Houston’s FIFA Fan Festival in EaDo & NRG Stadium: Where Fans Will Actually Stay (and How to Get Between Them)
The 2026 World Cup™ is coming to Houston— but the biggest cheers will be in EaDo at the FIFA Fan Festival™.
When the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ comes to Houston, the obvious landmark is NRG Stadium. But most fans won’t spend their time sitting in a stadium seat. They’ll be in East Downtown (EaDo) at Houston’s official FIFA Fan Festival™ and Football Fiesta Houston—watching matches on huge screens, eating, drinking, and living their best fan life.
If you’re planning a trip, it’s not just about “how close can I get to NRG?” It’s about:
EaDo for the FIFA Fan Festival and Football Fiesta
NRG Stadium for the matches
A smart home base in between, with easy METRORail access, like Midtown—plus stylish alternatives like Upper Kirby if Midtown sells out
Quick facts about the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston
Tournament dates: June 11 – July 19, 2026
Houston is one of 16 host cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
NRG Stadium will host seven matches: five group-stage games, one Round of 32 and one Round of 16 match between mid-June and early July.
Match days at NRG will be huge. But they’re just seven days out of a 39-day tournament. The rest of the time, fans will be looking for somewhere to watch games, celebrate and explore Houston.
EaDo – the heart of Houston’s FIFA Fan Festival
Houston’s official FIFA Fan Festival will be held next to Shell Energy Stadium in East Downtown (EaDo).
Here’s what that means for fans:
Central fan hub: The FIFA Fan Festival™ is designed as the main destination for fans to watch every World Cup match on big screens, with curated entertainment and activities.
Football Fiesta Houston: A citywide celebration branded “Football Fiesta Houston” will spill out into EaDo’s streets, bars, and restaurants, putting the focus on Houston’s Hispanic community and local culture.
Festival timeline: The Fan Festival is expected to run on most tournament days—about 34 of the 39 days matches are being played.
Even if you only have tickets for one or two games at NRG, EaDo is where you’ll probably spend a lot of your non-stadium time.
NRG Stadium vs. EaDo: where you’ll actually spend your time
NRG Stadium is where the matches happen. EaDo is where everything else happens.
On a typical fan trip, you’ll likely:
Head to NRG Stadium on your match days: travel in, watch the game, then leave.
Spend many more hours at the FIFA Fan Festival: watching other matches, meeting friends, trying food, and hopping between EaDo bars and restaurants.
So when you’re choosing where to stay in Houston, it makes sense to base yourself somewhere that:
Connects easily to both NRG and EaDo
Has plenty of food, nightlife, and daily-life conveniences
Doesn’t trap you in traffic every time you move
That’s where Midtown—and as a backup, Upper Kirby—come in.
NRG one way, Downtown/EaDo the other—Lodgeur Midtown puts you on the METRORail Red Line so you can get anywhere fast.
Why Midtown is an ideal base for World Cup fans
Midtown sits between NRG Stadium and downtown/EaDo and is directly on the METRORail Red Line, Houston’s light-rail system.
From Midtown you get:
Direct rail to NRG Stadium on the Red Line (no car needed).
Easy transfers to EaDo via downtown’s central stations to connect with the Green and Purple Lines to EaDo/Stadium Station at Shell Energy Stadium.
Walkable bars and restaurants in Midtown itself, plus quick access to the Museum District and Texas Medical Center on the same line.
Staying at Lodgeur Midtown furnished apartments puts you right on that METRORail line at Mid Main Lofts, in one of Houston’s most walkable neighborhoods.
You get:
A furnished apartment instead of a standard hotel room – with a full kitchen, living area, and space to work or regroup between matches.
Flexible stays – from a long World Cup trip to a shorter visit if you’re only catching a couple of matches.
Easy access to the METRORail so you’re not dependent on surge-priced rideshares every time you move.
You can ride from your apartment in Midtown straight to NRG on the Red Line, or into downtown to connect to the EaDo/Stadium station for the Fan Festival.
How to get between NRG, EaDo and Midtown
No parking, no traffic—just hop on the METRORail.
METRORail – the easiest way on match and fan-festival days
Houston’s METRORail runs three main lines: Red, Green and Purple.
Midtown → NRG Stadium:
Board the Red Line at Ensemble/HCC station outside Mid Main Lofts or nearby Midtown stations.
Ride south toward NRG Park; trains stop right by the stadium area.
