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Houston is vying to host FIFA World Cup games in 2026 as the U.S., along with Mexico and Canada, welcome the coveted tournament.
The city's World Cup Bid Committee has already started proceedings to impress members of the global soccer governing body, FIFA, with its status as an international city capable of holding a massive gathering.
"Houston has the strongest case out of any city in the United States," Committee President Chris Canetti told Houston Daily News. "If you look into the spectrum that goes into this, we're going to score high."
The fourth-largest city in the country behind New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, Houston as a major market moves the needle and has hosted many sporting events, Canetti said.
Infrastructure is a key component, and Canetti pointed to two world-class airports in the area, Hobby and Bush, as well as NRG Park and a conference center complex.
"We're a football-rich community and I mean (that) in the international term," Canetti said.
Earlier this month, the committee launched the #SpiritofHouston campaign, which was inspired by Houston’s internationally diverse community and culture and its love for soccer. The initiative included a partnership with the U.S. Soccer Foundation to build 30 mini-fields throughout the city with financing from Ted Segal, owner of the Houston Dynamo men's (Major League Soccer) and Houston Dash women's (National Women's Soccer League) local domestic soccer teams.
"Youth soccer is massive here in the Houston area," Canetti said. "There's a very rich culture here and there's a lot of kids here that don't have access to play."
Canetti's hope is to put a footprint in the city and surrounding communities that are underserved so they can not only construct small fields but have the financial capabilities to bring in additional coaches and resources.
"As part of our bid, we made a huge announcement on legacy strategy," Canetti said. "Part of our legacy is around growing the game (in Houston), focused on underserved youth."
Canetti reflected on the impact of having a World Cup in the city's backyard and pointed back to the creation of a professional league in the U.S. in 1994 after the country hosted its first-ever World Cup with much success. The global soccer tournament, for the most part, brings economic and social profits but the lasting impact on fans and youth is something that can't be measured, Canetti said.
The World Cup "is a massive game-changer," the committee president concluded. "It's as big as it can get."