With a delegation of FIFA representatives in town for a site visit this week, the Houston 2026 World Cup Bid Committee knew it had to pull out all the stops.

The committee had made its first pitch to FIFA officials last year, virtually, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the delegation came to the Bayou City in person for this week’s visit. The delegation, led by Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani, landed in Houston on Monday, Oct. 25, for a 36-hour site visit.

Houston is one of 17 U.S. cities vying for a chance to host matches in the 2026 World Cup, which will be spread across sites in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. In Houston, World Cup matches would be held at NRG Stadium, the 72,000-seat home of the Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Chris Canetti, president of the Bid Committee, said the FIFA delegation stayed at the Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, which was named No. 1 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best Hotels in Texas list earlier this year. There they were greeted by hotel owner and Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta before turning in to prepare for the bulk of the site tour the following day.