{"id":246230,"date":"2026-04-12T10:48:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T10:48:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/246230\/"},"modified":"2026-04-12T10:48:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T10:48:38","slug":"world-cup-2026-stadium-guides-welcome-to-houston-stadium-the-scene-of-rodeos-and-nipplegate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/246230\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup 2026 stadium guides: Welcome to Houston Stadium, the scene of rodeos and \u2018Nipplegate\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article is part of our World Cup Stadium Guides series<\/a>, in which we look at the 16 venues that will host matches at the 2026 tournament.<\/p>\n

In Houston, reaching for the stars is not just a saying \u2014 it is a way of life. Home to the NASA Johnson Space Center, the city has long been at the forefront of exploration and innovation, helping to shape the biggest of ambitions.<\/p>\n

Now, attention turns to events on the ground as the city becomes part of football\u2019s greatest show on Earth.<\/p>\n

As the World Cup arrives, sport is already woven into the fabric of the city. The Houston Astros baseball team, Houston Rockets basketball side, and Houston Texans NFL team keep the city buzzing all year round with top-level competition.<\/p>\n

But football has found a place here, too, with passionate support behind MLS side Houston Dynamo and NWSL outfit Houston Dash adding to the city\u2019s rich sporting culture. In a city driven by ambition and powered by passion, here\u2019s all you need to know about its approach to this summer\u2019s World Cup\u2026<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\n The stadium is home to the NFL\u2019s Houston Texans (Alex Slitz\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

What is it normally called? And what will it be called at the World Cup?<\/p>\n

The stadium is usually known as NRG Stadium, after\u00a0NRG Energy, a major power company that acquired the naming rights in 2014.<\/p>\n

It will become the Houston Stadium at the World Cup, as policies set by FIFA mean stadiums may not use their usual sponsor titles.<\/p>\n

When did it open, how much did it cost, and who plays there?\u00a0<\/p>\n

The stadium was completed in 2002 and was initially known as Reliant Stadium. It was built at a cost of around $352million, with its technology and architecture hailed as being ahead of its time. It became the NFL\u2019s first stadium with a retractable roof.<\/p>\n

The venue is home to NFL side Houston Texans, and the inaugural sporting event was a pre-season game against the Miami Dolphins. The first regular season game it ever staged was against the Dallas Cowboys.<\/p>\n

What are the most famous moments there?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Super Bowl XXXVIII saw the New England Patriots edge out the Carolina Panthers 32\u201329 in Houston. The half-time show became equally memorable, though, due to an incident involving Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake.<\/p>\n

Timberlake tore off part of Jackson\u2019s bustier<\/a>, and the moment became known as \u201cNipplegate\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"Janet<\/p>\n

\n Janet Jackson suffered a wardrobe malfunction during her Super Bowl half-time show alongside Justin Timberlake in 2004 (Jeff Haynes\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

NRG Stadium also hosted Super Bowl LI, where the Patriots again emerged victorious \u2014 this time defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime after falling 28-3 behind.<\/p>\n

It is not just American football that has produced memorable moments, as soccer has become part of the calendar.<\/p>\n

One of the most high-profile fixtures to date was the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup final, where Mexico defeated the U.S. men\u2019s team 2-1.<\/p>\n

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo stands as a defining tradition. Held annually at the stadium, it attracts more than two million people and remains one of the largest and most popular rodeos in the world.<\/p>\n

How many fans can it hold? Will it be full for the World Cup?\u00a0<\/p>\n

The seating capacity for Houston Stadium is typically around 72,000, but it can host events with more than 80,000 in attendance.<\/p>\n

The record of 80,203 was set by country artist Cody Johnson in March 2026.<\/p>\n

Some seats have to be removed in preparation for the World Cup, but it is anticipated that the capacity will still be about 70,000.<\/p>\n

What kind of pitch does it use?\u00a0<\/p>\n

An artificial surface is usually in place, so Houston is one of several stadiums that needs to have natural grass installed.<\/p>\n

The plan has been for the pitch build process to begin in May, with an aim of having it fully in place 20 days before the first game.<\/p>\n

The stadium has a retractable roof, which is going to be closed during the tournament for heat reasons.<\/p>\n

The pitch will be carefully cared for using artificial lighting and special irrigation systems.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\n The final of 2025\u2019s Concacaf Gold Cup was played under Houston\u2019s retractable roof (Omar Vega\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

