And the countdown to the World Cup is on, and Houston restaurants are preparing for a major boom. We're talking global flavors, packed dining rooms, and a huge economic opportunity. This week, there will be a preview of what could be on menus across the city when restaurants and vendors attend the Sysco food show this week. Visit this link to register your restaurant

FIFA has fined the Israeli soccer federation for breaching anti-discrimination regulations but it took no action on a Palestinian request to suspend Israel from global soccer for allowing clubs based in West Bank settlements.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup quickly approaching, Houston leaders say the city is working against the clock to improve streets, sidewalks, and drainage before hundreds of thousands of visitors arrive.

The World Anti-Doping Agency has put off a decision about barring government officials from major sporting events if their countries voluntarily withhold dues.

Iran’s Embassy in Mexico has suggested the country is negotiating with FIFA to move Iran’s World Cup matches from the U.S. to Mexico after President Donald Trump discouraged the team from attending the tournament, citing safety concerns.

The World Anti-Doping Agency is considering rewriting its rules to try barring President Donald Trump and all U.S. government officials from attending the LA Olympics in 2028.

FIFA is still anticipating that Iran's national team will be allowed to come to the United States, even with war going on between the countries, and compete in the World Cup that begins in about three months.

UEFA says it still plans for Qatar to stage the Argentina vs.

With 100 days to go until the World Cup, the Iran war has added a new layer of complexity to the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lewis Hamilton are among the sports stars whose schedules are in doubt because of the spreading war in the Middle East.

Iran’s place at the men’s soccer World Cup in three months’ time has been put in doubt amid an escalating Middle East conflict sparked by tournament co-host the United States.

The faces of Mexico’s disappeared paint the streets of Mexico’s second biggest city of Guadalajara.

A Super Bowl streaker’s brief moment in the spotlight is now serving as a warning shot to soccer fans eyeing the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Preparations for the 2026 World Cup in Mexico City are cutting into the livelihoods of sex workers and street vendors near Azteca Stadium.

The German soccer federation has ruled out a boycott of the World Cup despite calls from within to send a message to U.S. President Donald Trump.

Authorities in Mexico are investigating an attack that killed 11 people and injured 12 others during a post-match gathering in central Mexico.

The Trump administration has identified a host of athletic competitions it classifies as “major sporting events” — aside from soccer's 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games — that athletes and coaches will be allowed to travel to the U.S. to take part in despite a broad visa ban.

Houston’s Pride Festival and Parade is making history by moving to Saturday, June 6, 2026, for the first time in nearly 50 years. The change, due to FIFA World Cup events later in June, kicks off a month-long celebration of diversity, advocacy, and community.

As Houston gears up to welcome the FIFA World Cup, excitement is building far beyond the stadiums. Local businesses, restaurants, and the tourism sector are preparing for a major economic surge — and Airbnb hosts say they’re ready to cash in.

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches Houston, so do the scammers.

It’s been just three days since the schedules were established for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and ticket prices are already through the roof.

The next phase of ticket sales for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to open Thursday.

Houston is preparing for an unprecedented economic surge as the 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to bring in $1.5 billion and attract nearly 500,000 visitors across the region.

FIFA has finalized the details for the 2026 World Cup.

Excitement is building in Houston’s Third Ward as major neighborhood improvements are set to begin ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Houston leaders provided a detailed update on the city’s sustainability efforts tied to the 2026 World Cup during a two-hour presentation at City Hall.

President Donald Trump has signed a bill to release files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

A super-sized World Cup has paved the way for tiny Curaçao and Cape Verde to book their places at sport’s biggest global event next year.

President Donald Trump is announcing “FIFA Pass,” which will allow foreigners with World Cup tickets to get expedited visa appointments.

Fans have been flocking to soccer matches in Jalisco, Mexico, as authorities fine-tune security for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Cape Verde will play in the World Cup for the first time after beating Eswatini 3-0 to win its group in African qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Tickets for next year's FIFA World Cup officially go on sale Wednesday.

The FIFA World Cup is set to take place at the NRG Stadium from June 14 to July 4, 2026.

If your commute takes you along the Southwest Freeway, you’re drive is about to get smoother and even a little better looking.

Son Heung-min agreed to a contract with Los Angeles FC on Tuesday, finalizing his move to Major League Soccer after a decade at Tottenham Hotspur.

Airbnb and FIFA have joined forces in a multi-year partnership ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be hosted in Houston and other cities.

