Tag Archives: World Cup

Who’s coming to the FIFA World Cup?

Posted on May 11, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Not as many people as we thought, it would seem. The World Cup only comes around every four years and regularly draws millions of spectators from across the globe. But expectations of a rush of international visitors and an accompanying … Continue reading →

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Everybody stay home for the next few weeks

Posted on May 8, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

Traffic during the World Cup is gonna suck. Houstonians should brace for heavier traffic on their morning and afternoon commutes during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as soccer matches and overlapping summer events draw thousands of people to already congested roads. … Continue reading →

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The cost of hosting the FIFA World Cup

Posted on April 30, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

The economics are hard to understand. When Texas dedicated $22 million to host the 2017 Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, state officials expected a return on their investment. But a state analysis after the … Continue reading →

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Waymo arrives in Houston

Posted on February 25, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

As anticipated, and for a select group for now. Some riders can start boarding Waymo self-driving cars in Houston and two other Texas cities Tuesday, marking the latest launch for the nationwide fleet of robotaxis. The driverless vehicles debuted in … Continue reading →

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Council approves bonds for GRB renovation and expansion

Posted on February 18, 2026 by Charles Kuffner

More big construction on its way. Houston officials passed $2 billion in bonds to move forward with plans to expand the George R. Brown Convention Center. The bonds – worth $250 million, $150 million, $1.3 billion and $300 million – … Continue reading →

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Keep lowering those flying taxi expectations for the World Cup

Posted on December 14, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Basically, don’t expect anything at this point. Arlington won’t have flying taxis in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as city leaders had hoped last year. Arlington Mayor Jim Ross first announced the city was partnering with a startup … Continue reading →

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Here’s your World Cup schedule for Houston

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Make your plans, if you’ve got the money to buy a ticket and aren’t grossed out by their Trump-pandering. Houston learned it was hosting games in the 2026 World Cup way back in June 2022. Now, we finally know the … Continue reading →

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Our flying taxi dreams will not come true in time for the World Cup

Posted on October 20, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Sadness. Two major transit modes won’t play a role in moving World Cup visitors around. Flying taxis, which Arlington Mayor Jim Ross hoped would be ready in time for the tournament, won’t be taking spectators to the stadium through the … Continue reading →

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The city screws with the Main Street light rail line

Posted on September 28, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

All done in silence, no notice and no transparency. Light rail passengers are facing longer delays while taking Metro’s Red Line route through downtown after the city adjusted the timing of traffic lights. Local officials have not responded to questions … Continue reading →

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Some uses of police overtime are more sensible than others

Posted on September 15, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. As thousands of protesters gathered at Houston City Hall earlier this year during the No Kings protest against President Donald Trump’s multimillion-dollar military parade, Houston police leaders spent more than $102,000 on police overtime … Continue reading →

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On HPD and overtime

Posted on August 18, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Lots to think about here. Houston senior police officer Matthew Davis’ annual salary was about $90,000 this past fiscal year. He made nearly $170,000 more in overtime. It was not an anomaly. Davis has collected more in overtime than his … Continue reading →

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Wisk gives a virtual demo

Posted on June 8, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I’d want to see the real thing, but I suppose that wasn’t practical under the circumstances. Saemi Poelma eagerly posed for a photo Tuesday inside a model autonomous air taxi, impressed by the possibility of a new way of traveling … Continue reading →

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More on the visa issues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a problem for Houston, too. Experts are now raising questions about America’s ability to receive such an influx of people, however, as some tourists wait months to obtain a visa, and the Trump administration strains relations with international allies … Continue reading →

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On immigration and the 2026 World Cup

Posted on April 23, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Yeah, there are some big issues that we need to talk about. Last month, Dallas officially announced the procurement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup International Broadcast Center. It will turn downtown’s Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center into a “nerve center” for … Continue reading →

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The GRB gets bigger

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Cool. Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Houston First head Michael Heckman on Thursday unveiled plans for a $2 billion overhaul of the George R. Brown Convention Center, a project they said would “transform” the city’s downtown and east side while … Continue reading →

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World Cup preparations update

Posted on February 1, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a lot happening. Houston is officially 500 days from hosting its first FIFA World Cup in the 95 years of the globe’s biggest tournament. Representatives of the FIFA World Cup 26 Houston Host Committee held a joint press conference … Continue reading →

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Another flying taxi overview

Posted on January 18, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

As I’ve said before, every time I read a story about flying taxis, I learn something new. Flying taxis have made enough regulatory inroads with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to result in the recent creation of a new aircraft … Continue reading →

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Arlington wants in on flying taxis

