The FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11 and will be played across Mexico, Canada and the United States — including in Houston and Dallas.

Why it matters: More Americans are tuning into soccer ahead of the sport's most prestigious tournament, with hopes that this summer will spark the kind of breakthrough interest the 1994 World Cup did the last time it was played on American soil.

The big picture: 37% of people last year said they anticipated their interest in soccer would increase before the World Cup, according to Nielsen data.

Context: Soccer was still foreign to many Americans in 1994. Now, people have local teams they support or they've started watching leagues in other countries.

• "People are willing to pay to see soccer," Wake Forest economics professor Todd McFall tells Axios. "They've made soccer a part of their life."

By the numbers: Participation in the sport has increased.

• As of 2024-2025, more than 49,000 Texas high school students played soccer, per data from the National Federation of State High School Associations.
• That's a nearly 31% jump from a decade earlier.

State of play: Much has changed in the U.S. since the tournament took place here 32 years ago. Now there are several professional leagues, more people playing the game and more ways to watch it.

Zoom in: Although San Antonio has no Major League Soccer team, it has a growing grassroots soccer community, per a recent report from a University of the Incarnate Word researcher.

• San Antonio FC, which plays in the second-tier United Soccer League, this month hosted youth soccer clinics at spots like the Mays Family YMCA at Stone Oak and the Ricos STAR Soccer Complex.

What's next: San Antonio Sports is hosting a free, citywide youth soccer clinic on June 13 across 10 locations. Register online.

• The clinic "is a unique opportunity for San Antonio families to celebrate the game together while inspiring the next generation of players right here," Jenny Carnes, CEO of San Antonio Sports, said in statement.

The U.S. hospitality industry hopes the World Cup can make up for last year's decline in foreign tourism, but travel restrictions may keep visitors away.

The big picture: An estimated 1.2 million international fans are coming to the U.S. for the tournament, according to the New York Times.

Yes, but: About 65%–70% of hotel owners in World Cup host cities surveyed said visa barriers and geopolitical concerns are "significantly suppressing international demand," according to a recent survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

• About 80% of respondents say hotel bookings are tracking below initial forecasts.

Friction point: The Trump administration's Visa Bond Pilot Program requires visitors from certain countries — including World Cup nations like Senegal, Tunisia and Côte d'Ivoire — to deposit $5,000–$15,000 per person to receive a tourist visa.

Yes, but: The State Department announced World Cup ticket holders who registered through FIFA's priority scheduling system are exempt from the visa bond requirement.

• Meanwhile, visitors from 19 other countries, including World Cup competitors Haiti and Iran, are banned from coming to the U.S. under expanded Trump travel restrictions.

What they're saying: "Even with global anticipation building, the path to the U.S. for many World Cup travelers feels increasingly less like a red-carpet welcome," the American Hotel & Lodging Association report says.

The other side: The U.S. Travel Association, which surveyed international soccer fans, said last month that many concerns are due to "misperceptions" over safety and proposed changes to the tourist visa process.

📺 The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee began airing ads attacking Maureen Galindo after she made antisemitic remarks in her campaign for the Democratic nomination for the 35th District, which includes parts of Bexar County. (Axios)

🏥 Baptist Health System's new emergency department in the Medical Center will open in June. It will be one of three hospitals in San Antonio that can handle complex stroke cases. (SA Report)

🍺 SeaWorld San Antonio will offer one free beer to season pass holders aged 21 and up throughout June. (KSAT)

For five glorious weeks, fans around the world stop to watch the same thing.

By the numbers: The 2026 World Cup runs June 11 to July 19 across 16 host cities.

The favorites: Spain, France and England headline the sportsbooks, with five-time winner Brazil and reigning champ Argentina right behind.

State of play: The U.S. Men's National Team drew Group D with Paraguay, Australia and Turkey, opening June 12 in Los Angeles. Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino runs the show.

• BetMGM gives the U.S. roughly a 2.4% chance of winning the trophy.

The intrigue: A larger field means a brand new round of 32 before the bracket reaches the round of 16.

How to watch: Fox and FS1 will have every match in English, and Fox One will stream them all. Telemundo and Universo will carry the Spanish broadcast, with Peacock streaming that feed.

Fans can still score tickets to matches in U.S. host cities ahead of next month's kickoff — but many are balking at the prices.

The big picture: FIFA is in its "last-minute sales" phase, with some matches showing limited availability and some prices reaching beyond $11,000, per an Axios review.

• The federation is facing backlash for steep ticket costs and its new "dynamic" pricing system, which lets prices fluctuate with demand.

What they're saying: FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended ticket prices, saying they're charging "market rates" in the U.S. entertainment market.

By the numbers: FIFA has sold more than 5 million tickets for the tournament.

• Between 6 million and 6.5 million tickets were expected to be available in total.
• A FIFA spokesperson declined to comment to Axios about prices and how many tickets remain.

What's next: FIFA will continue to drop tickets in batches through its online portal. The organization has cautioned against purchasing through non-FIFA sites.