Philadelphia’s host city executive for the 2026 World Cup says organizers accept that an immigration crackdown by the U.S. federal government may be among the outside events that impact next year’s tournament.

U.S. President Donald Trump often says the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are among the events he is most excited about in his second term.

For the first time in FIFA World Cup™ history, each host city will have its own official poster—and Houston’s design comes straight from the heart of H-Town.

"Our partnership with the World Cup Houston Host Committee marks an important moment for NRG and the city of Houston," said Gin Kinney, NRG Chief Administrative Officer in a statement.

Houston, Harris County leaders are set to discuss safety plans, and stadium upgrades ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026.

Didier Deschamps says he won’t continue as France coach after the next World Cup.

FIFA has apologized to the Ukrainian soccer federation for displaying a map during its World Cup qualifying draw that excluded Russia-occupied Crimea from the country’s territory.

Saudi Arabia has been officially confirmed by FIFA as host of the 2034 World Cup in men’s soccer.

'Art of Soccer' started in 2019 when Space City was being considered as a host city. Now, with some games secured, it's back! Daniel Gotera, senior director of communications for the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority shares how Houston businesses and artists are teaming up to leave a lasting impact before it's soccer's time to shine in 2026.

The two biggest events in world sports are coming to America.

Harris County-Houston Sports Authority is holding a press conference to discuss the latest developments in the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches that will be held in Houston.

The 2026 World Cup final will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19.

FIFA is announcing its schedule for all the matches for the 2026 World Cup on Sunday.

Mario Zagallo, who won two World Cups as a player, one as a coach and another as an assistant coach for Brazil, has died.

The long-awaited reunion of Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi is now a reality, after the Uruguayan striker signed with Inter Miami on Friday for the 2024 season.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will meet in Saudi Arabia after all.

Fourteen U.S. cities will play host to Copa América next summer, with the semifinals at East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Charlotte, North Carolina, ahead of the July 14 championship in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Two suspects in the kidnapping of the parents of Liverpool soccer player Luis Díaz were ordered sent to prison by a judge, according to Colombia’s Prosecutor’s Office, which accused one of the men of being the link to a person close to the family who provided information about the victims.

Many fans went to the Maracana Stadium to watch Lionel Messi in his likely last match in Brazil, a superclasico in World Cup qualifying against the hosts.

It seems like there’s no keeping Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo apart.

Days after he was released by kidnappers, the father of Colombia striker Luis Díaz was in tears after he watched his son score both goals in a 2-1 win over Brazil in a World Cup qualifying match.

Saudi Arabia is all but certain to host the men’s 2034 World Cup after the Australian soccer federation declined to enter the bidding contest.

Neymar left the soccer field in tears after yet another injury in what has become an all-too familiar sight.

Indonesian soccer federation leader Erick Thohir says it now supports Saudi Arabia's bid to host the 2034 World Cup.

Neymar was in tears as he left the field with a left knee injury at the end of the first half of Brazil’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat at Uruguay.

Lionel Messi is evidently going back to China, after Inter Miami took advantage of not making the Major League Soccer playoffs by signing a deal to play two exhibitions there next month.

If Saudi Arabia could have designed a process for choosing future World Cup hosts, it might look similar to what FIFA has unveiled for the 2030 and 2034 men’s soccer tournaments.

A unique 2030 World Cup is set to be played in Europe and Africa with the surprising addition of South America.

Neymar has scored his record 78th and 79th goals for Brazil in a 5-1 World Cup qualifying win over Bolivia.

Neymar has become the top goal scorer for Brazil’s national team after surpassing the total of three-time World Cup winner Pelé.

We officially know the 23 players who will represent the United States in this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

Budweiser will still be the official World Cup beer through the 2026 tournament in the United States.

Get ready for a summer full of blockbuster events as Olympic hopefuls continue to work toward 2024 and the XXXIII Olympic Games in Paris.

The last-minute decision to ban the sale of beer at World Cup stadiums in Qatar is the latest example of some of the tensions that have played out ahead of the tournament.

While the key contributors aren’t limited to these five, going into the USMNT’s first game against Wales on Monday, here are the players most likely to carry the American side.

The outspoken CEO of Qatar Airways has lashed out at critics of his country hosting the upcoming FIFA World Cup, saying his nation will “always rub salt into the wound” of its adversaries.

European nations, including England, are pushing FIFA for “concrete answers” on issues relating to migrant workers ahead of the World Cup.

