Press & Media
The Story Nobody
Has Told Yet.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup. Two matches in Houston. A Houston woman built the unofficial guide to everything outside the stadium. That story is here.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is scheduled to play his final World Cup in Houston — twice. A local Houston woman built the only independent curated fan experience platform for the 500,000 visitors no official FIFA guide is welcoming.”
HWC 2026 Club (houstonworldcup2026.club) is the unofficial, independently built fan experience platform for FIFA World Cup 2026 in Houston. It sells curated experiences — food tours, watch parties, day trips, nightlife, wellness — to international fans who want to see the real city, not just the stadium.
The platform was built by Erika Crossley, a Houston-based entrepreneur and AI builder who didn’t wait for an official tourism campaign to welcome the world. She built the guide herself.
The result: a live platform with 48 curated products, nationality-specific fan guides for the Netherlands, Germany, Mexico, Portugal, and Brazil, and an investor narrative that positions Houston’s biggest event as the proof-of-concept for a global platform play.
By the Numbers
Story Angles
“While FIFA built the official infrastructure, a Houston woman built the unofficial guide to everything outside the stadium — and it’s selling.” Human interest story. Local hero. AI-built by one person in Houston who knew her city better than any tourism campaign.
“Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup. Houston gets him twice.” The biggest name in global football plays his final tournament at NRG Stadium — and Houston has no standalone curated fan experience platform that captures what it means for the city. Until now.
“300,000 international fans are flying into a city they’ve never visited. Who’s welcoming them?” The Netherlands is Houston’s #1 trading partner. Germany is #6. Dutch and German fans arriving for their World Cup matches are not tourists — they are the business community of Houston’s most important economic relationships. What does the city do when they arrive?
“One person. One platform. 48 products. Built with AI before any agency had a campaign.” The technology story: how a single Houston entrepreneur used AI to build the infrastructure that major tourism organizations are still planning. The proof-of-concept for what AI enables at individual scale.
“The fan experience platform On Location doesn’t have — and should.” On Location (TKO Group, valued in a $3.25B deal) is the official FIFA hospitality provider inside stadiums. Curated Houston operates outside. The acquisition thesis, the data asset, the platform replication play across 16 cities and a decade of mega-events.
About the Founder
Erika Crossley
Houston-based entrepreneur, AI builder, and senior care advisor. Built HWC 2026 Club as part of a larger AI-powered empire — a direct-to-consumer platform play that proves what a single person with AI tools can build before any agency has a campaign brief approved.
Her background spans senior living placement, AI product development, and now sports tourism infrastructure. The common thread: she identifies the gap between what institutions provide and what people actually need — then builds the bridge.
Houston is her city. This is her moment.
Approved Quotes for Publication
“Cristiano Ronaldo is coming to Houston twice. 500,000 fans are coming with him. I built the guide to everything they’re going to do when they get here — because nobody else was doing it.”
“The Netherlands is Houston’s number one trading partner. When Dutch fans land at IAH for the June 20 match, they’re not tourists — they’re the business community of our most important global relationship. I wanted them to feel like Houston was ready for them.”
“Houston doesn’t have a curated fan experience platform. It has a stadium, an official committee, and tourism brochures. I built something different — a platform that helps real fans find the real Houston.”
Press Assets Available
Ready to Cover the Story?
We’ll give you exclusive access, a 15-minute briefing with Erika, and everything you need to file before the tournament starts.
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