El Paso Became a World Cup City and Now it’s Official

If it feels like El Paso has been living and breathing soccer this summer, you're not imagining it.

For weeks, restaurants filled up hours before kickoff. Downtown watch parties packed with fans waving flags from around the world. And two hometown players gave the Borderland even more reason to cheer on the U.S. Men's National Team on soccer's biggest stage.

We may not have hosted a World Cup match, but for a few unforgettable weeks, El Paso certainly felt like a World Cup city.

Now, El Paso County is making it official.

READ MORE: Two El Paso Stars Shared the World Cup Stage for the First Time

El Paso Embraced The World Cup

Commissioners have declared June 11 through July 19, 2026, as "World Cup Season," recognizing the excitement, pride and community spirit that filled the Borderland throughout the tournament.

As part of the recognition, El Paso native Alex Zendejas was honored for representing the U.S. Men's National Team during the World Cup, with county leaders also planning a separate recognition for fellow hometown star Ricardo Pepi.

It didn't take long to see that this World Cup was different.

Everywhere you looked, El Paso was celebrating. Local businesses opened early for matches, sports bars overflowed with fans, and community watch parties turned games into citywide events. Whether you were cheering for Team USA, Mexico or another country, it felt like everyone had a team to rally behind.

Then there were Zendejas and Pepi.

Watching two Borderland natives represent the United States on the world's biggest stage gave El Paso something few cities could claim: a personal connection to the World Cup. Every match felt just a little more meaningful because one of our own was out there.

READ MORE: Alex Zendejas Just Won the World Cup's Cutest Assignment

More Than A Tournament

One of my favorite things about this summer wasn't just the soccer. It was seeing how the World Cup brought people together.

You didn't have to have tickets to a match to feel like you were part of the tournament. Every watch party, every crowded restaurant and every celebration after a big win made El Paso feel connected to something much bigger.

That's why this declaration feels like more than just another item on a county agenda, it feels like recognition of something many of us were already thinking.

El Paso didn't need a stadium to feel like a World Cup city.

We just needed soccer, a community ready to celebrate and two hometown players who gave us another reason to be proud. For one unforgettable summer, the Borderland embraced the world's biggest tournament like few places could.

And now, it's officially part of El Paso's history.