Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton yesterday launched an investigation into FIFA's ticket sales tactics ahead of 2026 World Cup play in Houston and Arlington this weekend.

The big picture: Paxton is the latest state prosecutor to target FIFA over ticket sales for the World Cup.

• Last month, California AG Rob Bonta raised similar concerns about seat assignments, and New York and New Jersey's attorneys general subpoenaed FIFA over "sky-high prices."

State of play: Some fans alleged they purchased "Category 1" tickets to matches only to be assigned seats in a "Category 2" location, Paxton says.

• The practice might run afoul of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Paxton said, announcing the investigation.

What they're saying: "I will work to ensure that FIFA is engaging in ethical and honest business practices so that Texas fans are treated fairly," Paxton said in a statement.

• "Sports have a unique power to bring people together, and FIFA must understand that Texans take their competition and their consumer rights seriously," he added.

The other side: FIFA did not respond to Axios' request for comment on the investigation.

What's next: The 2026 World Cup kicks off tomorrow with Mexico vs. South Africa in Mexico City.

• Houston will host seven matches starting Sunday with Germany and Curaçao. Dallas Stadium will host nine matches, also starting Sunday with the Netherlands vs. Japan.

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Houston, we have a crew. NASA revealed the four-person roster for Artemis III, the next mission in the space agency's quest to return humans to the Moon's surface.

Why it matters: Artemis III will involve key tests of one or both lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin, in Earth orbit — similar to Apollo 9 before Apollo 11's historic Moon landing.

• That's after NASA changed Artemis III to a test flight for the landers. Artemis IV is expected to make a Moon landing.

Driving the news: The Artemis III crew includes mission specialist and first-time astronaut Andre Douglas; mission specialist and record-setting astronaut U.S. Army Col. Frank Rubio, pilot Luca Parmitano (an Italian Air Force colonel and onetime International Space Station commander); and commander Randy Bresnik, a longtime NASA astronaut and former U.S. Marine Corps colonel.

• NASA astronaut Bob Hines is a backup crew member who will train alongside the main quartet in case he's needed.

The plan: Blue Origin's lander will be launched into Earth orbit first, followed by the four astronauts aboard an Orion spacecraft.

• They'll rendezvous in space for docking and testing.

Orion will then detach and await SpaceX's Starship for similar docking and testing before the crew returns home to Earth.

• The two-week mission is set for mid-2027.

What they're saying

Houston is one of four pilot cities for Meta's new $115 million skilled-trades training program.

Why it matters: It includes a job guarantee for graduates, while helping meet demand for skilled workers as more data centers are being built.

The big picture: The AI boom is driving a data center buildout that McKinsey estimates could hit $7 trillion globally by 2030. Tech companies need more than chips and power — they need workers to build the physical infrastructure.

Driving the news: America's Workforce Academy is free for participants and aims to address the shortage of skilled trade workers, including fiber technicians, welders, plumbers, electricians and more.

• The program will also launch in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Indianapolis; and Columbus, Ohio — all areas where Meta has data center projects.

What we're watching: Whether Meta's job-guarantee model becomes a template for other tech companies racing to build AI infrastructure — and facing the same shortage of skilled workers.

Between the lines

🌊 Harris County officials rolled out a plan to keep Hurricane Harvey flood-mitigation projects on track ahead of a federal funding deadline. (Houston Chronicle)

💧 FIFA reversed its water bottle ban, now allowing fans to enter with one sealed 20-ounce soft plastic water bottle at World Cup matches. (USA Today)

💼 Houston is ranked as a favorable place for young college graduates. (Houston Business Journal)

June has kicked off, and it's time for the return of our 100-degree-day contest.

📬 It's simple: Let us know how many triple-digit days you think Houston will have this year.

• Just reply to this email.

The stakes: The person with the closest guess — to be determined whenever the coast seems clear (so, like, fall) — will receive some nifty Axios swag.

Vaguely helpful: Last year Houston saw eight triple-digit days — but in 2023 there were 45 such days.