Heat warning: Fan Festival grounds are largely outdoor. Outside Aramco Arena and Esphera dome, the only full AC space is Houston Hall. Make it your base 1–5 PM during peak heat. Gates open 90 min before first match of day.
Quick facts
Free
Admission — all 34 match days
90 min
Before first match — gates open
1 hr after
Last match ends — gates close
Jun 11–Jul 19
Full tournament window
12×12×6"
Max bag size — screened on entry
34 days
Total operating days
Two entrances
Walker Street (North)
🚇 METRORail
Adjacent to Shell Energy Stadium. Green or Purple Line → EaDo/Stadium stop → 5 min walk to this entrance. Recommended for rail users.
Polk Street (South)
🚗 Rideshare
Rideshare drop-off at 2011 Leeland St (Leeland & St. Emanuel). 7 min walk to this entrance. Express lane if arriving without bag.
Getting here from NRG Stadium
METRORail (Recommended)
Red Line north from Stadium Park/Astrodome → Central Station → transfer Green or Purple Line east → EaDo/Stadium stop → 5 min walk to Walker St entrance. Every 6 min on match days (Red), every 12 min (Green/Purple). $1.25 fare.
📍 NRG → Fan Festival directions
Rideshare
Drop at 2011 Leeland St (corner of Leeland & St. Emanuel) → 7 min walk to Polk St (south) entrance. Surge windows: 11 AM–1 PM and 2:30–4 PM on dual-surge match days. No-bag express lane at Polk St entrance.
Via Futbol Walking Route
Discovery Green → Rusk Street → Walker St entrance. Approx 12 min. Shaded route, ADA accessible. Before 10 AM only — outdoor walking not safe after 10 AM in Houston June heat.
🗺 View Via Futbol walking route
Parking
90,000+ public spaces within 3 miles. 10+ private lots within festival footprint. Not recommended on dual-surge match days — surface roads severely congested. Rail is significantly faster.
Three main attractions
Esphera
Space Center Houston · 360° projection dome
Projection dome shaped like the official FIFA match ball. Space Center Houston delivers an immersive 360° experience inside — the festival's visual centerpiece. Free with festival admission. Outdoor structure — visit in the morning before peak heat.
Aramco Arena
7v7 turf field · 45-ft video board
Full 7v7 synthetic turf soccer field open to all fans — not just the youth tournament. 45-foot video board for match viewing. Soccer simulator stations. Multiple misting stations. Also hosts Road to the Cup youth tournament (U11–U18/19). Visit in morning or after 5:30 PM — outdoor facility, peak heat makes afternoon play unsafe.
Houston Hall
Inside Fan Festival footprint · Shell Energy Stadium complex · Fully air-conditioned
The most important space on the festival grounds for international visitors. Houston Hall is a large, fully air-conditioned indoor hall located inside the Fan Festival footprint at the Shell Energy Stadium complex — enter from either the Walker St (north) or Polk St (south) entrance and follow FIFA Fan Festival signage to Houston Hall.
Inside: interactive experiences from the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and Space Center Houston, Houston-forward food and beverage, seating areas, and screens showing live match coverage. Primary heat refuge 1–5 PM — make this your base during the hottest hours of the day. Free with festival admission, no separate ticket required.
Inside: interactive experiences from the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and Space Center Houston, Houston-forward food and beverage, seating areas, and screens showing live match coverage. Primary heat refuge 1–5 PM — make this your base during the hottest hours of the day. Free with festival admission, no separate ticket required.
Bag policy
12" × 12" × 6"
Maximum bag dimensions. All bags screened on entry. Express lanes available for guests arriving without a bag — arriving bag-free is the fastest way through security. Small clutch bags also permitted. No glass containers.
On-site safety
Water stations throughout grounds
Misting zones confirmed
Shaded areas throughout
On-site medical staff
Houston Hall AC — 1–5 PM refuge
911 for emergencies
Dual Day Commuter stamp: Visit both NRG Stadium and the Fan Festival on the same match day via METRORail to earn the Dual Day Commuter passport stamp.