NRG Stadium Guide Houston Texas

World Cup 2026 Stadiums: NRG Stadium (Houston Stadium)

NRG Stadium, Houston

NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas opened in 2002 and is the home of the NFL's Houston Texans. It is one of six stadiums in the central region of North America and Mexico along with Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Estadio Guadalajara (Estadio Akron) and Estadio Monterrey (Estadio BBVA) in Mexico and Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium) and Kansas City Stadium (GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium) in the USA.

During the 2026 tournament it will be known as Houston Stadium to comply with FIFA regulations on sponsorship names. After the end of the World Cup the stadium name will revert to Reliant Stadium/Reliant Park.

The stadium will stage 7 games in total during the 2026 World Cup.

These are:

June 14: Group E - Germany vs Curaçao
June 17: Group K - Portugal vs DR Congo
June 20: Group F - Netherlands vs Sweden
June 25: Group K - Portugal vs Uzbekistan
June 26: Group H - Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia
June 29: Round of 32 match; Brazil vs Japan
July 4: Round of 16 match; Canada vs Morocco

Houston Stadium, Houston. — The stadium is home to the NFL's Houston Texans

Capacity, History & Design

The stadium first opened in 2002 and was completed at a cost of $352 million. It will have a capacity of 68,311 for the World Cup.

Natural grass has been installed for the tournament as per FIFA specifications, temporarily replacing the artificial turf used in the NFL.

The arena was the first in the NFL to have a retractable roof which can close in around 10 minutes.

Climate control should help to keep the stadium cool in the hot months of June and July in the USA. The two end zones are equipped with huge LED video boards.

Uses

The stadium is home to the Houston Texans of the NFL and also stages the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo - the largest such livestock and rodeo event in the world.

In addition the stadium stages both university and high school American football, wrestling and has also been the venue for two Super Bowls in 2004 and 2017.

For soccer, the stadium has hosted games in the CONCACAF Gold Cup (2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2019, 2025), international friendlies and matches at the 2016 Copa América Centenario and 2024 Copa América.

As a music venue the stadium has seen many big names perform here such as Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Guns N' Roses, One Direction, The Rolling Stones, Metallica, U2 and others.

Access

Taking the METRORail Red Line is the best way to get from downtown Houston to NRG Stadium. The journey takes approximately 25-30 minutes from downtown to the Stadium Park / Astrodome station. The train runs frequently along Main Street and costs $1.25 per ride, offering direct access without the need to drive.

The closest commercial airport to NRG Stadium is William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), located about 12 miles away (roughly a 15 to 20-minute drive). George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is a larger airport but nearly 30 miles from the venue.

Address: 1 NRG Parkway, Houston, Texas 77054, USA.

Accessibility

NRG Stadium has accessible seating across all levels, wide concourses, and elevators. Wheelchair-accessible seating is available in the lower, mezzanine, and upper concourses, with companion seats available. The stadium also provides dedicated accessible parking and specialized, pre-booked transportation options. See the official website for further details: www.houstontexans.com/stadium/a-z-guide