From June 11 through July 19,\u00a0NASA\u2019s\u00a0free interactive exhibit at FIFA Fan Festival\u2122 brought space exploration to soccer fans in East Downtown Houston.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
More than 500,000 visitors explored\u00a0the\u00a0exhibit during the tournament, learning how the agency\u2019s missions, research, and technology benefit life on Earth.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The exhibit introduced a global audience to the\u00a0Artemis program,\u00a0Moon Base, the\u00a0International Space Station, and the future of human space exploration.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
World Cup fans\u00a0explored an Orion spacecraft exhibit, an International Space Station model, NASA\u2019s Orion Crew Survival System suit,\u00a0astromaterials,\u00a0Hubble Space Telescope imagery, the Lunar and Mars Touch Table exhibit,\u00a0a\u00a0space-flown FIFA World Cup soccer ball,\u00a0Space Center Houston activities, photo opportunities, and other hands-on experiences.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Attendees\u00a0also climbed into a\u00a0lunar\u00a0rover\u00a0simulator\u00a0to drive across a virtual lunar surface, explored a Moon Base display\u00a0demonstrating\u00a0how astronauts could live and work on the Moon during future Artemis missions, and examined lunar tools designed to support Artemis exploration.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0tournament\u00a0welcomed special guests, as well.\u00a0On June 20, Artemis II\u00a0Commander\u00a0Reid Wiseman and\u00a0Pilot\u00a0Victor Glover\u00a0participated\u00a0in World Cup activities\u00a0as the stadium captains\u00a0ahead of the Netherlands-Sweden match\u00a0at NRG Stadium, where they received a standing ovation from more than\u00a067,000 fans.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While the weather prevented them from appearing\u00a0on the\u00a0FIFA Fan Festival\u00a0main stage, the\u00a0pair\u00a0shared\u00a0their experiences\u00a0through\u00a0media\u00a0interviews.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
NASA also highlighted the connection between space exploration and soccer through a\u00a0STEMonstration\u00a0developed in collaboration with Adidas. Filmed aboard the space station, the demonstration shows how the same physics that govern motion in space also shape the game on Earth.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Expedition 74 crew members\u00a0kicked off FIFA Fan Festival with a\u00a0prerecorded\u00a0welcome message\u00a0that\u00a0aired\u00a0on\u00a0opening day.\u00a0Throughout the tournament,\u00a0the crew\u00a0recorded greetings that played during matches and at Fan Festival events across the United States and Mexico.\u00a0<\/p>\n
ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot joined the celebration by recording a \u201cViking Row\u201d aboard the\u00a0space station. ESA astronauts Andreas Mogensen and Marcus Wandt\u00a0participated\u00a0from the ground in a playful tribute\u00a0connecting\u00a0fans on Earth with\u00a0life in orbit.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
After\u00a0nearly 40\u00a0days of showcasing NASA\u2019s missions to\u00a0soccer\u00a0fans from around the world, FIFA Fan Fest concluded with\u00a0a\u00a0final message\u00a0from the Expedition 74 crew\u00a0during the official\u00a0closing\u00a0ceremony.\u00a0On the ground,\u00a0NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei\u00a0took the Fan Festival stage to share\u00a0his journey to becoming an astronaut, his first view of Earth from\u00a0space, and how the focus required\u00a0for\u00a0a spacewalk mirrors the concentration\u00a0soccer players need on the field. He\u00a0then kicked\u00a0the ceremonial soccer ball, bringing NASA\u2019s participation in the festival to a close.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe could not\u00a0have done this\u00a0without the incredible NASA team who volunteered,\u201d said\u00a0Jessica Cordero, Johnson\u00a0community\u00a0engagement\u00a0lead. \u201cThey\u00a0connected with fans and shared\u00a0the excitement of\u00a0Artemis III\u00a0and NASA\u2019s\u00a0return\u00a0to the Moon. They are truly the best volunteer crew on the planet!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Editor\u2019s note: An update to this story was made on July 30, 2026, to share\u2026<\/p>\n