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BY ASIA ARMOUR
BY CASSANDRA JENKINS
Houston eyes $1.5B economic boost from 2026 FIFA World Cup
Tejas Beer 5K At Tejas Brewery’s fun run, participants will receive a T-shirt, finisher glass and two pints of craft beer. • May 31, 6:30-8 a.m. • $45-$75 • 2101 Summer St., Houston • https://runintexas.redpodium.com/ tejas-beer-5k-beer-run-2025
May
Visual Symphony: The Salon Revisited Silver Street Studios’ contemporary art showcase is inspired by the grand salons of 17th and 18th century France, and attendees will be able to meet the artists.
Chris Canetti, president of Houston’s 2026 World Cup Host Committee, said during an April 1 panel discussion that Houston could economically benefit by more than $1.5 billion from the seven matches that will be hosted in the city in June 2026. According to the International Association of Event Hosts, the economic impact of a major event refers to the total amount of additional money brought to a defined area as a result of staging the event. Direct economic impact includes the cost of hotels, food, transportation and merchandise. The outlook Canetti said the $1.5 billion is more of a place- holder as new data and information are analyzed. However, he anticipates a concrete number to be presented in December after FIFA officials release what teams will come to Houston. The last FIFA World Cup was held in Qatar in 2022, and according to Forbes and the Michigan Journal of Economics, Qatar was estimated to
have benefited economically by $1.7 billion, with revenue primarily coming from tourism and business travel. The most watched match in 2022 was between France and Argentina in the finals with 1.42 billion digital viewers and 88,966 spectators inside Lusail Stadium. The following top four watched matches included the quarter- and semi-finals. According to Inside FIFA, the entire tourna- ment garnered 5 billion fans across all media, including TV, digital platforms, social media and FIFA streaming sites. More details Canetti said the ancillary event known as FIFA Fan Festival will also take place across 39 days from June 11 to July 19 in East Downtown, contributing to the overall economic impact. According to FIFA, the fan festival at Al Bidda Park in Doha, Qatar, saw nearly 2 million fans.
Comparing games Houston officials compared the city hosting seven matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to hosting seven Super Bowls in less than a month.
• May 17, 5-7 p.m. • Free (admission) • 2000 Edwards St., Houston • www.sawyeryards.com
MLB World Series $25 million
June
Dream Con The three-day event celebrates gaming, anime, sports, film, music and pop culture. • May 30-June 1, times TBD • $60-$150 (general admission), $350 (premium badge) • 1001 Avenida De Las Americas, Houston • www.dreamconvention.com Fitness in the Park The River Oaks District Equinox fitness club will host a complimentary Vinyasa Yoga class in the park. • May 31, 12:30 p.m. • Free with registration • 4444 Westheimer Road, Houston • www.riveroaksdistrict.com
Texas Monthly Taco Fest This first annual food festival will take place at Discovery Green and feature live entertainment and bites from Texas Monthly’s 50 best taco joints in the region. • June 7, 5-8:30 p.m. • $50 (general admission), $75 (VIP), $20 (kids 6-12) • 1500 McKinney St., Houston • www.texasmonthly.com/tacofest Craft Brew Stroll on 19th Street Attendees will receive a 19th Street pint glass to sample breweries on the historical Houston Heights street. • June 12, 5-9 p.m. • $20 • 313 W. 19th St., Houston • www.19thstreetheights.com
College Football National Championship $200 million
Futbolito in the City Dynamo & Dash Charities will offer free, 90-minute soccer coaching sessions for Houston-area youth between ages 6-14 years old. The clinics occur every Thursday throughout May at the Memorial Park Picnic Loop, and will also feature prizes and meet- and-greets with Dynamo FC and Dash players. • May 1, May 8, May 15, May 22 and May 29; 5:30-7 p.m. • Free with registration • 301 N. Picnic Lane, Houston • www.houstondynamofc.com/charities/futbolito
NCAA Final Four
$270 million
Super Bowl LI
$347 million
FIFA World Cup (estimated)
$1.5 billion*
SOURCES: HOUSTON SUPER BOWL HOST COMMITTEE, HARRIS COUNTY-HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY, WORLD CUP HOST COMMITTEE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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