Posted on January 7, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Every time I come across a story about flying taxis, I learn something new. [Arlington] Mayor Jim Ross announced with dramatic flair during his State of the City address in October that the city will take commercial transit to the skies by 2026. … Continue reading →

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Where to go to hail a flying taxi

Posted on December 8, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

To the vertiport, of course. Wisk Aero, an Advanced Air Mobility company and Boeing subsidiary aiming to bring self-flying air taxis to Southeast Texas by the end of the decade, has designed its potential initial routes for its service. A … Continue reading →

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Harris County Sports & Convention Corp to do its own Astrodome assessment

Posted on November 22, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

We’re on the way to something. Destination TBD. The Harris County Sports & Convention Corp. — which oversees the management, operation and development of NRG Park — has approved a study to consider the future of the Astrodome, whether it … Continue reading →

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New Sports Authority CEO hired

Posted on November 19, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The changeover is complete. Ryan Walsh was hired Friday as the CEO of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, tasked with overseeing the city’s largest sports facilities and events, after a unanimous vote by the agency’s board of directors. The move … Continue reading →

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New Sports Authority board chair

Posted on October 29, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Noting for the record. Harris County-Houston Sports Authority chairman J. Kent Friedman is stepping down, he confirmed to the Chronicle on Friday morning. Mayor John Whitmire requested Friedman be replaced by Juan C. Garcia as chair, according to city council agenda documents. Garcia’s confirmation … Continue reading →

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New Sports Authority CEO

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Not sure what to make of this. The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority on Friday fired CEO Janis Burke after 18 years with the organization, a high-profile termination that came hours after Mayor John Whitmire and Houston’s sports executives gathered at … Continue reading →

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Here’s our World Baseball Classic schedule

Posted on August 25, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

In case you want to start filling in your 2026 calendar now. When the World Baseball Classic hits Houston’s Minute Maid Park in March 2026, the ballpark will host games featuring the United States, Mexico, Italy and Great Britain. In … Continue reading →

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A more in depth overview of electric flying taxis

Posted on June 30, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Good stuff here. When the electric air taxi revolution arrives, you probably won’t it hear coming. A remarkable feature of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is how quietly it flies, scarcely noticeable amid typical city traffic sounds. … Continue reading →

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A brief overview of flying taxis

Posted on May 31, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This was written by the executive director of the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education, and it answers at least one of my questions about our flying taxi future. In the near term, once eVTOLs are certified to fly … Continue reading →

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Houston will get some World Baseball Classic games

Posted on May 29, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Very cool. Houston will be one of four host cities for the World Baseball Classic when the international tournament is next played in 2026, Major League Baseball announced on Thursday. Minute Maid Park will host group stage games and a … Continue reading →

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Flying taxis coming to an airport near you

Posted on March 2, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Possibly in time for the FIFA World Cup. The Houston Airport System says they plan to bring air taxis to the area within the next two years, just in time for the FIFA World Cup in 2026. “Right now we’re … Continue reading →

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Preparing for the World Cup

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

FIFA requires real grass for its World Cup stadia, so NRG will be installing grass in 2026. The World Cup won’t hit Houston for another 28 months, but NRG Stadium and city officials already are preparing for the seven matches … Continue reading →

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Houston to get seven World Cup matches

Posted on February 6, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Not bad. Houston will host seven matches in the 2026 World Cup. In the expanded 48-team tournament, NRG will host a Round of 32 match on June 29 and a Round of 16 match on July 4. The group stage … Continue reading →

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Houston bids for the 2026 World Baseball Classic

Posted on January 7, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Ooh, cool. Houston is bidding to be a host city for the World Baseball Classic when the international tournament is next played in 2026. The city hosted WBC representatives for a visit in September and submitted its bid prior to … Continue reading →

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More World Cup events on tap for 2026

Posted on March 19, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Cool. The 2026 World Cup soccer tournament is expanding by 24 games, and Houston is prepared to handle any added games. FIFA voted Tuesday for a change in format to the 48-team event by adding games. The total of 104 … Continue reading →

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Houston wins its bid to be a 2026 World Cup host

Posted on June 17, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Excellent. The World Cup is coming to Houston. FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, chose Houston as one of 16 sites for the 2026 Men’s World Cup, the first edition of the tournament to be co-hosted by three nations: the United … Continue reading →

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We will learn Houston’s fate as a World Cup site this week

Posted on June 13, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

It’s been a long road. On June 16, FIFA will announce its host cities for the 2026 Men’s World Cup set to be held within the U.S., Canada and Mexico. If Houston is one of the 16 locations chosen for … Continue reading →

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