NRG Stadium to Become Houston Stadium During FIFA World Cup

The familiar NRG signage on Kirby Drive will come down this summer. When FIFA's World Cup kicks off in Houston, the home of the Texans will carry a different name on every broadcast, every ticket, and every piece of official tournament signage: Houston Stadium.

FIFA does not allow stadiums with corporate-sponsored names to serve as host venues, a policy designed to prevent additional advertising during the tournament. The rule affects 14 of the 16 host venues across North America, including NRG Stadium in Houston and AT&T Stadium in Arlington, which will be temporarily rechristened "Dallas Stadium."

The temporary name change is one that NRG, which holds the naming rights to the building, had to agree to before the city could sign its deal with FIFA. Janis Burke, CEO of the Harris County Houston Sports Authority, credited the energy company for its early cooperation. "Going way back to the big process, there's always things that you work through before you even bid for an event, so we are super thankful to our corporate community, especially NRG in this case for stepping up and agreeing even before we put the bid in to help us with this," Burke said.

The stadium will host five group stage matches, one Round of 32 match, and one Round of 16 match on Independence Day. The schedule includes Germany vs. Curaçao on June 14, Portugal playing twice on June 17 and June 23, along with matches involving the Netherlands, Cabo Verde, and Saudi Arabia, with the Round of 16 falling on July 4.

NRG Stadium, previously known as Reliant Stadium, is a retractable-roof multipurpose facility completed in 2002 at a cost of $352 million, with a seating capacity of 72,220. It is one of the very few 2026 World Cup venues equipped with a retractable roof and full air conditioning, a meaningful advantage for matches played in Houston's summer heat.

Local fan Cory Roth, who secured tickets for all seven Houston games, captured the mood: "We're super excited about the energy, seeing world class soccer, the absolute best soccer in the world."

With 48 teams and 104 matches across three countries, the 2026 tournament will be the largest World Cup ever staged. For the duration of Houston's run as a host city, the name on the building will match the city on the marquee.