NRG Stadium
NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, was the first NFL stadium with a retractable roof, making it a pioneer in venue design. Home to the Houston Texans, this venue is part of the larger NRG Park complex that includes the Astrodome (the 'Eighth Wonder of the World'). For World Cup 2026, NRG Stadium will host multiple matches. Houston's status as the most diverse city in the United States — with massive communities from Mexico, Central America, Africa, and Asia — ensures a truly global atmosphere. The retractable roof is essential for managing Houston's intense summer heat and unpredictable thunderstorms.
Stadium History
Opened in 2002 as Reliant Stadium, it hosted Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 (famous for Janet Jackson's 'wardrobe malfunction' halftime show) and Super Bowl LI in 2017 (the Patriots' historic 28-3 comeback against the Falcons). It served as a shelter for over 25,000 Hurricane Katrina evacuees in 2005. The stadium has hosted international soccer including CONCACAF Gold Cup matches and the 2010 MLS All-Star Game against Manchester United.
Did You Know?
“The stadium's field is an entire tray that rolls outside on rails to get natural sunlight during non-event days — a 19-million-pound structure that takes about an hour to move in or out. It was the first retractable-field system in the NFL.”