Midtown → EaDo Fan Festival (Shell Energy Stadium):
Take the Red Line north from Midtown into downtown.
Transfer at a central station to the Green or Purple Line.
Ride to EaDo/Stadium Station, right by Shell Energy Stadium and the Fan Festival area.
Tickets are budget-friendly, and trains are designed to serve major attractions like the Texas Medical Center, Museum District, NRG Stadium and EaDo. (Check out the Lodgeur Guide to taking the METRORail from Midtown.)
Rideshare and taxis
When you’re exhausted after a full day at the Fan Festival or a late match:
Rideshare and taxis are widely available between Midtown, NRG, and EaDo.
Prices will spike on match days, but rides are still relatively short because everything is clustered inside the urban core.
Use METRORail to get to big events when everyone’s arriving at once, and rideshare home when the crowd thins out. Bonus: take Alto for a classier rideshare experience.
Walking and micro-mobility
If you stay in Midtown:
You can walk to bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and the rail stations without needing a car at all.
You’ll see scooters and bikes around central Houston, useful for short hops when streets are closed for fan activities.
Where to stay in Houston for FIFA World Cup 2026
If you’re choosing an area to stay, think in terms of how you’ll spend your time, not just the stadium address.
Midtown – rail-connected fan base
Your Midtown home base for the World Cup. Lodgeur puts you on the Red Line with easy rides to NRG and downtown.
Stay at Lodgeur Midtown to be on the Red Line, with easy access to NRG and downtown transfers for EaDo.
Walkable, packed with food and nightlife
Direct METRORail to NRG
Simple transfer into EaDo for the Fan Festival
Upper Kirby / The Levy – stylish alternative near NRG
Next to Levy Park with food trucks, restaurants and free events
One of Houston’s most walkable neighborhoods
A short drive or rideshare to NRG Stadium and the EaDo Fan Festival
Near NRG Stadium – pure proximity
Good if you only care about walking to NRG on match days
Less central for EaDo and other Houston neighborhoods, so you’ll commute into fan zones
The Old Spanish Trail hotels tend not to be hotels most people would choose outside of major events like World Cup or Houston Rodeo
For fans who want space, a kitchen, and a little sanity between matches, furnished apartments at Lodgeur Midtown and Lodgeur Upper Kirby will be in high demand. Midtown gives you direct rail access; Upper Kirby offers a quieter, park-side base that’s still a quick car ride from NRG and EaDo.
The World Cup draw is when most teams and fans finally know when and where they’ll be playing. That’s when booking activity accelerates – especially for walkable, rail-connected neighborhoods like Midtown and EaDo.
Smart moves:
Book as soon as you know your match dates, especially for larger groups wanting multiple apartments in the same building.
Look for flexible cancellation policies so you can adjust if your team advances or your plans change.
For long trips, consider extended-stay furnished apartments with laundry and kitchens so you’re not eating out for 39 straight days.
If you’re organizing a group—fans, corporate guests, media, or team staff—you can start on our FIFA 2026 group bookings page to request multi-unit stays in Midtown, Upper Kirby and other Houston locations.
FAQs – Houston FIFA Fan Festival, NRG Stadium & getting around
Where will the FIFA Fan Festival be in Houston? The official FIFA Fan Festival™ will be next to Shell Energy Stadium in East Downtown (EaDo), with Football Fiesta Houston spreading the celebration into the broader neighborhood of bars and restaurants.
How many World Cup matches will be played in Houston? Houston’s NRG Stadium is scheduled to host seven matches: five group-stage games, one Round of 32, and one Round of 16 between June 14 and July 4, 2026.
What are the dates of the 2026 FIFA World Cup? The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026 across 16 host cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
What’s the best area to stay in Houston for the World Cup? For most fans, Midtown is the sweet spot: it’s on the METRORail Red Line with direct service to NRG Stadium and easy transfers to EaDo for the Fan Festival, plus plenty of bars, restaurants and everyday amenities. Upper Kirby / The Levy is a great second option if you’d prefer a quieter, park-side neighborhood that’s still a short drive to NRG and EaDo.
Do I need a car in Houston during the World Cup? If you stay in a rail-connected neighborhood like Midtown or downtown, you can do most of your trip on METRORail + rideshare, especially for big days at NRG and the Fan Festival in EaDo. A car becomes more of a nice-to-have than a must-have.
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