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Get on the train before 10 and it shouldn't be too bad.

fightingfarmer09 said:

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Got my parking pass for NRG on Saturday.

My son wanted some Netherlands gear. Do they have a shop at the game with a shirt, jersey, or scarf? I know it will be over priced, but it would make a nice souvenir for him.

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Yes. They sell jerseys, hats, and scarfs for each time playing, as well as game-specific scarfs. Jerseys were $130 for the Germany-Curacao game, I assume they will be the same. A bit more than in stores, but not crazy.

They have some game and location specific items (shirts/scarf) that you will need to be through the door as soon as the stadium opens and in line... anything else (team specific or general world cup) is better off purchased on line or at one of the off property FIFA stores (I know Sugarland has one and im sure there are similar set ups in other cities).

We stupidly waited in line for 1 1/2 hours to buy stuff for my daughter, and all the game-specific stuff was already sold out by the time we made it. We saw them keep taking down options as we waited and waited. She got a Dallas specific shirt and a Netherlands scarf and was very happy... I was happy that we were in our seats in plenty of time... but there are MUCH better ways to spend your time than waiting in a long line for merch.

Seriously check out the Fan Fest store. It's like 8k sq ft and has a bunch of popular teams, not just what is in playing locally. Just go early in the day to avoid larger crowds.

I want a game-specific scarf for Saturday (Netherlands v Sweden). Is that only going to be avaialble inside the stadium or would the fan fest have these too?

So the metro rail at NRG when you are leaving they divert the lines through NRG arena now. Guess so people stay cool. But as soon as you get out they don't control any lines till you get to the big tent. So you can go in the short southbound line then when you go back outside, just go to the northbound line.

I talked to some Portugal fans after they got off the train downtown, they said it was not bad at all. I believe that is what we will do Saturday. The parking garage for my office is one block from where we can get on the train. Free parking and cheap train ride.

For those of y'all going to the Netherlands game on Saturday in Houston, and planning on walking in their parade, where are you parking and what time are you planning on getting there?

We wanted the Netherlands/Japan one, and from what I can tell, it was a stadium only purchase, and they were sold out within about 1 hour of stadium sales opening. We did get the Netherlands only version, but we expect they had way more stock of that version, considering it can be sold at multiple games, BUT the Japan only version sold out early as well.

Is anyone going to a Dallas match and would be willing to purchase a Dallas host city scarf? I'm in the DFW area so could pick it up from you or would be willing to also cover any shipping costs if that's easier.

JCRiley09 said:

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Is anyone going to a Dallas match and would be willing to purchase a Dallas host city scarf? I'm in the DFW area so could pick it up from you or would be willing to also cover any shipping costs if that's easier.

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Check Walmart online. They carry them.

Thanks. Saw it sold out on the FIFA page and didn't even check anywhere else

We are pumped for tomorrow. Going to make our way to Houston with plenty of time to spare.

Anyone else going to cabo verde game? i was able to get cat 1 tickets for about $150, now they're $500+

Texaggie7nine said:

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123

Get on the train before 10 and it shouldn't be too bad.

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We had a GREAT time at the game. We got downtown by 9:30 and caught the train, perfect timing, it was packed full by the time we got south of downtown.

Our seats were great in section 317 row C....the only two seats in that row! Pie shaped section, row in front of us was one seat.

The way back was no problem at all, stood in line maybe 10 minutes before getting on a train...again packed.

High scoring, exciting game, Everyone was friendly. And nothing like a good old $18 can of Ultra! LOL


Good to see these highlights about attendance for 2026 WC after so many were doubting turnout:

Quote:

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Fans break World Cup attendance record with four-game crowd of 281,223 - Yahoo Sports

Quote:

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Fans set a daily World Cup attendance record with a total of 281,223 present for four games on Day 6 of the tournament, FIFA announced Wednesday.

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I came home with way too many of those cups. We just kept stacking them

I threw mine away. We tried collecting similar cups at another sporting event (can't remember which) and when we tried using them at home, they turned to crap pretty quickly because they are so flimsy.
Our kitchen cups, btw, are basically all clear Astros souvenir cups. Those things last forever.

Ha. So are mine. Those Astros cups last forever.


I was definitely wron about the ticket prices though they did come down for a lot of games from the original prices. Looks like hospitality though is still hit or miss. I don't think the hotels are going to hit their goals. US fans are buying them up.

But they are not as far off as they were predicting a month ago. The 'The world hates America' crowd wasn't really right either. Lots of people are here. I think the expectations of hospitality were maybe a bit over the top.

Has anyone purchased a hospitality ticket for the Fan Fest in Houston (downtown)? Wondering if $100 extra is worth it to get out of the crowd and the sun/rain. TIA!

throw this out there in case it may work for someone...

I have 1 ticket to R16 M90 on July 4th in Houston. W73 v W75, (2A v 2B, and 2C v 1F), which will be South Africa or Canada v. Morocco or Netherlands. Section 131. I purchased during the RTT phase on the chance that it may end up being Colombia. Colombia can't end up in that game; however, if they end up 2K, then they could end up in Dallas on July 6th for M93. If someone has a ticket for M93 and would be more interested in the possibilities for M90, I'd be willing to exchange. Obviously dependent on whether Colombia ends up 1K or 2K, which we'll know Saturday. (or if someone on the random chance has a M96 ticket in Toronto on July 7th or possibly even the Kansas City possibility in R32).

may work for someone; not certain and just throwing this out there it case it does.

pretty sure these are the possibilities based on the way I'm reading the schedule.

Anyone in Houston tried parking in that HlSR lot where the old Astro world was?
Or the metro lot next to it that has the train stop?

If so what time were you there? Cost?

Dude got a partnership with the Cowboys so I bet it will happen. Major props to FIFA if they fill it out.

Not going to lie I'm sorta obsessed with the scarves. I have a '94 WC hat I dusted off and wearing for all the games out and so happy I didn't lose it. The sponsor on the hat doesn't even exist anymore.

We missed the NL/Japan one and hoping to get a shot at Brazil/Japan if they really can get these produced and on site by Monday.

Does anyone know a place in Houston I might be able to find a Japan scarf or any other Japan merch (not NRG)?

trip98 said:

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Anyone in Houston tried parking in that HlSR lot where the old Astro world was?
Or the metro lot next to it that has the train stop?

If so what time were you there? Cost?

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We bought a FIFA parking pass for our game. Parked in the Blue Lot and it cost $125. We got there around 3 hours before game time so we could do the things around the stadium. I'm so used to only going to NRG during the rodeo so it was quite easy compared to that.

When we drove up there were several random parking lots offering parking for $80 or so.

Does Houston have an official fan fest? They had scarves for every team at the Dallas one

wangus12 said:

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Does Houston have an official fan fest? They had scarves for every team at the Dallas one

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There is one downtown.

But if I remember correctly the Match Day ones were only in the stadium and outside at the store near the Astrodome.

FIFA decided to close the stores on the upper levels and you could only get things on the lower decks. So the lines were 1+ hours long if you didn't go in right away.

wangus12 said:

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Does Houston have an official fan fest? They had scarves for every team at the Dallas one

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Every host city has a fan fest store, stadium store, and an off site store.

Only the stadium has match specific merch and only for the teams playing that day.

Are Norway fans planning anything Tuesday before the match in Dallas?