HOUSTON – World Cup fever has a distinctly international flavor for residents in Houston, where an estimated third of the population was born outside the United States and some 145 languages are spoken in one of the country’s most diverse cities.
The fourth-largest U.S. city has dialed up full party mode for this year’s tournament, whether in the city’s sprawling downtown fan festival or at packed bars and restaurants across town with supporters roaring their teams on.
“We’ve been to the fan festival in East Downtown, and it’s been a fantastic experience to see all cultures kind of mesh and have a great time together and celebrate the sport and celebrate humanity as a whole,” said Frank Haces, 27, who watched a recent match with his family, who traveled to see him from Mexico…