What is likely to be the final World Cup of Cristiano Ronaldo’s storied soccer career will be played partly in Houston.
The 40-year-old superstar is set to make two appearances at NRG Stadium next summer with the national team from Portugal, which is vying for its first title in a FIFA World Cup after a quarterfinal run in 2022. Houston is one of 16 host cities for the 2026 event being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The 48-team field is broken into 12 groups, and FIFA on Friday revealed which teams would compete in which groups. A more detailed schedule with kickoff times, dates and host venues was released Saturday.
Four-time World Cup champion Germany and the Netherlands, another quarterfinalist four years ago, are among the other teams that will play group-stage matches in Houston. The city is hosting five group-stage games along with two knockout round matches, including a round of 16 game on July 4.
Among the countries that could play knockout round games in Houston are Brazil, Canada, Japan and Mexico.
The United States team will not have a World Cup game at NRG Stadium, which is being renamed for the international tournament per FIFA’s sponsorship policy. The U.S. is part of Group D and will open the World Cup with a match against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles, followed by games in Seattle on June 19 and back in L.A. on June 25.
Portugal and Ronaldo will play twice in Houston during the group stage. Portugal has matches scheduled for noon Wednesday, June 17, against either Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia, and then at noon Tuesday, June 23, against Uzbekistan.
In 2022, Ronaldo became the first player to score a goal in five different World Cup events. He has scored 143 goals in international play overall, which also is a record.
“The announcement of the countries that will play FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in Houston makes the thrill of what’s to come even more tangible,” Chris Canetti, president of Houston’s World Cup host committee, said in a news release. “We’re looking forward to showing the world the hospitality that is the signature of our city, and providing locals and visitors alike with an incredible experience from the stadium to FIFA Fan Festival and beyond.”
The opportunity to see World Cup games in person will not be cheap, and Ronaldo figures to be an especially expensive draw. Ticket prices on the resale market for Portugal’s two games in Houston started at more than $700 as of Sunday, according to StubHub. The lowest Houston prices were for the June 26 game between Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde, starting at about $200, while the cheapest tickets for the games involving Germany and the Netherlands were more than $400.
The next opportunity to get World Cup tickets through FIFA starts Thursday, Dec. 11, when the application period begins for FIFA’s “Random Selection Draw.” The application window closes Jan. 13.
HOUSTON’S 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP SCHEDULE
All games at NRG Stadium
Sunday, June 14
Group E: Germany vs. Curaçao, noon
Wednesday, June 17
Group K: Portugal vs. Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia, noon
Saturday, June 20
Group F: Netherlands vs. Ukraine, Sweden, Poland or Albania, noon
Tuesday, June 23
Group K: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, noon
Friday, June 26
Group H: Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, 7 p.m.
Monday, June 29
Round of 32: Group C winner vs. Group F runner-up, noon
Saturday, July 4
Round of 16: Winner of Group A runner-up vs. Group B runner-up against winner of Group F winner vs. Group C runner-up, noon
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