Euro 2024: Houston Edition

(image from UEFA via Getty Images)

Houston proudly holds the title of the most diverse city in the United States, and as the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship kicks off, this diversity shines even brighter. Prepare to witness a vibrant tapestry of national pride as fans from every participating country are represented in our city. From today onwards, expect to see a kaleidoscope of jerseys adorning enthusiastic supporters eager to witness their nations compete on the global stage. Bars, restaurants, and homes alike will pulsate with the energy of the tournament, painted in the bright hues of camaraderie and celebration.

Take, for example, the French Alliance of Houston (Alliance Française de Houston), which is set to host two watch parties during the championship. Undoubtedly, numerous other establishments and embassies across the city will follow suit, offering spaces for communal revelry. Seize the opportunity to immerse yourself in different cultures, forging connections that transcend borders through the universal language of soccer.

Below, I've outlined the teams competing in each group, alongside the population in Houston born in their respective countries. While these figures were sourced from 2015 data, it's important to note that Houston's diverse landscape has likely only flourished since then. Moreover, these communities are interwoven with countless others through familial ties and shared heritage. (For more details, refer to the "Place of Birth for Foreign Born Population" dataset on houstontx.gov.)

Group A

Germany – 2,160

Scotland – 462

Hungary – 774

Switzerland – 541

Group B

Spain – 1,852

Croatia – 49

Italy – 1,191

Albania – 137

Group C

Slovenia – 340*

Denmark – 371

Serbia – 268

England – 2,714 

Group D

Poland – 1,012

Netherlands – 760

Austria – 170

France – 1,539 

Group E

Belgium – 490

Slovakia – 168**

Romania – 769

Ukraine – 974 

Group F

Turkey – 1,330

Georgia – 340**

Portugal – 358

Czech Republic – 168* 

*Other Eastern Europe

**Czechoslovakia (includes Czech Republic and Slovakia)