After weather-related delays throughout opening weekend, Houston's FIFA Fan Festival will close on Monday due to an 80% chance of rain and flooding.
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Officials say the FIFA Fan Festival in Houston will end on Monday due to forecasts of severe rain and flooding.
The Houston World Cup host committee closed due to an 80% chance of rain and a 1-inch forecast from the National Weather Service. The region is under a flood watch until Wednesday AM.
“Due to anticipated inclement weather conditions and the guidance of public safety officials, FIFA Fan Festival Houston will be closed,” the host committee said, adding that safety is “top priority.”
The free fan celebration in Houston's East Downtown region lets fans watch World Cup matches and attend related festivities. It will run throughout the competition, which ends July 19.
After a rocky start to Houston's World Cup, the fan festival's closure was announced. On Sunday, a pregame rainstorm caught fans waiting outside NRG Stadium for the city's inaugural match. The same weather system also canceled the fan festival earlier in the weekend.
The weather has been difficult since the festival began on Thursday. The Houston Fire Department reported four heat-related hospitalizations and 20 on-site treatments on the first day due to high heat and humidity.
Extreme heat followed by heavy rain illustrates Houston's volatile early-summer conditions, especially during major outdoor events.
Officials have not decided whether to close or adjust schedules later in the week. The organizers will watch forecasts and work with public safety.
Before attending events, fans should read official updates and prepare for intense heat and abrupt storms.
Organizers said the fan festival will reopen when conditions improve, but weather decisions will prioritize public safety.
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