Waymo nearly doubles Houston service area before World Cup
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A Waymo car in downtown Houston in February. Photo: Shafaq Patel/Axios
Waymo is nearly doubling its Houston service area to 50 square miles ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Why it matters: The expansion strategically includes NRG Stadium and East Downtown, positioning Waymo to serve World Cup crowds heading to matches and fan events — all starting just a month from now.
State of play: Waymo's current Houston service area spans roughly 25 square miles around downtown, Montrose, the Heights, Rice Military and nearby neighborhoods.
- Riders will soon be able to access additional areas, including EaDo, the Texas Medical Center and northeast Houston.
- Waymo tells Axios the expansion will roll out in the coming weeks.
Catch up quick: The autonomous ride-hailing company launched service in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio in February through an invitation-only system that requires access codes.
- Waymo says tens of thousands of riders already use the service in Houston, and it plans to invite additional riders on a rolling basis as it scales operations, with everyone who downloads the Waymo app expected to gain access soon, the company tells Axios.
Zoom out: Waymo has also expanded service in other cities, including Austin, Atlanta and Miami, bringing its total service area to more than 1,400 square miles across 11 cities.
- Yes, but: Even with the expansion, Waymo's footprint in Houston remains smaller than in some other cities, including San Antonio at 60 square miles, Miami at 150 square miles, and Austin at more than 140 square miles.
Friction point: Safety concerns around autonomous vehicles remain. Waymo recalled its U.S. autonomous vehicle fleet over a software issue after a car drove into San Antonio floodwaters last month — though the cars are still operating.
- Earlier this year, a driverless vehicle was spotted going the wrong way down a Houston street, per KHOU.
Between the lines: Waymo's expansion adds more competition to Houston's rideshare market, shortly after Empower launched in the city last month.
- It also arrives as stadium parking prices remain high (ranging from $100-$175 for match days) and World Cup organizers are pushing fans to use public transportation.
What they're saying: "Waymo is coming to more riders both near and far," Shweta Shrivastava, senior product leader at Waymo, said in a statement, adding the company is "ensuring we are there to support riders for everything from daily commutes and local errands to exciting nights out and the big game."