PASSEDHouston City Council · 2026-06-09

The City Council approved a contract with Rice University to provide housing and dining services during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, running from June 8 to July 5, 2026, for up to $262,050 paid from grant funds.

What it means for you

Rice University's campus facilities will be used to house and feed people connected to World Cup operations; the cost is covered by a grant, not directly by Houston taxpayers.

Outcome

Adopted — all voting aye, nays none. Ordinance 2026-0503, official minutes of June 9, 2026.

Contracts & spending — see all →Rice University / Houston

Official sources

Meeting minutes — full record with the vote (PDF) ↗

These are the official minutes — the narrative record of what happened at the meeting, including the vote on each item.

Official council district boundaries · City of Houston GIS. Tap a district to see who represents it.

How to weigh in

Where: City Hall, 901 Bagby, 2nd Floor, Houston, TX 77002
When: Council meets Tuesdays 1:30 p.m. & Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. Public Session — when you can speak — is Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month).
Speak: Register by 3:00 p.m. the Monday before: call 832.393.1100, email speakers@houstontx.gov, or go in person to the City Secretary (City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby, Room P101). Each speaker gets 1–3 minutes.
Watch: Live on HTV ↗

From the City Council meetings information page. Confirm the exact date on the official agenda before you go.

Quick answersfrom the official record

How much?$262,050minutes ↗

Who's paid?WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITYminutes ↗

Which fund?Grant Fundminutes ↗

Who decides?Houston City Council — its 16 members (11 district + 5 at-large) vote; the Mayor presides and also votes. Taken up at the June 9, 2026 meeting — Adopted, all voting aye.minutes ↗

Cite this: https://plaindocket.com/item/real-cs20260609-43 — data from official records via PlainDocket.