Houston to Host DR Congo as World Cup Base Camp

SaberCats Stadium selected as training facility for DR Congo's historic World Cup return.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:04am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in the style of Pablo Picasso, breaking a soccer match or training session between the DR Congo national team and their opponents into sharp, overlapping geometric planes of vibrant colors representing the team uniforms.The geometric, cubist-inspired illustration captures the energy and dynamism of DR Congo's historic return to the World Cup stage.Houston Today

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) will use Houston's SaberCats Stadium as its base camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first time the country has qualified for the tournament since 1974 when they were known as Zaire. DR Congo officials visited Houston last week and were impressed by the city's infrastructure, agreeing to train and stay in the city before their historic World Cup return.

Why it matters

This marks the first time in over 50 years that DR Congo will participate in the World Cup, providing a compelling story and renewed global interest in the country. Houston's selection as the base camp also highlights the city's growing prominence as a hub for international sporting events.

The details

DR Congo qualified for the 2026 World Cup on March 31 with a win over Jamaica. After the qualification, representatives from DR Congo traveled to Houston and met with the Houston Host Committee. They were impressed by Houston's facilities, including SaberCats Stadium, the former home of the city's Major League Rugby team, which will serve as DR Congo's training ground. The team and staff will also be housed at a local Houston hotel, though the specific location was not disclosed for safety reasons.

  • DR Congo qualified for the 2026 World Cup on March 31, 2026.
  • DR Congo representatives visited Houston last week to finalize the base camp details.
  • DR Congo will play its first World Cup match on June 17, 2026.

The players

Chris Canetti

President of the Houston World Cup Committee.

SaberCats Stadium

The former home of Houston's Major League Rugby team, which will serve as DR Congo's training facility for the 2026 World Cup.

DR Congo

The national soccer team of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1974 when they were known as Zaire.

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What they’re saying

“All signs are pointing to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”

— Chris Canetti, President, Houston World Cup Committee

“They were here last week on a site visit. Our meetings were very, very focused on the facility and seeing the base camp and the hotel and things of that nature. They haven't been to the World Cup in 50-some-odd years when they were Zaire. So there's a real compelling story there, and there are some interesting ties to our community that we'll find.”

— Chris Canetti, President, Houston World Cup Committee

What’s next

An official announcement confirming Houston as DR Congo's World Cup base camp is expected early next week.

The takeaway

Houston's selection as the base camp for DR Congo's historic World Cup return highlights the city's growing prominence as a hub for international sporting events. This opportunity also presents a chance for Houston to showcase its infrastructure and community ties to a global audience.