The FIFA World Cup may be bringing as many as 1.2 million fans to Qatar, but the nearby flashy emirate of Dubai is also looking to cash in on the major sports tournament taking place just a short flight away.

FIFA has come under pressure from several European soccer federations who want to support a human rights campaign against discrimination at the World Cup.

Organizers of the World Cup in Qatar have finalized a policy to serve beer with alcohol to soccer fans in the Muslim-majority country.

Iran on Thursday put the FIFA World Cup trophy on display for the first time, part of the trophy’s global tour ahead of the tournament that kicks off in neighboring Qatar in November.

The chief executive of Dubai International Airport says the hub saw a surge in passengers over the first half of 2022 as pandemic restrictions eased.

Cheers and sighs met FIFA’s announcement of the host cities for the 2026 World Cup.

OH YEAH BABY!🏆⚽

U.S. cities and states have lined up with tax breaks and millions of dollars in both public and private investments for a chance at hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Qatar World Cup organizers have admitted that workers were exploited while contracted for FIFA preparation tournaments.

Christian Pulisic struggled in January, was played out of position by Chelsea and even was benched for a World Cup qualifier against Honduras.

Christian Pulisic scored his first international hat trick, leading the United States to the brink of returning to the World Cup with a 5-1 rout of Panama.

Forward Jesús Ferreira, winger Paul Arriola, midfielder Luca de la Torre and right back Shaq Moore entered the United States’ starting lineup for a World Cup qualifier against Panama as coach Gregg Berhalter made four changes.

As Houston aims to be the next home of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one committee is rallying together efforts to show why Clutch City is the perfect place to host the international game.

Christian Pulisic scored the final goal in a 3-0 victory by the United States over Honduras in a World Cup qualifier after being benched to start the game.

The U.S. beat winless Honduras 3-0 in a World Cup qualifying match.

Christian Pulisic was benched as U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter changed seven starters for a World Cup qualifier against Honduras in chilly St. Paul, where the temperature at kickoff was 3 degrees (minus-16 Celsius) with a minus-14 windchill.

The U.S. team has embraced the cold during this special winter session of World Cup qualifying play.

The U.S. has little margin for a stumble at home in World Cup qualifying.

Midfielders and defenders are the players providing the goals the United States needs to reach the World Cup.

Jordan Morris, Tim Weah, Sergiño Dest and Gyasi Zardes returned from injuries to make the U.S. roster ahead of the next three World Cup qualifiers.

In choosing new TQL Stadium in Cincinnati for a World Cup qualifier against Mexico, the U.S. Soccer Federation selected a city with a 3% Hispanic population in a state that ranks 42nd among the 50 in that demographic.

Getting through the first six games of World Cup qualifying has taken a village for the United States.

Ricardo Pepi scored twice early in the second half, becoming at 18 the youngest American with goals in consecutive World Cup qualifiers, and the United States dominated Jamaica in a 2-0 victory.

The U.S. Soccer Federation says it has offered identical contract proposals to the players’ associations for the men’s and women’s national teams, and the governing body said it would refuse to agree to a deal in which World Cup prize money is not equalized.

Houston may be one of 16 host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if the city’s bid gets accepted. On Wednesday, the 2026 Houston World Cup Bid Committee met with FIFA and USA Football officials virtually, mainly to discuss stadium details, according to committee president Chris Canetti. THE COMPETITIONHouston has great odds to land the 2026 bid due to the amount of cities needed in the United States. 10 of the 16 host cities will be in the U.S., and with Houston checking in as the fourth-biggest city, along with a soccer history, the odds should be strong. FIFA is likely to decide on the final 10 American host cities late in 2021, with a possibility for the decision to bleed over into 2022, according to Canetti.

HOUSTON The Houston 2026 Bid Committee took the next steps toward pitching Houston as the host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The committee gave a virtual presentation to members of FIFA and U.S. Soccer Monday in which they explained why Houston would be the best place to host the major sporting event, according to a news release. Houston has hosted two Super Bowls, a Final Four tournament and several international matches among many other major sporting events and is one of 17 cities under construction to host the 2026 event, according to the release. Our goal was to make a strong first impression and to deliver a message that Houston is ready to deliver a safe and life-changing experience a World Cup of the Future, said Houston 2026 World Cup bid President Chris Canetti. According to the release, FIFA will be making visits to each of the 17 cities before making a final decision.