HOUSTON – A Houston family is living out a dream — taking their elote business from a humble street cart to one of the world’s biggest sporting stages- FIFA World Cup 2026.
Elotes Bravos, which got its start selling the popular Mexican street corn in Hempstead and Houston, landed a coveted vendor spot at FIFA Fan Fest in EaDo — Houston’s East Downtown neighborhood — during the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Mexican fans at FIFA Fan Fest on Thursday during the Mexico–South Africa match loved the nostalgic snack.
“I’ve been craving this for a week — it’s amazing to be able to try this here,” said one soccer fan at the Elotes Bravos truck at Fan Fest.
For the family behind it, the moment is almost too big to believe.
“This is all new to us,” said William Mandujano, operations manager and family member at Elotes Bravos. “We’re stepping into a new world we never thought of being part of, which we’re grateful that we’re in it.”
‘Still not hitting us straight’
For Mandujano of Elotes Bravos, the milestone is still sinking in. “So being at this stage where we’re at with our family business, it’s still not hitting us straight,” Mandujano said.
His mother, Rosalia Bravo, co-founded Elotes Bravos in 2017. Bravo said that being part of FIFA, in some shape or form, was not on her bucket list.
“Es una emocion que no se puede explicar, pero es recordar todos los desvelos, todos los sacrificios, andar mucho en la calle, y ver esto te comforta que tu trabajo no a sido en vano,” Bravo said.
It’s a feeling Rosalia told KPRC 2 she can’t explain, but it brings her back to the long nights and sacrifices.
Journey to FIFA
The business really hit its stride during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the family began expanding into Houston markets, festivals and catering events. By 2023, Elotes Bravos had secured a vendor contract at Shell Energy Stadium. The following year, the City of Houston honored the business with a proclamation declaring Dia del Elote.
In 2025, the family landed a vendor contract at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field — one of the largest stadiums in the country.
In 2026, Elotes Bravos secured its spot as one of the vendors at FIFA Fan Fest in Houston. Still, Rosalia never imagined it would come to this. Her initial reaction said it all: “No, never … no idea.”
Landing a vendor spot at Fan Fest not easy
Landing a vendor spot at Fan Fest did not happen overnight. The process took Elotes Bravos more than a year, and the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce helped guide the family every step of the way.
“We’ve coached along the way, they did their due diligence, and they are here. It’s living proof of the American dream,” said Laura Murillo, president of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Mandujano said meeting the event’s standards was no small feat.
“There’s a lot of requirements, a lot of strict rules that they have that we have to follow,” he said.
Rosalia also reflected on what the opportunity means going forward, saying in Spanish that it is a chance to continue growing with the community once more.