Houston hosts its first FIFA World Cup match as Germany faces Curaçao, marking the latter's tournament debut.

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.

Curaçao is preparing for its historic World Cup debut against Germany with excitement and pride.

A JetBlue flight from the small Caribbean nation of Curaçao halted its ascent to avoid colliding with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker, and the pilot blamed the military plane for crossing his path.

A record 64 nations will be in Friday's World Cup draw as FIFA expands the tournament from 32 to 48 teams.

The defending champion United States will play Jamaica, Nicaragua and either Curaçao, French Guiana, St. Kitts and Nevis or Sint Maarten in Group A during the first round of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.