What will the weather be like?\u00a0<\/p>\n

In Houston, June and July are known to bring hot, humid conditions, with daytime temperatures often climbing into the low-to-mid 30sC (90sF).<\/p>\n

Brief but intense afternoon storms are pretty typical, so it is best to expect a mix of strong sunshine, high humidity\u2026 and occasional downpours.<\/p>\n

Are there other changes for the World Cup?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Almost 5,000 damaged seats from the original 2002 build are being replaced, while cosmetic enhancements to VIP areas and suites are being made.<\/p>\n

As with all World Cup venues, branded signage will need to be covered or removed, in line with FIFA regulations \u2014 except the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta<\/a>.<\/p>\n

One of the bigger challenges will be to cover the \u201cNRG Stadium\u201d branding that faces upwards on the roof. The total cost of re-dressing the venue of all sponsor branding is estimated to be $1million.<\/p>\n

It is worth noting that, in the longer-term, there is lots of talk about the stadium needing a revamp \u2014 including a new roof.<\/p>\n

\"Tom<\/p>\n

\n Tom Brady and the New England Patriots completed an astonishing comeback to win Super Bowl LI in overtime (Bob Levey\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

How do you get there?<\/p>\n

Houston is a large city, so planning is important. Public transport options include the METRORail, and the Red Line provides direct access via the Stadium Park\/Astrodome station.<\/p>\n

Several bus routes also stop within walking distance, including the 14 Hiram Clarke, 60 Cambridge, and 84 Buffalo Speedway.<\/p>\n

For those travelling by car, NRG Park sits just inside Houston\u2019s Interstate 610 Inner Loop, between Kirby Drive and Fannin Street. It is easily accessible, with on-site parking available. It is best to check on rates and reservations before arrival.<\/p>\n

What can fans expect?<\/p>\n

The weather outside may provide sweltering conditions, but that is why this stadium needs its roof. While watching the games inside Houston Stadium, conditions should be comfortable. It will be noticeable that there are steep rows of seats, and this is aimed at providing good sight-lines, even for those in the higher sections.<\/p>\n

If supporters are looking to watch other games, there will be a month-long free fan festival in East Downtown. Diverse cultures will be celebrated, with live performances and global food and drink available.<\/p>\n

\"NRG<\/p>\n

\n Houston hosted 2024\u2019s NCAA National Championship game as the Connecticut Huskies defeated the San Diego State Aztecs 76-59 (Logan Riely\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Anything else?\u00a0<\/p>\n

The stadium is just one part of a wider collection of venues known as NRG Park.<\/p>\n

The complex also includes a convention centre and the NRG Arena \u2014 a 350,000-square-foot sports centre. The Astrodome, which became known as the world\u2019s first multi-purpose domed sports stadium when it opened in 1965, is adjacent to the stadium.<\/p>\n

Visitors will notice the area is vast \u2014 in total it spans 1.4 kilometres.<\/p>\n

Which games will be played there?<\/p>\n

Cristiano Ronaldo is in town twice in the group stage, against DR Congo and Uzbekistan, while Germany and the Netherlands also play there in the early weeks.<\/p>\n

June 14: Group E, Germany vs Curacao (12pm local, 6pm BST)<\/p>\n

June 17: Group K, Portugal vs DR Congo (12pm local, 6pm BST)<\/p>\n

June 20: Group F, Netherlands vs Sweden (12pm local, 6pm BST)<\/p>\n

June 23: Group K, Portugal vs Uzbekistan (12pm local, 6pm BST)<\/p>\n

June 26: Group H, Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia (7pm local, 1am BST)<\/p>\n

June 29: Round of 32 \u2014 (12pm local, 6pm BST)<\/p>\n

July 4: Round of 16 \u2014 (12pm local, 6pm BST)<\/p>\n

The Stadium Guides series is part of a partnership with StubHub.<\/p>\n

The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This article is part of our World Cup Stadium Guides series, in which we look at the 16…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":246231,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[38362,56,58,57,75054,23507,731,2256],"class_list":{"0":"post-246230","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-houston","8":"tag-fifa-mens-world-cup","9":"tag-houston","10":"tag-houston-headlines","11":"tag-houston-news","12":"tag-international-football","13":"tag-premier-league","14":"tag-soccer","15":"tag-sports-business"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=246230"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246230\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/246231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=246230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=246230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=246230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}