As one of the most diverse destinations in America, the city will utilize the power of the FIFA World Cup™ to bring communities together to showcase the city to the world, providing a once-in-a lifetime experience for Houstonians, and leveraging the spirit of the event to leave a lasting legacy to football in the United States. The city was incorporated in 1837 and named after General Sam Houston. Located in Southeast Texas near the Gulf of Mexico, it is the principal city of the Greater Houston metro area, which is the fifth most populated metropolitan area in the United States. The burgeoning port and railroad industry, combined with the discovery of oil in 1901, has generated continual surges in the population.

Houston Dynamo became the fourth professional team in Houston. The Dynamo won back-to-back MLS Cups in 2006 and 2007 and are one of the top franchises in MLS. The others are the Houston Astros (MLB), Houston Texans (NFL), and Houston Rockets (NBA). Houston supports many youth recreational programs and competitive clubs under South Texas Youth Soccer Association (STYSA), with over 100,000 members.

Houston has a history of hosting large sporting events with well-equipped facilities. The NRG Stadium hosted the 2017 Super Bowl and has been home to some of the most prestigious football events in the United States. In 2008, the US played regional rivals Mexico in front of more than 70,000 fans and NRG Stadium has hosted Concacaf Gold Cup matches from 2005 until 2011, the 2016 Copa América Centenario, the Manchester City-Manchester United derby, and many Mexican national team games. In 2008, USA Football recognized NRG Stadium as the “Best Football Crowd in America” as well as America’s Top Gold Cup Venue.