Rice University named Official Houston World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter

Rice University has been named an Official Houston World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter, placing the state’s leading higher education institution at the center of preparations for the world’s largest sporting event and reinforcing Rice’s mission as a university with global reach.

“Our role as a university is to create opportunities for learning, connection and service that extend far beyond our campus,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said. “Supporting the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Houston Host Committee allows Rice to help welcome the world to Houston — to showcase the spirit of this city, to engage our students in meaningful, hands-on experiences and to contribute in ways that reflect our commitment to having global impact at a personalized scale.” 

As the only higher education institution serving as an Official Houston World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter, Rice will be positioned in leadership and activation roles before and during the tournament, helping amplify Houston’s culture, diversity and hospitality to a worldwide audience. 

“We’re proud to welcome Rice University as a supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee,” committee president Chris Canetti said. “Rice University has deep-seated roots in this city, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring in such an esteemed institution to help deliver the world’s largest sporting event to Houston.” 

As an Official Houston World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter, Rice will assist in a range of collaboration and engagement efforts, including serving on key subcommittees and supporting Houston’s FIFA Volunteer Program. The university also plans to host a variety of community-focused activities designed to bring the excitement of the FIFA World Cup™ to campus and beyond. 

Planned activities include hosting watch parties at Tudor Fieldhouse and the Ion, offering soccer clinics and community engagement programs, inviting the public to campus for self-guided tours and creating volunteer and experiential learning opportunities for students. Together, these efforts aim to contribute to the broader community and support Houston’s success as a host city, Rice organizers said. 

“The FIFA World Cup represents the very best of global sport, and Rice Athletics is thrilled to help welcome the world to Houston,” said Tommy McClelland, vice president and director of athletics. “We are excited to welcome soccer fans to Tudor Fieldhouse and the Ion District to celebrate the ‘beautiful game’ at its highest level. These events allow us to showcase our campus and students while elevating interest in the sport of soccer across Houston and bringing our community together around an unforgettable global moment. 

FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the largest sporting event ever, spanning three host countries, 16 host cities, 48 teams and 104 matches. The tournament will take place in June and July and is expected to engage millions of fans across North America and billions worldwide. 

Guided by its Momentous strategic plan, Rice is advancing a bold vision to deliver global impact through a personalized, student-centered approach — positioning the university to become the world’s premier institution for teaching and research while redefining what it means to be elite by expanding access and opportunity through its generous financial aid programs.