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO).
Houston’s FIFA World Cup 2026 celebration kicks into high gear as the FIFA Fan Festival opens in East Downtown, creating a free gathering place for soccer fans to watch matches, enjoy live entertainment and experience the excitement surrounding the world’s largest sporting event.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended World Cup ticket prices by saying they align with North American sports.
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 set to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Houston this summer, CenterPoint Energy says it has spent more than a year preparing the region’s electric and natural gas infrastructure for the global event.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into FIFA over allegations that the organization misled fans about the location and quality of seats sold for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the United States after arriving in Miami and subsequently dropped from the tournament by FIFA had been set to make history for his country.
The Iranian soccer federation claims FIFA has revoked its ticket allocation for fans at the team’s three World Cup games in the United States.
An international football star and an American football star crossed paths in Aggieland over the weekend.
FIFA has canceled World Cup tickets issued to about 60 fans who mistakenly got them for free because of a website error.
As Houston prepares to welcome visitors for the FIFA World Cup 2026, city leaders are investing $7.5 million to improve safety along one of the city’s most heavily used hike-and-bike corridors: the Columbia Tap Trail.
If you’re heading to a concert, sporting event or entertainment district in Houston this summer, don’t be surprised if you notice more Texas Department of Public Safety troopers on patrol.
Soccer fans can celebrate the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 with a new lineup of limited-time meals and collectibles at McDonald’s.
With Houston set to take center stage during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Texas officials are urging residents and visitors to download a free safety app that could help prevent crimes and potential threats before they happen.
Houston leaders say they’ve spent more than two years planning for World Cup-related events — and that the goal is to be ready to handle the influx of visitors while keeping everyday police, fire and EMS response steady across the city.
Houston leaders continue to describe the FIFA World Cup 2026 as a major economic opportunity for the region — but early indicators suggest the hospitality industry is still waiting for that boom to materialize.
As Houston prepares to welcome soccer fans from around the world for the FIFA World Cup 2026, downtown business owners are hoping a newly transformed Main Street corridor will bring a surge of visitors — and much-needed economic momentum.
The FBI is warning fans about fake FIFA websites targeting those seeking information or tickets for the 2026 World Cup, including in Houston. Cybercriminals are creating convincing copycat sites using slightly altered web addresses to steal personal and financial information. These scams, known as 'typo squatting,' involve domains with misspellings or unusual endings and are expected to increase as the tournament approaches. Officials advise visiting FIFA’s official site directly, bookmarking legitimate pages, and reporting suspected scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
With FIFA World Cup 2026™events and summer heat bringing fans outdoors, dermatologist Dr. Sherry Ingraham shares her expert tip on protecting your skin during long game days.
Houston is set to host FIFA World Cup matches, but some fans say they’re paying hundreds of dollars for tickets without fully understanding what they’re getting.
Houston city leaders sought to calm public concern after federal officials designated George Bush Intercontinental Airport as one of three U.S. entry points for American travelers returning from regions affected by the latest Ebola outbreak in Central Africa.
With matches coming to NRG Stadium and a month-long FanFest planned downtown, transportation officials are already warning Houstonians to prepare for significant traffic impacts during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With just weeks to go before Houston hosts its first FIFA World Cup match, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo addressed growing public concerns Monday over Ebola cases connected to central Africa and what that could mean for the region during the international event.
As Houston prepares for an influx of visitors during FIFA World Cup-related events, a new community effort in Third Ward is giving residents a closer look at something they can’t always see — the air they breathe.
An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is raising concerns as Houston prepares to host Congo for a World Cup match in less than a month.
Houston hoteliers anticipated a tourism gold rush when the city landed FIFA World Cup matches, rooms sold out months in advance, premium rates, and visitors flooding in from across the globe.
The METRO Police Department in Houston has introduced a real-time translation system to aid communication during emergencies and major events ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund became an “official tournament supporter” of the World Cup on Thursday and reaffirmed its commitment to invest in sports despite notable retreats from other ventures in recent months.
The upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature seven matches in Houston at NRG Stadium, which will be renamed Houston Stadium during the tournament.
With just weeks until World Cup matches arrive in Houston, the FBI in Houston says security planning has been underway for more than a year — and a key part of that plan is a centralized command post where federal, state and local agencies will work side by side.
Houston’s 8th Wonder Brewery is accusing its landlord of trying to push the company out of its longtime East Downtown property as the value of nearby land surges ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Trump administration is suspending a requirement that foreign visitors from countries that have qualified for the World Cup and have bought tickets for the soccer tournament pay as much as $15,000 in bonds to enter the United States.
What is normally home to football games is now a full-scale construction zone as NRG Stadium undergoes a dramatic transformation ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
